The end came fairly quickly today, minor resistance from Leus du Plooy and Matt Critchley excepted. The Australian back up bowlers showed themselves to be fine cricketers in their own right (which we knew of course), though my main concern was our batsmen avoiding injury.
They came through unscathed, or seemed to, so attention now switches to Bristol next Saturday, and the best Saturday night's television in some time.
Even better, I realised that the Saturday of finals day is at the end of a week that I will be down there for the season closer at Derby, so I will keep my fingers crossed that we get to Edgbaston and I will simply need to cross to Birmingham to be a part of the big day. Always assuming I can get a ticket, of course...
It is all very exciting, and the thoughts of players, staff and supporters will be on next Saturday for the rest of this week.
It was all quite surreal for a fan of the county, watching the other games unfold last night and wondering who else might qualify besides us.
Lancashire will start things off on Wednesday evening, against Essex. They have lost home advantage because of the Test match (clever scheduling, huh?) and will play at The Riverside. They have looked good so far and I suspect will have too much for Essex, another of those teams where the team and its ethic is greater than the sum of its parts.
Thursday sees Nottinghamshire host Middlesex. I think the home side's tendency to implode when things get tough may cost them, and they have had a really rough, under-achieving season. Middlesex have qualified at the death with poor Somerset bowling, together with a special innings from Eoin Morgan. Throw in AB de Villiers and I think they have too much for our East Midlands rivals.
Shame, that...
Friday is Sussex Sharks v Worcestershire. The home side have had a fine group stage and looked a team with everything, while Worcestershire have gone off the boil in the last few games. I suspect home advantage will count, here and the reigning champions will have their work cut out to retain their crown.
Then it's Saturday. Key to this match, I think, will be the battle between Ravi Rampaul and Michael Klinger, though the one between Andrew Tye/David Payne and our top order will be too.
If we play as we have in the last few games, we can win this.
And there will be more from me as the week commences...
Saturday 31 August 2019
A Bristol quarter final awaits
An unexpected turn of events last night saw our quarter final destination switch from Hove to Bristol, as Worcestershire forgot their lines against bottom of the table Northamptonshire, while Nottinghamshire again imploded against Durham.
Northamptonshire lifted themselves two places from bottom, leaving Warwickshire and Leicestershire occupying the last two places in the section. Frustratingly, we lost to both, which shows the enigma that is Derbyshire. We had some extraordinary wins this year, a tribute to all concerned, but as soon as we take our foot from the gas, we are penalised.
Still, that switch of opponent will serve us better, though Gloucestershire are a fine side, well led by Michael Klinger in his final season. He finished top of the batting averages, with 35 an innings, but their strength, like ours, has been a genuine team effort. Eight players averaged over 20 with the bat, while six bowlers went for under eight an over. Only Klinger exceeded 300 runs, his 350 comfortably ahead of Miles Hammond's 291.
Compare to Derbyshire, where Madsen and Godleman each scored over 400 runs and Reece, with du Plooy, were close to 300. That top four is an obvious strength, as no one else reached, or had the time at the crease to reach a hundred runs in the group matches. Similarly only Ravi Rampaul, Matt Critchley and Alex Hughes went for under eight an over. though another three were under nine.
The game will make for excellent Saturday night viewing on Sky, unless you live closer and can get down there to cheer the boys on in person.
We now have a week of T20 work, after the game finishes today, to prepare for the game and it offers us another opportunity to make finals day, after messing things up against Hampshire a couple of years ago. I think we will be better prepared for any late curve balls thrown by the opposition, though don't see any major change to the home side's game plan. Nor ours, because in recent games we have formulated one that seems to work.
One thing that has caught my eye this year is the number of overseas signings who have contributed relatively little, at one assumes is considerable cost. The asterisk alongside the name is a player who played less than four games
Batting Av Wkts Bowling rpo
Derbyshire - van Beek 9 9 8.25
Durham - Short 43.9 13 7.88
Handscomb 34.33
Essex - Zampa 8 12 8.02
Amir * 1 10 7.44
Glamorgan - Ingram 26.1 0 8.66
Zaman* 16.5 1 4.33
Marsh 21.5 0 -
Gloucs - Klinger 35 0 -
Tye 15 13 7.38
Hants - Morris 14.33 12 7.88
Shamsi* - 3 9.40
Kent - Nabi 18.37 8 7.22
Viljoen 7.16 18 7.83
Du Plessis* 46 - -
Lancs - Maxwell 41.57 5 6.61
Faulkner 23.33 11 7.68
Leics - NONE
Middlesex - de Villiers 84.25 - -
Mujeeb* 0 7 6.88
Hafeez* 28.75 2 8.64
Northants - Pretorius 25 6 8.4
Ashraf 7.2 11 8.1
Notts - Christian 42 7 8.37
Wasim 13 8 6.42
Somerset - Azam 52.54 - -
Surrey - Finch 36.18 0 9.5
Tahir 8.5 19 8.19
Sussex - Rashid 6.83 7 7.4
Behrendorff* - 0 8.25
Warwicks - Agar 31.66 3 7.43
Patel 5 11 7.26
Worcs - Guptill 32.37 - -
Ferguson 18.42 - -
Rutherford* 16.5 - -
Yorks - Pooran* 40.66 - -
Maharaj* - 2 6.3
You can make up your own mind on those figures, but it confirms that a good overseas input doesn't guarantee progression - see Durham and Surrey - but if you can afford a very good one, it just might (Middlesex). Likewise, while there are a few players with solid figures, the ones that produced regular match-winning performances are in single digits.
For me, however, one figure is worthy of consideration.
Had we signed an overseas player, pre-tournament, then Fynn Hudson-Prentice may not have played much, if at all.
As it was, he averaged 23.25 with the bat, and took nine wickets at a runs per over rate of 8.67. That compares favourably to a lot of bigger names on that list.
A lesson that a few counties might care to learn from, another year.
Northamptonshire lifted themselves two places from bottom, leaving Warwickshire and Leicestershire occupying the last two places in the section. Frustratingly, we lost to both, which shows the enigma that is Derbyshire. We had some extraordinary wins this year, a tribute to all concerned, but as soon as we take our foot from the gas, we are penalised.
Still, that switch of opponent will serve us better, though Gloucestershire are a fine side, well led by Michael Klinger in his final season. He finished top of the batting averages, with 35 an innings, but their strength, like ours, has been a genuine team effort. Eight players averaged over 20 with the bat, while six bowlers went for under eight an over. Only Klinger exceeded 300 runs, his 350 comfortably ahead of Miles Hammond's 291.
Compare to Derbyshire, where Madsen and Godleman each scored over 400 runs and Reece, with du Plooy, were close to 300. That top four is an obvious strength, as no one else reached, or had the time at the crease to reach a hundred runs in the group matches. Similarly only Ravi Rampaul, Matt Critchley and Alex Hughes went for under eight an over. though another three were under nine.
The game will make for excellent Saturday night viewing on Sky, unless you live closer and can get down there to cheer the boys on in person.
We now have a week of T20 work, after the game finishes today, to prepare for the game and it offers us another opportunity to make finals day, after messing things up against Hampshire a couple of years ago. I think we will be better prepared for any late curve balls thrown by the opposition, though don't see any major change to the home side's game plan. Nor ours, because in recent games we have formulated one that seems to work.
One thing that has caught my eye this year is the number of overseas signings who have contributed relatively little, at one assumes is considerable cost. The asterisk alongside the name is a player who played less than four games
Batting Av Wkts Bowling rpo
Derbyshire - van Beek 9 9 8.25
Durham - Short 43.9 13 7.88
Handscomb 34.33
Essex - Zampa 8 12 8.02
Amir * 1 10 7.44
Glamorgan - Ingram 26.1 0 8.66
Zaman* 16.5 1 4.33
Marsh 21.5 0 -
Gloucs - Klinger 35 0 -
Tye 15 13 7.38
Hants - Morris 14.33 12 7.88
Shamsi* - 3 9.40
Kent - Nabi 18.37 8 7.22
Viljoen 7.16 18 7.83
Du Plessis* 46 - -
Lancs - Maxwell 41.57 5 6.61
Faulkner 23.33 11 7.68
Leics - NONE
Middlesex - de Villiers 84.25 - -
Mujeeb* 0 7 6.88
Hafeez* 28.75 2 8.64
Northants - Pretorius 25 6 8.4
Ashraf 7.2 11 8.1
Notts - Christian 42 7 8.37
Wasim 13 8 6.42
Somerset - Azam 52.54 - -
Surrey - Finch 36.18 0 9.5
Tahir 8.5 19 8.19
Sussex - Rashid 6.83 7 7.4
Behrendorff* - 0 8.25
Warwicks - Agar 31.66 3 7.43
Patel 5 11 7.26
Worcs - Guptill 32.37 - -
Ferguson 18.42 - -
Rutherford* 16.5 - -
Yorks - Pooran* 40.66 - -
Maharaj* - 2 6.3
You can make up your own mind on those figures, but it confirms that a good overseas input doesn't guarantee progression - see Durham and Surrey - but if you can afford a very good one, it just might (Middlesex). Likewise, while there are a few players with solid figures, the ones that produced regular match-winning performances are in single digits.
For me, however, one figure is worthy of consideration.
Had we signed an overseas player, pre-tournament, then Fynn Hudson-Prentice may not have played much, if at all.
As it was, he averaged 23.25 with the bat, and took nine wickets at a runs per over rate of 8.67. That compares favourably to a lot of bigger names on that list.
A lesson that a few counties might care to learn from, another year.
Friday 30 August 2019
Derbyshire v Australia day 2
Derbyshire 172 and 53-3
Australia 338-5 (Marsh 74, Khawaja 72, Harris 64, Critchley 2-47)
Derbyshire trail by 113 runs
Australia will almost certainly beat Derbyshire tomorrow, in a game that has been a good run out for both sides, but offered perhaps less time in the middle than Steve Smith might have wanted.
The former Australian skipper was warmly applauded out to the middle by another good crowd, showing themselves more sporting than many that have witnessed the modern great on this tour. Perhaps they were rewarding him for a long time spent signing autographs and posing for photos with all and sundry. To be fair, the Aussies have done a fine job 'schmoozing' at this game, with plenty of adults and children alike going away with their autograph and selfie collections enhanced.
Smith faced only 38 balls, none of them from pace, the last few of which were spent teeing off, before he tried it once too often and holed out in the deep, one of two catches to Hamidullah Qadri. It is a wicket that Matt Critchley will never forget, one of two that he took today, while Qadri was unlucky that a long spell was bowled without reward. Like the other Derbyshire bowlers, he kept his line and length and had a couple of moral victories that are sadly not reflected in the scorebook.
So too did Dustin Melton, who bowled much better today and troubled the batsmen a time or two with his pace. One ball that jagged past the bat of Cameron Bancroft earned him a nod from the batsman, and after seeing him today we can put yesterday's wayward start down to nerves. Enough seen to be worthy of a contract? Only Dave Houghton knows the answer to that one.
For me, the pick of the bowlers was Anuj Dal, whose twelve overs went for just 33 runs and the wicket of Usman Khawaja. It suggested that he might have bowled more this season, but my concern, with his two innings here lasting nine balls and one run, is that he might miss out on a new deal, come season end. At the end of the day, he is a batsman who bowls tidily and fields brilliantly, but with limited opportunities he has perhaps needed to make more of them when they have come along. Still, there's no disgrace in getting out to this attack. It may be their second string, but that just meant that they were all trying their hardest to get into the Test side.
Harris, Khawaja and Marsh all made solid, organised half centuries, without totally dominating the attack. All looked fine players, Khawaja a more organised player, as you would expect, than when he played for us in 2012. Harris was run out by a direct hit from Melton and Marsh looked a good, organised and powerful player in the course of his 74.
The declaration came at 338-5, 166 ahead. Starc's pace accounted for Godleman and Dal, while Reece played away from his body to Siddle and Wade took a routine catch at slip.Thereafter du Plooy and Hughes took us to the close, but there will be a lot of graft ahead of the batting line up tomorrow.
Australia 338-5 (Marsh 74, Khawaja 72, Harris 64, Critchley 2-47)
Derbyshire trail by 113 runs
Australia will almost certainly beat Derbyshire tomorrow, in a game that has been a good run out for both sides, but offered perhaps less time in the middle than Steve Smith might have wanted.
The former Australian skipper was warmly applauded out to the middle by another good crowd, showing themselves more sporting than many that have witnessed the modern great on this tour. Perhaps they were rewarding him for a long time spent signing autographs and posing for photos with all and sundry. To be fair, the Aussies have done a fine job 'schmoozing' at this game, with plenty of adults and children alike going away with their autograph and selfie collections enhanced.
Smith faced only 38 balls, none of them from pace, the last few of which were spent teeing off, before he tried it once too often and holed out in the deep, one of two catches to Hamidullah Qadri. It is a wicket that Matt Critchley will never forget, one of two that he took today, while Qadri was unlucky that a long spell was bowled without reward. Like the other Derbyshire bowlers, he kept his line and length and had a couple of moral victories that are sadly not reflected in the scorebook.
So too did Dustin Melton, who bowled much better today and troubled the batsmen a time or two with his pace. One ball that jagged past the bat of Cameron Bancroft earned him a nod from the batsman, and after seeing him today we can put yesterday's wayward start down to nerves. Enough seen to be worthy of a contract? Only Dave Houghton knows the answer to that one.
For me, the pick of the bowlers was Anuj Dal, whose twelve overs went for just 33 runs and the wicket of Usman Khawaja. It suggested that he might have bowled more this season, but my concern, with his two innings here lasting nine balls and one run, is that he might miss out on a new deal, come season end. At the end of the day, he is a batsman who bowls tidily and fields brilliantly, but with limited opportunities he has perhaps needed to make more of them when they have come along. Still, there's no disgrace in getting out to this attack. It may be their second string, but that just meant that they were all trying their hardest to get into the Test side.
Harris, Khawaja and Marsh all made solid, organised half centuries, without totally dominating the attack. All looked fine players, Khawaja a more organised player, as you would expect, than when he played for us in 2012. Harris was run out by a direct hit from Melton and Marsh looked a good, organised and powerful player in the course of his 74.
The declaration came at 338-5, 166 ahead. Starc's pace accounted for Godleman and Dal, while Reece played away from his body to Siddle and Wade took a routine catch at slip.Thereafter du Plooy and Hughes took us to the close, but there will be a lot of graft ahead of the batting line up tomorrow.
Thursday 29 August 2019
Derbyshire V Australians day 1
Derbyshire 172 (du Plooy 86, Neser 3-31, Starc 3-46)
Australia 77-0 (Harris 52*)
Australia trail by 95 runs
I don't know about you, but I discovered three things during Derbyshire's innings against Australia today
One was that Mitchell Starc is unlucky to be outside of their side at the moment. He bowled some serious rockets today and, by dint of his angle alone, I would want him in my side.
Two is that Michael Neser would make a terrific overseas player for us, or anyone else for that matter, were he capped this winter. He filleted our top order and bowled very well indeed today, troubling everyone with late movement, including a first baller for Anuj Dal that would have tested anyone.
Three is that Leus du Plooy is a very fine player indeed.
We knew that of course, but after a century against Australia A, earlier in the summer, he looked a class above the rest today. As well as having a lot of time, he has the most exquisite timing that allows what appear no more than pushes to race away. It reinforced my opinion that he will play international cricket, one I have held pretty much from the start.
The rest of the batting was merely adequate, at best. The early departure of Godleman was a blow, but while Reece stuck it out till nearly lunchtime, I felt he might have been better served playing his natural game. He was loathe to take risk, which made his eventual demise, caught in the covers failing to get over a drive, all the more disappointing.
The rest came and went with undue haste at times, Hughes and Hosein hanging around without looking entirely convincing, but this was a decent Australian attack and there was help for them throughout.
When Khawaja and Harris opened the reply there was a first senior sighting of Dustin Melton. It was also disappointing, with barely a ball that the batsman needed to play in his first three overs. It may have been the footholds to some extent, which troubled bowlers all day, but he would have hoped for more, as he has been much better than that on second team viewings. Nerves will have played a part too, and tomorrow is a big day for him.
Thereafter the more assertive Marcus Harris reached an attractive fifty and with Khawaja took the score to 77 without loss by the close. Palladino bowled steadily, as did Qadri, but it looks like being a long day in the forecast sunshine tomorrow.
Wednesday 28 August 2019
Derbyshire v Australia preview
Like a few more of you, I think, my mind has wandered in recent days to Monday's game at Old Trafford and a smile has come to my face.
We are in the T20 quarter finals. That's quite a feat and I doff my figurative cap to the squad and to Dominic Cork for a job well done. Of course, there's a likely shoot out against runaway southern group winners Sussex and their raft of power hitters and international bowlers, but in a one off game of cricket, you always have a 50/50 chance.
There will be more on that game, should it prove to be Sussex, in due course, but Alex Carey, one of their overseas players, will have a chance to 'spy' on us tomorrow, as he has been called up to the Australian squad to keep wicket, instead of the resting Tim Paine against us at Derby tomorrow.
He won't see too much of the squad they will likely face, as Dave Houghton has announced an interesting thirteen-man squad for the game. There's a first and belated appearance of the season for the talented Matt McKiernan, who might have forced his way into the side on occasion, bar for a stress fracture last winter. I hope he makes the final eleven, because the remainder of the season offers an opportunity to see what he can do, with both bat and ball. Everyone loves a good leggie, especially if he can bat, as McKiernan can.
There is also an opportunity, perhaps the first of many, for Dustin Melton, a strapping tall fast bowler from South Africa, who has spent the summer bowling for Ockbrook and Borrowash. He has looked a serious talent in the second team, but will have it tested over the next three days. I think a good performance will see him on the staff next year, so keep your eyes on a player of genuine pace and potential.
Billy Godleman plays and skippers the side, the squad being:
Godleman, Reece, du Plooy, Hughes, Critchley, Hosein, Dal, Palladino, Gleadall, Qadri, Melton, McKiernan, Conners
I would guess that the two to miss out would be from Qadri/McKiernan and Gleadall/Conners, but we will see tomorrow.
As for the Australians, they are skippered by our former overseas player, Usman Khawaja, who appears to be relishing being back at his former home. Steve Smith returns to action too, so that young attack, with the old head of Tony Palladino, will be able to pit their talents against one of the modern greats.
Their side:
Bancroft, Harris, Khawaja, Smith, Labuschagne, Marsh, Carey, Wade, Siddle, Neser, Starc
Plenty for the crowd to enjoy and I hope that the game, sponsored by Aston Lark, is well attended. Certainly the weather looks great for the three days, which augurs well.
Here's hoping our young side builds on the current feel good factor and acquits itself well.
We are in the T20 quarter finals. That's quite a feat and I doff my figurative cap to the squad and to Dominic Cork for a job well done. Of course, there's a likely shoot out against runaway southern group winners Sussex and their raft of power hitters and international bowlers, but in a one off game of cricket, you always have a 50/50 chance.
There will be more on that game, should it prove to be Sussex, in due course, but Alex Carey, one of their overseas players, will have a chance to 'spy' on us tomorrow, as he has been called up to the Australian squad to keep wicket, instead of the resting Tim Paine against us at Derby tomorrow.
He won't see too much of the squad they will likely face, as Dave Houghton has announced an interesting thirteen-man squad for the game. There's a first and belated appearance of the season for the talented Matt McKiernan, who might have forced his way into the side on occasion, bar for a stress fracture last winter. I hope he makes the final eleven, because the remainder of the season offers an opportunity to see what he can do, with both bat and ball. Everyone loves a good leggie, especially if he can bat, as McKiernan can.
There is also an opportunity, perhaps the first of many, for Dustin Melton, a strapping tall fast bowler from South Africa, who has spent the summer bowling for Ockbrook and Borrowash. He has looked a serious talent in the second team, but will have it tested over the next three days. I think a good performance will see him on the staff next year, so keep your eyes on a player of genuine pace and potential.
Billy Godleman plays and skippers the side, the squad being:
Godleman, Reece, du Plooy, Hughes, Critchley, Hosein, Dal, Palladino, Gleadall, Qadri, Melton, McKiernan, Conners
I would guess that the two to miss out would be from Qadri/McKiernan and Gleadall/Conners, but we will see tomorrow.
As for the Australians, they are skippered by our former overseas player, Usman Khawaja, who appears to be relishing being back at his former home. Steve Smith returns to action too, so that young attack, with the old head of Tony Palladino, will be able to pit their talents against one of the modern greats.
Their side:
Bancroft, Harris, Khawaja, Smith, Labuschagne, Marsh, Carey, Wade, Siddle, Neser, Starc
Plenty for the crowd to enjoy and I hope that the game, sponsored by Aston Lark, is well attended. Certainly the weather looks great for the three days, which augurs well.
Here's hoping our young side builds on the current feel good factor and acquits itself well.
Monday 26 August 2019
Lancashire v Derbyshire T20 - QUARTER FINALS HERE WE COME!
Derbyshire 162-3 (Madsen 69, Godleman 57, Hughes 22*)
Lancashire 151-9 (Livingstone 58, Rampaul 3-19)
Derbyshire won by 11 runs
Wow, wow, wow!
What an incredible, thrilling, professional way to make the knockout stages of the Vitality Blast! To go to fortress Old Trafford and beat a Lancashire side that has largely carried all before them in the competition was the cherry on the icing on the cake for Derbyshire.
We could have qualified anyway, relying on the results elsewhere and the likelihood of Durham winning their two remaining games was slim. But no need to worry, because Billy Godleman's boys made it three from three in the final run in, each game won by tight bowling, brilliant fielding and sensible batting.
Once again the skipper and Wayne Madsen led from the front, each posting fifties and helping to set a target that was always going to be challenging, on a ground where it tends to get slower as the game goes on. The pair are a modern-day Wright and Kirsten, with Billy's 1750 runs in all cricket this summer almost matched by Wayne's 1654, but how they have set an example for the rest of a young side.
There was a danger in trying to overreach, and score too many, but they took us to the point where it was going to be competitive, before Alex Hughes' crucial late onslaught took us past the 160 signpost on this ground that usually reads 'challenging'.
No one in the country has scored more one-day runs than Billy this summer, his 940 runs a tribute to how he has reinvented himself as an unorthodox yet hugely successful player in the format. You probably wouldn't teach a young batsman to adopt his methods, but you would be proud if he or she was anywhere near as successful. Wayne meanwhile continued to show how he has been one of the unluckiest players in the country to not gain international recognition. There are still few I would want in the middle in his place when runs were most needed, and again he delivered, three sixes helping to accelerate after a slow start.
And yet...that Lancashire batting line up is long and powerful. Davies, so often a catalyst for a big score, went second ball to van Beek, but Croft and Livingstone have scored a lot of runs quickly, and looked to be getting settled, before Ravi Rampaul took two in two balls, Croft caught in the deep and Bohannon bowled.
It was nip and tuck through the middle overs, but with Critchley, Reece and Hughes slowly strangling the run rate. All three did splendidly, Hughes delivering a key wicket by having Livingstone caught by Daryn Smit, but it was only when Reece removed the dangerous Glenn Maxwell that the win started to really look 'on'.
Still there was Vilas, a fine player, but the final key moment came when he chanced two against the speed over the ground and the arm of Anuj Dal. It was a big mistake, and Rampaul's excitment as he removed the bails after a pinpoint throw was clear. It left James Faulkner as the man to get the red rose home, with 29 still needed from the last three overs and 24 from the last two after Ravi bowled a terrific over.
Once again, Fynn Hudson-Prentice delivered under pressure, bowling a fine penultimate one where only eight were scored, six in one blow to Faulkner, before he perished to the next, caught by the safe hands of Madsen.
I had hoped that Ravi might have a dozen to play with on the last, instead he had sixteen and needed only five. Wonderful death bowling by the third senior player who has set such an example this summer. It took him to 21 wickets for the competition and he finished with the astonishing figures of 3-19. He has taken 70 wickets in all cricket this year, looked and stayed fit and has been outstanding. The overweight and disappointing bowler of 2018 has been replaced by the cunning, skilled international bowler that we thought had gone forever. Whatever your team, I doubt you have had a better bowler this summer in T20 cricket than Ravi Rampaul, an economy rate of just 6.71 underlining his value to the side.
Reaching the knockout stages is a huge achievement, for a young team and for Dominic Cork. Their four senior players have led by example, Smit's peerless wicket-keeping and sage advice being invaluable to the skipper. The youngsters and they have clearly responded to Dominic Cork's coaching style and against all the odds they have got through a very strong group. When one considers they didn't manage that last year with Ferguson, Riaz and Viljoen in the side, the scale of the achievement is clear.
Finally, a word about Dominic Cork. A few people, myself included, were slightly sceptical about how much influence a coach could have on a group of players. When we couldn't find or afford a second overseas we brought in two players, Darren Stevens and Boyd Rankin, who haven't offered much. A few even said we should have spent the money on another overseas instead, but as notoveryet pointed out the other day, few of them have made a major contribution around the country.
Cork, doubtlessly in the same bullish manner that he always showed on the pitch, has galvanised his team and inspired them to play sensible, aggressive, intelligent and purposeful cricket. There have been blips, when the plan wasn't carried out as it should have been, but the plan has come together and it has increasingly proved effective. It has been siege mentality, everyone against Derbyshire stuff, and the erstwhile star all-rounder who became a respected pundit has now emerged with great credibility as a coach
We will be away from home for the quarter final, but in this form, whoever we play will know they have been in a game.
And if we can make finals day....now that WOULD be something.
Well done guys. There's a lot of proud supporters with broad smiles tonight.
Lancashire 151-9 (Livingstone 58, Rampaul 3-19)
Derbyshire won by 11 runs
Wow, wow, wow!
What an incredible, thrilling, professional way to make the knockout stages of the Vitality Blast! To go to fortress Old Trafford and beat a Lancashire side that has largely carried all before them in the competition was the cherry on the icing on the cake for Derbyshire.
We could have qualified anyway, relying on the results elsewhere and the likelihood of Durham winning their two remaining games was slim. But no need to worry, because Billy Godleman's boys made it three from three in the final run in, each game won by tight bowling, brilliant fielding and sensible batting.
Once again the skipper and Wayne Madsen led from the front, each posting fifties and helping to set a target that was always going to be challenging, on a ground where it tends to get slower as the game goes on. The pair are a modern-day Wright and Kirsten, with Billy's 1750 runs in all cricket this summer almost matched by Wayne's 1654, but how they have set an example for the rest of a young side.
There was a danger in trying to overreach, and score too many, but they took us to the point where it was going to be competitive, before Alex Hughes' crucial late onslaught took us past the 160 signpost on this ground that usually reads 'challenging'.
No one in the country has scored more one-day runs than Billy this summer, his 940 runs a tribute to how he has reinvented himself as an unorthodox yet hugely successful player in the format. You probably wouldn't teach a young batsman to adopt his methods, but you would be proud if he or she was anywhere near as successful. Wayne meanwhile continued to show how he has been one of the unluckiest players in the country to not gain international recognition. There are still few I would want in the middle in his place when runs were most needed, and again he delivered, three sixes helping to accelerate after a slow start.
And yet...that Lancashire batting line up is long and powerful. Davies, so often a catalyst for a big score, went second ball to van Beek, but Croft and Livingstone have scored a lot of runs quickly, and looked to be getting settled, before Ravi Rampaul took two in two balls, Croft caught in the deep and Bohannon bowled.
It was nip and tuck through the middle overs, but with Critchley, Reece and Hughes slowly strangling the run rate. All three did splendidly, Hughes delivering a key wicket by having Livingstone caught by Daryn Smit, but it was only when Reece removed the dangerous Glenn Maxwell that the win started to really look 'on'.
Still there was Vilas, a fine player, but the final key moment came when he chanced two against the speed over the ground and the arm of Anuj Dal. It was a big mistake, and Rampaul's excitment as he removed the bails after a pinpoint throw was clear. It left James Faulkner as the man to get the red rose home, with 29 still needed from the last three overs and 24 from the last two after Ravi bowled a terrific over.
Once again, Fynn Hudson-Prentice delivered under pressure, bowling a fine penultimate one where only eight were scored, six in one blow to Faulkner, before he perished to the next, caught by the safe hands of Madsen.
I had hoped that Ravi might have a dozen to play with on the last, instead he had sixteen and needed only five. Wonderful death bowling by the third senior player who has set such an example this summer. It took him to 21 wickets for the competition and he finished with the astonishing figures of 3-19. He has taken 70 wickets in all cricket this year, looked and stayed fit and has been outstanding. The overweight and disappointing bowler of 2018 has been replaced by the cunning, skilled international bowler that we thought had gone forever. Whatever your team, I doubt you have had a better bowler this summer in T20 cricket than Ravi Rampaul, an economy rate of just 6.71 underlining his value to the side.
Reaching the knockout stages is a huge achievement, for a young team and for Dominic Cork. Their four senior players have led by example, Smit's peerless wicket-keeping and sage advice being invaluable to the skipper. The youngsters and they have clearly responded to Dominic Cork's coaching style and against all the odds they have got through a very strong group. When one considers they didn't manage that last year with Ferguson, Riaz and Viljoen in the side, the scale of the achievement is clear.
Finally, a word about Dominic Cork. A few people, myself included, were slightly sceptical about how much influence a coach could have on a group of players. When we couldn't find or afford a second overseas we brought in two players, Darren Stevens and Boyd Rankin, who haven't offered much. A few even said we should have spent the money on another overseas instead, but as notoveryet pointed out the other day, few of them have made a major contribution around the country.
Cork, doubtlessly in the same bullish manner that he always showed on the pitch, has galvanised his team and inspired them to play sensible, aggressive, intelligent and purposeful cricket. There have been blips, when the plan wasn't carried out as it should have been, but the plan has come together and it has increasingly proved effective. It has been siege mentality, everyone against Derbyshire stuff, and the erstwhile star all-rounder who became a respected pundit has now emerged with great credibility as a coach
We will be away from home for the quarter final, but in this form, whoever we play will know they have been in a game.
And if we can make finals day....now that WOULD be something.
Well done guys. There's a lot of proud supporters with broad smiles tonight.
Sunday 25 August 2019
Leicestershire v Derbyshire T20
Leicestershire 124-9 (Reece 2-9, Critchley 2-18, Cosgrove 45)
Derbyshire 128-1 (Godleman 52*, Madsen 37*, Reece 29)
Derbyshire won by nine wickets
On a day of extraordinary Test match cricket in Leeds, when Ben Stokes entered the pantheon for as great an innings as you could wish to see, Derbyshire cemented their place in the top four of the Vitality Blast Northern Group with as professional a display as you could wish for.
It was the kind of performance we hoped for between the two teams at Derby, but the bowling was tighter and the batting showed the requisite common sense to simply work the ball around, seeing off the more dangerous spinners, rather than trying to hit them into the next county. There was no rush, the points mattered and we did the job.
I say 'we', it was once again Billy Godleman and Wayne Madsen who saw us to a nine-wicket victory, just as they did against Northamptonshire on Friday night. Earlier the skipper and Luis Reece gave us the impetus by taking 24 from the third over of the innings, bowled by Dieter Klein. Thereafter, only the occasional bucolic blow was required, and a lengthy batting line-up sat in the pavilion and presumably enjoyed it all thoroughly.
It didn't look like that earlier, as Mark Cosgrove got his side off to a fine start and they had reached 67 in the eighth over when he was run out by Logan van Beek. It is always a possibility for him to go in that way, but he was one of three run outs in the innings. Added to fine ground fielding and a tight bowling display that saw only one wide and four leg byes conceded, the players can be proud of a performance of high discipline.
Special mention once again for tight spells by Matt Critchley, Alex Hughes and Luis Reece, who conceded only 44 runs from their collective ten overs, while Ravi Rampaul was equally parsimonious but for once failed to get in the wickets.
For Derbyshire, a win tomorrow at fortress Old Trafford, where a strong home side scored 218 to beat Worcestershire at New Road today. They have lost only one game so far, but a win would see us into the knock out stages, which would be an astonishing achievement. Birmingham's loss to Northamptonshire today sees them unable to qualify, while Yorkshire's end of game collapse at Trent Bridge ends their interest too. So there is now only Durham who could pip us, even if we lose tomorrow. While Northamptonshire could match our points, they cannot match our wins.
Remaining games:
Durham - Birmingham (H) Nottinghamshire (A)
Derbyshire's superior net run rate may be a factor, of course.
For us, the task is clear. Win tomorrow, and it's done and dusted. If we lose, don't do so heavily, and protect that run rate.
Based on performances in the past two games, they have no reason to be afraid.
Go well, lads.
You are making us proud.
Derbyshire 128-1 (Godleman 52*, Madsen 37*, Reece 29)
Derbyshire won by nine wickets
On a day of extraordinary Test match cricket in Leeds, when Ben Stokes entered the pantheon for as great an innings as you could wish to see, Derbyshire cemented their place in the top four of the Vitality Blast Northern Group with as professional a display as you could wish for.
It was the kind of performance we hoped for between the two teams at Derby, but the bowling was tighter and the batting showed the requisite common sense to simply work the ball around, seeing off the more dangerous spinners, rather than trying to hit them into the next county. There was no rush, the points mattered and we did the job.
I say 'we', it was once again Billy Godleman and Wayne Madsen who saw us to a nine-wicket victory, just as they did against Northamptonshire on Friday night. Earlier the skipper and Luis Reece gave us the impetus by taking 24 from the third over of the innings, bowled by Dieter Klein. Thereafter, only the occasional bucolic blow was required, and a lengthy batting line-up sat in the pavilion and presumably enjoyed it all thoroughly.
It didn't look like that earlier, as Mark Cosgrove got his side off to a fine start and they had reached 67 in the eighth over when he was run out by Logan van Beek. It is always a possibility for him to go in that way, but he was one of three run outs in the innings. Added to fine ground fielding and a tight bowling display that saw only one wide and four leg byes conceded, the players can be proud of a performance of high discipline.
Special mention once again for tight spells by Matt Critchley, Alex Hughes and Luis Reece, who conceded only 44 runs from their collective ten overs, while Ravi Rampaul was equally parsimonious but for once failed to get in the wickets.
For Derbyshire, a win tomorrow at fortress Old Trafford, where a strong home side scored 218 to beat Worcestershire at New Road today. They have lost only one game so far, but a win would see us into the knock out stages, which would be an astonishing achievement. Birmingham's loss to Northamptonshire today sees them unable to qualify, while Yorkshire's end of game collapse at Trent Bridge ends their interest too. So there is now only Durham who could pip us, even if we lose tomorrow. While Northamptonshire could match our points, they cannot match our wins.
Remaining games:
Durham - Birmingham (H) Nottinghamshire (A)
Derbyshire's superior net run rate may be a factor, of course.
For us, the task is clear. Win tomorrow, and it's done and dusted. If we lose, don't do so heavily, and protect that run rate.
Based on performances in the past two games, they have no reason to be afraid.
Go well, lads.
You are making us proud.
Leicestershire v Derbyshire T20 preview
Forget Leeds and the Ashes, for the parochial cricket fan like me, today's big game is taking place further south, at the Fischer County Ground in Leicester.
If Derbyshire win today, they will have one foot in the knockout stages of the Vitality Blast, regardless of how they do at Old Trafford on Monday. Durham, Yorkshire and Birmingham could still technically overtake them, so let's look at their remaining fixtures:
Durham - Birmingham (H) Nottinghamshire (A)
Yorkshire - Nottinghamshire (A) Northamptonshire (H) Birmingham (A)
Birmingham - Northamptonshire (H) Durham (A) Yorkshire (H)
With scheduled games against each other, something has to give and it would be ironic were our dear neighbours to do us a favour in a couple of those matches. But if we win both of ours, it won't matter - and that must be the aim.
Lancashire tomorrow will be tough, and since I am working I must follow from a distance. Today's is huge though, and we must hope that the right Derbyshire, the one that bristles with energy and aggression, not to mention a shed load of skill, turns up today.
I don't see any change from Friday night's demolition of Northamptonshire, a side that has some of the biggest lads I have seen on a professional cricket ground in many a year. Size isn't necessarily to the detriment of ability, but it is easy to point at and find fault with when things go wrong.
The only question mark will be Boyd Rankin's place. Is he better with that than Darren Stevens, or would the side be better served with the selection of Mark Watt (who I suspect will play at Old Trafford) or Anuj Dal? Each brings respective strengths to the table, and of course the wicket will dictate what happens in that respect. I expect no other changes for Derbyshire, because there isn't really anyone else, now Tom Lace's season is over.
As for our hosts, they embarrassed us at Derby and we are better than that. In Colin Ackermann they have one of the players of the tournament, but while his figures with the ball suggest he is Jim Laker reincarnated, he simply does the basics well and lets the batsmen make mistakes. He and Mark Cosgrove are the danger men with the bat, but they have got a good side together in this format and cannot be underestimated.
Regardless of the result, both sides have done well in the competition and have flown under the radar against sides with big name and big money imports. It is that side of cricket that I enjoy, and why county cricket continues to mean way more to me than the international game.
With capacity crowds around the country, the Vitality Blast has proved a huge draw and amply illustrated why The Hundred is unnecessary. Properly marketed with a fraction of the money that the new competition is costing, the competition could have captured wider public imagination, just as it has proved a huge hit with the converted.
Like all of you, I would love to see my county at Finals Day.
Fingers crossed that we can do it, one step at a time.
If Derbyshire win today, they will have one foot in the knockout stages of the Vitality Blast, regardless of how they do at Old Trafford on Monday. Durham, Yorkshire and Birmingham could still technically overtake them, so let's look at their remaining fixtures:
Durham - Birmingham (H) Nottinghamshire (A)
Yorkshire - Nottinghamshire (A) Northamptonshire (H) Birmingham (A)
Birmingham - Northamptonshire (H) Durham (A) Yorkshire (H)
With scheduled games against each other, something has to give and it would be ironic were our dear neighbours to do us a favour in a couple of those matches. But if we win both of ours, it won't matter - and that must be the aim.
Lancashire tomorrow will be tough, and since I am working I must follow from a distance. Today's is huge though, and we must hope that the right Derbyshire, the one that bristles with energy and aggression, not to mention a shed load of skill, turns up today.
I don't see any change from Friday night's demolition of Northamptonshire, a side that has some of the biggest lads I have seen on a professional cricket ground in many a year. Size isn't necessarily to the detriment of ability, but it is easy to point at and find fault with when things go wrong.
The only question mark will be Boyd Rankin's place. Is he better with that than Darren Stevens, or would the side be better served with the selection of Mark Watt (who I suspect will play at Old Trafford) or Anuj Dal? Each brings respective strengths to the table, and of course the wicket will dictate what happens in that respect. I expect no other changes for Derbyshire, because there isn't really anyone else, now Tom Lace's season is over.
As for our hosts, they embarrassed us at Derby and we are better than that. In Colin Ackermann they have one of the players of the tournament, but while his figures with the ball suggest he is Jim Laker reincarnated, he simply does the basics well and lets the batsmen make mistakes. He and Mark Cosgrove are the danger men with the bat, but they have got a good side together in this format and cannot be underestimated.
Regardless of the result, both sides have done well in the competition and have flown under the radar against sides with big name and big money imports. It is that side of cricket that I enjoy, and why county cricket continues to mean way more to me than the international game.
With capacity crowds around the country, the Vitality Blast has proved a huge draw and amply illustrated why The Hundred is unnecessary. Properly marketed with a fraction of the money that the new competition is costing, the competition could have captured wider public imagination, just as it has proved a huge hit with the converted.
Like all of you, I would love to see my county at Finals Day.
Fingers crossed that we can do it, one step at a time.
Friday 23 August 2019
Derbyshire V Northamptonshire T20
Northamptonshire 100 (Keogh 28, Hughes 3-13, Hudson-Prentice 2-2, Rampaul 2-15)
Derbyshire 101-1 (Madsen 51*, Godleman 28*)
Well, that was stunning.
If we had played like that in every game this season we wouldn't have lost many, because the all round effort in the field was superb, the batting sensible.
After two overs, the second of which was awful from Logan van Beek, the visitors were 28-0. Yet from that start they were pegged back brilliantly, everything started by a double-wicket maiden from Fynn Hudson-Prentice, whose two overs went for only two runs. Cobb was brilliantly thrown out by Rampaul in the deep, with a direct hit, and the bowlers from that point turned the screw, superbly supported in the field.
I thought Alex Hughes bowled very cannily, varying his length and pace well and getting richly rewarded for his guile. Matt Critchley did well too, and I liked the way that he kept away from a driving length and made the batsmen largely play through point in a fine, controlled spell.
Mention also for Daryn Smit, who kept wicket in his usual exemplary style and was an obvious sage counsel for Billy Godleman. His encouragement of the bowlers was there throughout and he set the tone for a very impressive display in the field, one that could scarce have been bettered.
When Ravi Rampaul closed the innings with two wickets in an over for an all out hundred, there must have been disbelief around the ground and televisions of the country. This was a country mile from the last match and oozed professionalism.
Of course, that had to be replicated with the bat and the need for the runs to be made quickly was tempered by the knowledge that it was not the easiest of batting tracks.
Godleman and Reece led off and without assaying anything too ambitious gave a steady start. 28 had come by the end of the fifth over, the same amount that our visitors had made in two, but ten wickets were in hand. Reece launched Ashraf over mid wicket for six and Godleman thrashed Pretorius through cover for four to take the amount needed under 70.
A sharp caught and bowled chance was missed by Pretorius, though he may not have bowled another ball had he held the catch, off Godleman.
Keogh, who had batted best for the visitors, despite a nasty blow on the hand from van Beek, made the breakthrough when he had Reece leg before with his second ball. He bowled a very canny spell for his side and was the biggest danger.
Madsen joined his captain and conditions were far from easy. The batsmen contented themselves with sensibly milking the ones as the slow bowlers worked away at both ends.
With seven overs to go, 36 were needed. A Madsen reverse sweep brought four, a pull another, a flick over the keeper a third, a whip through leg a fourth. It was impetus at the right time and left 15 from the last five.
Easily accomplished, as Madsen reached a controlled and sensible fifty and scored the winning run in the eighteenth over.
It was sensible, professional cricket throughout. Had we only done that against Leicestershire - but we can put that right this weekend.
With Leicestershire beaten by Nottinghamshire tonight and Warwickshire by Worcestershire, we are back in fourth place, a point ahead of the Foxes.
Win that one on Sunday and we have one foot in the knock outs.
All things considered, that would be a terrific performance.
Derbyshire v Northamptonshire T20 preview
Back to T20 for one more weekend, as Derbyshire strive to make the knock out stages of the competition once more.
Two wins from three may well do it, but we won't especially want to go to Old Trafford and try to beat high-flying Lancashire on Monday. So tonight's game against Northamptonshire and then the trip to Leicester offer our best opportunity.
We can't surely do as badly against the Foxes as last time, but first we have to beat a Northamptonshire side that we beat comfortably on their own patch, but who have since gone on a successful run, especially in the four-day game.
I'd have greater confidence if I knew what wicket we were using, to be honest, because on a used track it may come down to who wins the toss and then presumably bats. Unless we use the one from the recently completed four-day game, which seemed mighty fine to anyone holding a bat over the last three days.
I won't attempt to second guess the team, though I suspect that Mark Watt will return from a good stint with Scotland and probably replace Boyd Rankin. With Tom Lace out for the summer, the batting largely picks itself and the question is if our bowling can rise to the challenge.
My side, for what it is worth, would be
Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Hughes, Hudson-Prentice, Critchley, Smit, van Beek, Watt, Rampaul,
The visitors arrive with the following squad:
Ashraf, Buck, Cobb, Hutton, Keogh, Levi, Muzarabani, Pretorius, Procter, Rossington, Sanderson, Sole, Thurston, Wakely, White
I'm hoping for a reaction to the Leicestershire game and the right result for Derbyshire.
We must all keep our fingers crossed that they deliver.
Go Falcons!
Two wins from three may well do it, but we won't especially want to go to Old Trafford and try to beat high-flying Lancashire on Monday. So tonight's game against Northamptonshire and then the trip to Leicester offer our best opportunity.
We can't surely do as badly against the Foxes as last time, but first we have to beat a Northamptonshire side that we beat comfortably on their own patch, but who have since gone on a successful run, especially in the four-day game.
I'd have greater confidence if I knew what wicket we were using, to be honest, because on a used track it may come down to who wins the toss and then presumably bats. Unless we use the one from the recently completed four-day game, which seemed mighty fine to anyone holding a bat over the last three days.
I won't attempt to second guess the team, though I suspect that Mark Watt will return from a good stint with Scotland and probably replace Boyd Rankin. With Tom Lace out for the summer, the batting largely picks itself and the question is if our bowling can rise to the challenge.
My side, for what it is worth, would be
Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Hughes, Hudson-Prentice, Critchley, Smit, van Beek, Watt, Rampaul,
The visitors arrive with the following squad:
Ashraf, Buck, Cobb, Hutton, Keogh, Levi, Muzarabani, Pretorius, Procter, Rossington, Sanderson, Sole, Thurston, Wakely, White
I'm hoping for a reaction to the Leicestershire game and the right result for Derbyshire.
We must all keep our fingers crossed that they deliver.
Go Falcons!
Thursday 22 August 2019
Unfair stick for Godleman
If any of you looked through the comments on yesterday's game, you will see that I defended the role of Billy Godleman in the declaration decision.
With good reason too. Because it was nothing to do with Billy.
At most clubs, as I understand it, when there is a head coach in position, he and the coaching team make the decisions on the eleven that goes out on the field and on such things as declarations. I know that has been the case at Derbyshire for some time, with the exception of the period when Kim Barnett was in charge and he passed greater responsibility and accountability to the captain.
A lot of people seem to think it is a joint decision, but it isn't, so responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of Dave Houghton and his coaching team on this occasion.
Now don't get me wrong. I have massive respect for Dave, who is an excellent coach and a diamond of a man. He is intelligent, articulate, knowledgeable and for me the best man we could have for that role.
But I think he got it wrong yesterday. And we all make mistakes.
Yes, it was laudable to try and win the game. But the reality is that seven wickets had fallen in more than the last day of cricket, half of them to batsmen slogging for quick runs. So the wicket was fairly docile, and our attack was limited to Rampaul, an overseas with no reputation for bowling tight and nursing injuries, an all rounder with a dodgy ankle and a couple of spinners who have not been in prime form and have not bowled, respectively.
Add in that we need these bowlers fit for the crucial weekend of T20 matches coming up and it looks even more a dubious decision. This against a strong batting side, one that turned in consistently high scores up to 330 in 50-over run chases this season, against better attacks but not necessarily on such good wickets. It was akin to giving someone a walnut, and a nail file to get into it.
I applaud most attempts at brighter cricket, but not when the odds are heavily stacked against you. Gloucestershire would have had to make a major pig's ear of their innings to not get those runs yesterday. Had they done so, they could still have shut up shop with nine, ten, jack and we wouldn't have won. Our batsmen worked hard to get us back into the game when we were over 200 behind, but then we chucked it away.
I would have taken the draw points with no question on this occasion, or at least seen how badly Gloucestershire wanted to win and set them 300 in 40 overs. We still wouldn't have won, but it would have challenged their desire for the win, at the very least and made them take a lot more risks.
As I said yesterday, it makes our last three games largely academic, as promotion is surely beyond us. With Lancashire out of sight, five other counties are better placed and we must now ensure we finish as high as possible.
Winter strengthening of the bowling is a must, but that is an article for another day.
For now, we must focus on the return of T20 and the winning of at least two from our three matches over the weekend.
With good reason too. Because it was nothing to do with Billy.
At most clubs, as I understand it, when there is a head coach in position, he and the coaching team make the decisions on the eleven that goes out on the field and on such things as declarations. I know that has been the case at Derbyshire for some time, with the exception of the period when Kim Barnett was in charge and he passed greater responsibility and accountability to the captain.
A lot of people seem to think it is a joint decision, but it isn't, so responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of Dave Houghton and his coaching team on this occasion.
Now don't get me wrong. I have massive respect for Dave, who is an excellent coach and a diamond of a man. He is intelligent, articulate, knowledgeable and for me the best man we could have for that role.
But I think he got it wrong yesterday. And we all make mistakes.
Yes, it was laudable to try and win the game. But the reality is that seven wickets had fallen in more than the last day of cricket, half of them to batsmen slogging for quick runs. So the wicket was fairly docile, and our attack was limited to Rampaul, an overseas with no reputation for bowling tight and nursing injuries, an all rounder with a dodgy ankle and a couple of spinners who have not been in prime form and have not bowled, respectively.
Add in that we need these bowlers fit for the crucial weekend of T20 matches coming up and it looks even more a dubious decision. This against a strong batting side, one that turned in consistently high scores up to 330 in 50-over run chases this season, against better attacks but not necessarily on such good wickets. It was akin to giving someone a walnut, and a nail file to get into it.
I applaud most attempts at brighter cricket, but not when the odds are heavily stacked against you. Gloucestershire would have had to make a major pig's ear of their innings to not get those runs yesterday. Had they done so, they could still have shut up shop with nine, ten, jack and we wouldn't have won. Our batsmen worked hard to get us back into the game when we were over 200 behind, but then we chucked it away.
I would have taken the draw points with no question on this occasion, or at least seen how badly Gloucestershire wanted to win and set them 300 in 40 overs. We still wouldn't have won, but it would have challenged their desire for the win, at the very least and made them take a lot more risks.
As I said yesterday, it makes our last three games largely academic, as promotion is surely beyond us. With Lancashire out of sight, five other counties are better placed and we must now ensure we finish as high as possible.
Winter strengthening of the bowling is a must, but that is an article for another day.
For now, we must focus on the return of T20 and the winning of at least two from our three matches over the weekend.
Wednesday 21 August 2019
Derbyshire v Gloucestershire day 4
Derbyshire 200 and 481-6d (Lace 125, du Plooy 67)
Gloucestershire 419 and 263-2 (Bracey 116*, Dent 62)
Gloucestershire won by 8 wickets
Having watched it throughout, I found this a very odd day's cricket.
I watched before lunch as Tom Lace and Leus du Plooy gathered runs almost without incident, the travails of the first day some distance in the past. Barely a ball moved, but credit must go to very talented batsmen for their application and skill in taking the score to lunch, and beyond 400 without being parted.
They added 157 runs before Lace, coming out after the interval to score quick runs, edged a catch behind. du Plooy went soon afterwards, but the ease with which Hughes, Hosein and the promoted Rampaul scored runs thereafter suggested that there was nothing in the wicket.
At no point did the visitors present us with runs, stick on the part time bowlers or look like they were setting a target with buffet bowling. The only side who seemed to be pushing for a win was Derbyshire. Whether an agreement had been reached I couldn't say, but when the batsmen were called in, Gloucestershire were set what seemed then an exceedingly generous 263 in 49 overs, on a now moribund batting track, against an attack one would hardly rank among the best we have fielded in our 149-year history.
I didn't get it then, but I get it even less now. Were there any demons in the surface I could have understood it. The odd ball gripped for Matt Critchley and Wayne Madsen, but there was nothing else for the bowlers and, after batting resolutely for well over a day, we effectively gave the game to the opposition, the only side that could win from that position unless, like Frank and Nancy Sinatra, they did something stupid. Which is why this report is out two minutes after the end of the game...
Without really trying anything ambitious, Gloucestershire eased to a victory that cements their promotion challenge and puts them beyond our reach. The excellent Chris Dent and James Bracey led off with a stand of 133 in thirty overs and from there it was an undemanding T20 target with nine wickets in hand. This for a side that has shown itself a pretty good side in that format. Bracey went on to a fine and largely untroubled century and they will drive home tonight with large and self-satisfied smiles and win points that were pretty much gift-wrapped for them.
I know we wanted to win. I know a win would have been valuable for igniting a promotion push. Yet having seen the way the wicket was behaving (or not misbehaving), the equation had to be far more demanding of the side batting last. 270 in 40 overs might have given us a chance if they played too wildly. Better still would have been an acceptance that we simply weren't going to win on this wicket, so let's just take a dull, but hard fought draw and stay within a win of Gloucestershire, who would still have been in the promotion places
As it is, they are over forty points clear of us in second place now and out of our reach. Meanwhile we are in a fight to avoid the wooden spoon, which scarce seems possible from some of the excellent cricket we have played, but reflects some occasional lapses and odd decision-making, together with a lack of penetration with the ball. I'm still puzzled by the omission of Tony Palladino here, who would have enjoyed this wicket on the second day and made them work more today.
In closing, I would like to wish Tom Lace well, after sustaining a nasty hand injury this afternoon. We may or may not see him again this season, but his century was another innings of high quality in a season that has seen a few of them.
In many ways he reminds me of Ian Bell at the crease, compact, organised, busy and balanced. I hope that we are able to sign him up for next season, as there is a nice look to the county top five at present.
The bowling needs some attention though. I won't blame them today as the wicket was perfect for batting, but our best two seamers are in their mid-thirties and our best all-rounder cannot surely open the batting and bowl the second most overs for too long.
A winter overhaul of the bowling, within budgetary constraints, is needed.
Gloucestershire 419 and 263-2 (Bracey 116*, Dent 62)
Gloucestershire won by 8 wickets
Having watched it throughout, I found this a very odd day's cricket.
I watched before lunch as Tom Lace and Leus du Plooy gathered runs almost without incident, the travails of the first day some distance in the past. Barely a ball moved, but credit must go to very talented batsmen for their application and skill in taking the score to lunch, and beyond 400 without being parted.
They added 157 runs before Lace, coming out after the interval to score quick runs, edged a catch behind. du Plooy went soon afterwards, but the ease with which Hughes, Hosein and the promoted Rampaul scored runs thereafter suggested that there was nothing in the wicket.
At no point did the visitors present us with runs, stick on the part time bowlers or look like they were setting a target with buffet bowling. The only side who seemed to be pushing for a win was Derbyshire. Whether an agreement had been reached I couldn't say, but when the batsmen were called in, Gloucestershire were set what seemed then an exceedingly generous 263 in 49 overs, on a now moribund batting track, against an attack one would hardly rank among the best we have fielded in our 149-year history.
I didn't get it then, but I get it even less now. Were there any demons in the surface I could have understood it. The odd ball gripped for Matt Critchley and Wayne Madsen, but there was nothing else for the bowlers and, after batting resolutely for well over a day, we effectively gave the game to the opposition, the only side that could win from that position unless, like Frank and Nancy Sinatra, they did something stupid. Which is why this report is out two minutes after the end of the game...
Without really trying anything ambitious, Gloucestershire eased to a victory that cements their promotion challenge and puts them beyond our reach. The excellent Chris Dent and James Bracey led off with a stand of 133 in thirty overs and from there it was an undemanding T20 target with nine wickets in hand. This for a side that has shown itself a pretty good side in that format. Bracey went on to a fine and largely untroubled century and they will drive home tonight with large and self-satisfied smiles and win points that were pretty much gift-wrapped for them.
I know we wanted to win. I know a win would have been valuable for igniting a promotion push. Yet having seen the way the wicket was behaving (or not misbehaving), the equation had to be far more demanding of the side batting last. 270 in 40 overs might have given us a chance if they played too wildly. Better still would have been an acceptance that we simply weren't going to win on this wicket, so let's just take a dull, but hard fought draw and stay within a win of Gloucestershire, who would still have been in the promotion places
As it is, they are over forty points clear of us in second place now and out of our reach. Meanwhile we are in a fight to avoid the wooden spoon, which scarce seems possible from some of the excellent cricket we have played, but reflects some occasional lapses and odd decision-making, together with a lack of penetration with the ball. I'm still puzzled by the omission of Tony Palladino here, who would have enjoyed this wicket on the second day and made them work more today.
In closing, I would like to wish Tom Lace well, after sustaining a nasty hand injury this afternoon. We may or may not see him again this season, but his century was another innings of high quality in a season that has seen a few of them.
In many ways he reminds me of Ian Bell at the crease, compact, organised, busy and balanced. I hope that we are able to sign him up for next season, as there is a nice look to the county top five at present.
The bowling needs some attention though. I won't blame them today as the wicket was perfect for batting, but our best two seamers are in their mid-thirties and our best all-rounder cannot surely open the batting and bowl the second most overs for too long.
A winter overhaul of the bowling, within budgetary constraints, is needed.
Tuesday 20 August 2019
Derbyshire v Gloucestershire day 3
Derbyshire 200 and 305-3 (Godleman 86, Lace 69*, Madsen 69)
Gloucestershire 419 (Reece 4-91)
Derbyshire lead by 86 runs
They still need to work hard tomorrow to avoid defeat, and I am not convinced that anything more than a draw is possible on a wicket that seems to have eased considerably, but today could scarce have gone better than it did for Derbyshire today.
It was a quite splendid, grafting, resilient effort that brought us back into a game that we appeared out of last night. Starting with the quick mopping up of the visiting tail, the batsmen without exception got in, got their heads down yet were unafraid to punish the bad ball.
With plenty of batting to come, and both sides needing a win to reinforce their promotion push, a contrived finish is not beyond the realms of possibility tomorrow, but I struggle to see how we can come out on the right side of it, if it was attempted.
Gloucestershire could bowl us out in the morning, when conditions at Derby are always most helpful to bowlers, but would themselves be wary if it started moving around when they have to bat last.
But a day off tomorrow will enable me to watch the day's play and I hope that something happens, rather than the game simply petering out into a dull draw. Though it is fair to say that we need the win from the game more than Gloucestershire, who will remain very much in the mix, whatever the result.
Even at that, however, from where we were at the start of the day, Derbyshire can take great credit. I have seen plenty of sides representing the county that would have folded when 200 runs and counting behind.
This squad is made of sterner stuff.
And it is a pleasure to see.
Gloucestershire 419 (Reece 4-91)
Derbyshire lead by 86 runs
They still need to work hard tomorrow to avoid defeat, and I am not convinced that anything more than a draw is possible on a wicket that seems to have eased considerably, but today could scarce have gone better than it did for Derbyshire today.
It was a quite splendid, grafting, resilient effort that brought us back into a game that we appeared out of last night. Starting with the quick mopping up of the visiting tail, the batsmen without exception got in, got their heads down yet were unafraid to punish the bad ball.
With plenty of batting to come, and both sides needing a win to reinforce their promotion push, a contrived finish is not beyond the realms of possibility tomorrow, but I struggle to see how we can come out on the right side of it, if it was attempted.
Gloucestershire could bowl us out in the morning, when conditions at Derby are always most helpful to bowlers, but would themselves be wary if it started moving around when they have to bat last.
But a day off tomorrow will enable me to watch the day's play and I hope that something happens, rather than the game simply petering out into a dull draw. Though it is fair to say that we need the win from the game more than Gloucestershire, who will remain very much in the mix, whatever the result.
Even at that, however, from where we were at the start of the day, Derbyshire can take great credit. I have seen plenty of sides representing the county that would have folded when 200 runs and counting behind.
This squad is made of sterner stuff.
And it is a pleasure to see.
Derbyshire V Gloucestershire day 2
In short...Derbyshire will be battling to avoid defeat against Gloucestershire today.
Dont say I didn't warn you, but Chris Dent, a player who could solve England's issues, and the outstanding Ryan Higgins both scored centuries to take the game away from us.
At 396-7 Gloucestershire are 196 ahead and could stretch that, lead still further before our second innings.
Not looking good, is it?
Monday 19 August 2019
Derbyshire V Gloucestershire day 1
Derbyshire 200 (Hughes 39, Hudson-Prentice 38, van Beek 34*)
Gloucestershire 46-2
Apologies for the lack of blog last night but family matters overtook me.
I don't think that Derbyshire did too badly, on a pitch that remained awkward until the end of the day. A truer picture will be known at lunch today, but the visiting batsmen had their own trials and tribulations in turn and this morning will be a test.
I appreciated the batsmen digging in and fighting, as elsewhere around the country wickets fell and teams capitulated. Alex Hughes again came up with runs when most needed, while Fynn Hudson-Prentice mixed grit with aggression and reinforced the positive impression he has made.
Late on, even Ravi Rampaul dug in for a, while and supported Logan van Beek to get us to a batting bonus point. The latter played his best innings in the county colours, as well as producing the shot of the day, a majestic 'hold the pose' six over long on, one of two.
200 was more than looked likely in the morning session, as wickets tumbled and both openers were quickly back in the hutch. Madsen batted well for a while but the wickets were the result of fine bowling, rather than lax batting.
All to play for today, then.
Just an early warning that a blog is unlikely tonight, as I am working a 12 hour shift and start early again tomorrow. Feel free to put your thoughts in here!
Saturday 17 August 2019
Derbyshire v Gloucestershire County Championship preview
Dave Houghton has named a 12-man squad as Derbyshire return to four-day cricket at the Pattonair County Ground tomorrow.
They play a Gloucestershire side currently in third place in the division, a position that we are chasing ourselves, along with most of the rest of the division. With the exception of Leicestershire, any side that strings together a late run could get into those places, with Lancashire looking certain winners and Glamorgan currently (just) in second place.
A few sides are strengthening for a final push. Tomorrow's visitors have signed Josh Shaw on a three-year deal and have taken him on loan from Yorkshire, while they have also signed Shannon Gabriel from the West Indies for the season's last three games. Meanwhile Glamorgan have signed Samit Patel on loan from Nottinghamshire for the rest of the season.
In Ryan Higgins they picked up a fantastic all round signing from Middlesex and he is high in the batting and bowling averages this year. Chris Dent continues to score a lot of runs too, while David Payne, free from injury issues, like Higgins has over thirty wickets this summer.
There is no news on their squad as yet, but it will be a tough game. If we lose it, promotion prospects will be slim, I think, as the gap would then be 30-40 points and we would need to play out of our skins to pull that back.
The Derbyshire squad sees a return for Tom Lace, Tony Palladino and Harvey Hosein, who take their places in this squad:
Billy Godleman
Luis Reece
Wayne Madsen
Tom Lace
Leus du Plooy
Alex Hughes
Matt Critchley
Fynn Hudson-Prentice
Harvey Hosein
Logan van Beek
Tony Palladino
Ravi Rampaul
My guess is that Alex Hughes may miss out, based purely on four-day form prior to the break. Hudson-Prentice has come into the side and done well, while most of the rest appear to pick themselves.
I will be hoping for a stream and will see most of the action tomorrow, which seems set to benefit from a good forecast. So is the rest of the match, so with both teams needing a win, it appears set for an enthralling four days of cricket.
Fingers crossed we come out on the right side of it, but much will depend on which side gets out of T20 mode the best.
More from me tomorrow.
They play a Gloucestershire side currently in third place in the division, a position that we are chasing ourselves, along with most of the rest of the division. With the exception of Leicestershire, any side that strings together a late run could get into those places, with Lancashire looking certain winners and Glamorgan currently (just) in second place.
A few sides are strengthening for a final push. Tomorrow's visitors have signed Josh Shaw on a three-year deal and have taken him on loan from Yorkshire, while they have also signed Shannon Gabriel from the West Indies for the season's last three games. Meanwhile Glamorgan have signed Samit Patel on loan from Nottinghamshire for the rest of the season.
In Ryan Higgins they picked up a fantastic all round signing from Middlesex and he is high in the batting and bowling averages this year. Chris Dent continues to score a lot of runs too, while David Payne, free from injury issues, like Higgins has over thirty wickets this summer.
There is no news on their squad as yet, but it will be a tough game. If we lose it, promotion prospects will be slim, I think, as the gap would then be 30-40 points and we would need to play out of our skins to pull that back.
The Derbyshire squad sees a return for Tom Lace, Tony Palladino and Harvey Hosein, who take their places in this squad:
Billy Godleman
Luis Reece
Wayne Madsen
Tom Lace
Leus du Plooy
Alex Hughes
Matt Critchley
Fynn Hudson-Prentice
Harvey Hosein
Logan van Beek
Tony Palladino
Ravi Rampaul
My guess is that Alex Hughes may miss out, based purely on four-day form prior to the break. Hudson-Prentice has come into the side and done well, while most of the rest appear to pick themselves.
I will be hoping for a stream and will see most of the action tomorrow, which seems set to benefit from a good forecast. So is the rest of the match, so with both teams needing a win, it appears set for an enthralling four days of cricket.
Fingers crossed we come out on the right side of it, but much will depend on which side gets out of T20 mode the best.
More from me tomorrow.
Friday 16 August 2019
Weekend thoughts
There's a return to county championship cricket for Derbyshire this weekend, with a game at Derby against Gloucestershire to occupy minds before next weekend's hectic end, or otherwise, to the Vitality Blast.
I would regard tonight's point in the washout against Nottinghamshire as a bonus, just the same as was our point against Lancashire previously. We don't have a great record against either, so two points from a possible four is OK, thank you very much.
I have returned home after a nice break in the Lakes, less traumatised than some of you from not having seen last night's debacle. Your many comments have been enjoyed and appreciated, with a lot of common sense among them.
Next weekend we play Northamptonshire on Friday at Derby, then travel to Leicester on the Sunday, before finishing off at Old Trafford on Monday.
The key thing to remember, despite last night, is that, as notoveryet says in his excellent post, we still control our own destiny. I will quote him for convenience:
'If we beat, as we should, both Northants and Leics, Leics will need to get three points from games against Notts and Lancs to overtake us, Warwickshire would need to win three out of four including beating one of Lancs or Worcs, and Durham would need to match our results. So it's still just about in our hands even if we don't beat Lancs in the last match'
We will, as he also points out, have Mark Watt back from Scotland duty, and that will be key for those games, especially at Old Trafford. I'm not, I have to say, especially sold on the idea of playing on used wickets, because the side batting second is at a great disadvantage and you pretty much rely on the coin toss to win the game - or lose it.
Nor am I sold on Darren Stevens or Boyd Rankin, based on performances so far. For all their fine careers, both seem to be running on empty and whatever the cost it has not been close to justified. Perhaps one of them will get further opportunity and will go on to win us a match from here, but nothing we have seen so far has suggested that.
From the comments I have read, Stevens committed a schoolboy error in his running last night, and at his age you really need to be giving yourself every bit of help possible. Neither are an asset in the field and the side would likely lose nothing in swapping Watt and Dal in for them. Truth is, with Watt's bowling and Dal's all round ability, especially in the field, we stand to gain quite a lot.
A side that has beaten Yorkshire twice and the reigning champions once, as well as running them close a second time, is capable of beating anyone. Yet we must not make the mistake of confusing aggressive cricket with constant hitting, because it isn't that. Aggression is standing toe to toe with an opponent and using your full range of skills to outwit and beat them.
I totally understand, as several have commented, that we had to try and get boundaries against a hard, new ball, before it slowed down as it got softer. Yet clever placement could and should have been allied with that. To lose wicket after wicket to attempted big hits was what Geoff Boycott would call 'brainless cricket'. I'd have loved to see Dean Jones in his pomp on that run chase. He'd have worked the gaps, run the twos and made sure the others did the same. We needed little more than a run a ball from the outset and should have played it accordingly.
At least, again as notoveryet mentioned, Daryn Smit used his noggin and ensured we batted most of our overs, preserving, to some extent, the net run rate. It looks increasingly likely to decide this group's final place and we need to make sure that we are the right side of it.
IF we make the knock out stages of the competition, with the handicaps that have been in place, then Dominic Cork and his squad deserve all the plaudits that will go their way. Maybe, with the year's delay of the European T20 competition and one or two players missing out on both that and the CPL, there may be a decent overseas player available to enhance the squad at that point, for one match or otherwise.
But first things first. A win against Gloucestershire will do us good in the four-day game, and then we see what happens next weekend.
For all last night's disappointment, we can still do this.
Muscle AND mind.
That's what will do it.
I would regard tonight's point in the washout against Nottinghamshire as a bonus, just the same as was our point against Lancashire previously. We don't have a great record against either, so two points from a possible four is OK, thank you very much.
I have returned home after a nice break in the Lakes, less traumatised than some of you from not having seen last night's debacle. Your many comments have been enjoyed and appreciated, with a lot of common sense among them.
Next weekend we play Northamptonshire on Friday at Derby, then travel to Leicester on the Sunday, before finishing off at Old Trafford on Monday.
The key thing to remember, despite last night, is that, as notoveryet says in his excellent post, we still control our own destiny. I will quote him for convenience:
'If we beat, as we should, both Northants and Leics, Leics will need to get three points from games against Notts and Lancs to overtake us, Warwickshire would need to win three out of four including beating one of Lancs or Worcs, and Durham would need to match our results. So it's still just about in our hands even if we don't beat Lancs in the last match'
We will, as he also points out, have Mark Watt back from Scotland duty, and that will be key for those games, especially at Old Trafford. I'm not, I have to say, especially sold on the idea of playing on used wickets, because the side batting second is at a great disadvantage and you pretty much rely on the coin toss to win the game - or lose it.
Nor am I sold on Darren Stevens or Boyd Rankin, based on performances so far. For all their fine careers, both seem to be running on empty and whatever the cost it has not been close to justified. Perhaps one of them will get further opportunity and will go on to win us a match from here, but nothing we have seen so far has suggested that.
From the comments I have read, Stevens committed a schoolboy error in his running last night, and at his age you really need to be giving yourself every bit of help possible. Neither are an asset in the field and the side would likely lose nothing in swapping Watt and Dal in for them. Truth is, with Watt's bowling and Dal's all round ability, especially in the field, we stand to gain quite a lot.
A side that has beaten Yorkshire twice and the reigning champions once, as well as running them close a second time, is capable of beating anyone. Yet we must not make the mistake of confusing aggressive cricket with constant hitting, because it isn't that. Aggression is standing toe to toe with an opponent and using your full range of skills to outwit and beat them.
I totally understand, as several have commented, that we had to try and get boundaries against a hard, new ball, before it slowed down as it got softer. Yet clever placement could and should have been allied with that. To lose wicket after wicket to attempted big hits was what Geoff Boycott would call 'brainless cricket'. I'd have loved to see Dean Jones in his pomp on that run chase. He'd have worked the gaps, run the twos and made sure the others did the same. We needed little more than a run a ball from the outset and should have played it accordingly.
At least, again as notoveryet mentioned, Daryn Smit used his noggin and ensured we batted most of our overs, preserving, to some extent, the net run rate. It looks increasingly likely to decide this group's final place and we need to make sure that we are the right side of it.
IF we make the knock out stages of the competition, with the handicaps that have been in place, then Dominic Cork and his squad deserve all the plaudits that will go their way. Maybe, with the year's delay of the European T20 competition and one or two players missing out on both that and the CPL, there may be a decent overseas player available to enhance the squad at that point, for one match or otherwise.
But first things first. A win against Gloucestershire will do us good in the four-day game, and then we see what happens next weekend.
For all last night's disappointment, we can still do this.
Muscle AND mind.
That's what will do it.
Thursday 15 August 2019
Derbyshire V Leicestershire T20
Leicestershire 149-7
Derbyshire 94 all out
I can't say too much about it as (thankfully) I didn't see it, but Derbyshire did their best to put me off my evening meal in the pub tonight
The good news is that the results and no results in this group have left us still in it, but that must have been awful to watch, wherever you were doing so.
The concern was there when we lost the toss, given we were playing on a used pitch. It was never going to be easy batting second and we effectively gave ourselves a 50/50 chance of winning through the toss.
Yet the dismissals seem to have been poor and one would hope that we were better at playing on our own wicket than that.
From the sound of it there were too many given away with big shots, when a more prudent approach might have been beneficial.
The bowling was not too bad, but you have to balance that against what followed.
I will leave you to comment on the rest. A point from a rain off against Nottinghamshire is perhaps the summit of our ambitions in that game, then it is how we do in the return against Leicestershire, another against Northamptonshire and a final trip to Old Trafford, never a happy hunting ground for us.
We never do things the easy way, do we?
And the frustration felt by fans tonight is tangible from here.
Over to you.
Wednesday 14 August 2019
Derbyshire V Leicestershire preview
Derbyshire face another challenge tomorrow night in their quest to make the knockout stages of the Vitality Blast for only the third time.
Having disposed of two teams, Yorkshire and Worcestershire, who are supposedly better than us, there is a different kind of challenge in a Leicestershire side which, like us, is regarded as one of the sides that simply make up the numbers.
Given that they are on a hot winning streak at the moment, it would be very much to our detriment if we went into the game with anything less than 100% commitment.
In such matches we have fallen short this year, losing to Durham and Warwickshire sides that were not of the same quality as those that we have beaten.
So complacency is our biggest danger tomorrow. Colin Ackerman is a dangerous cricketer and Mark Cosgrove has been a thorn in our sides several times over the years. They have no overseas player, but like us are pulling together as a team in which everyone plays a part.
Once again I am missing us in front of the TV cameras, being away in the Lake District until Friday. Poor planning on my part, perhaps, but family always comes first.
So I must follow from afar and look forward to your informed comments later. I don't expect any changes to the side, because we have now got a pretty tight and cohesive unit that works. The batting has been solid, at times spectacular, and we just need the bowling to do the same.
The last two performances of Logan van Beek have been encouraging and I hope he is fit enough to play, having only bowled two overs against Worcestershire. Similarly we need Boyd Rankin to bowl better than the last couple of games, as, the temptation to replace him with Anuj Dal or Darren Stevens may be strong.
If we can reproduce our form of the last two games - and I suspect win the toss - then we might be looking at a remarkable three in three tomorrow.
But Dominic Cork and Billy Godleman will know that performance and commitment levels from all eleven players must not drop from those past two matches.
I'm going to go for a win.
What do you think?
Tuesday 13 August 2019
Derbyshire V Worcestershire T20
Derbyshire 181-2 (Godleman 92, Reece 51)
Worcestershire 161-7 (Critchley 4-36, Guptill 45)
Derbyshire won by 20 runs
And with a win against the competition's reigning champions Derbyshire catapulted themselves in two matches from bottom 2/4 place in the group.
They are halfway to Dominic Cork's target of winning the next 4 matches and have played some very good cricket in the process.
I only followed tonight's action at a distance, walking through a delightful park in Grange over Sands. Yet when I heard that we were batting first I felt that a solid performance would enable us to do to Worcestershire what Durham did to us last week.
Had it been scripted it could not have gone better. Billy Godleman registered his highest score in T20 cricket and shared in an excellent partnership with Luis Reece which ensured that the visitors were going to have their work cut out. Late impetus came from our Cape Crusaders, Messrs Madsen and du Plooy and at the halfway stage I was reasonably confident as long as we made quick inroads to a powerful batting line-up.
Alex Hughes ran out the dangerous Wessels but while Guptill and Ferguson were together they were not out of the game.
What I felt was canny tonight was in Billy Godleman's handling of Matt Critchley. He kept him back until the ball was older and the wicket slower, making him a tough proposition.
His excellent spell, which included four wickets, effectively changed and won the game. He was backed up in the field and the supporting bowlers appear to have done an excellent job.
I look forward to hearing the comments from those of you who were lucky enough to be there, and hope that we can continue this excellent run.
If we can beat Leicestershire, irrespective of the result at Trent Bridge, we are still capable of retaining our place in the top four.
From where we started, and taking into account our resources, that would be some achievement.
More from me soon.
Sunday 11 August 2019
Yorkshire v Derbyshire T20
Derbyshire 207-5 (Madsen 66, du Plooy 51, Bresnan 2-17)
Yorkshire 152 (Leaning 36, van Beek 4-17)
Derbyshire won by 55 runs
After ten years of doing this blog, I still haven't worked out if Derbyshire are a fine side that too often slips into the land of mediocrity, or a poor one that sometimes, eye-catchingly, plays way above itself.
Make no mistake, if we had gone out in previous matches with the same attitude that was displayed today, as we breezed past our Yorkshire rabbits for the sixth successive time in this competition, we would be sitting pretty in the northern section.
Maybe I should write them off more often, but the time to get excited is if we replicate this performance against Worcestershire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire this week. If we do, then at least two of those games are winnable, because we were brilliant today. Goodbye anaemic cricket, hello fresh plasma, with a topping of iron tablets.
We batted without fear, with lots of common sense and with terrific skill. There's no rocket science to a game plan that says if Madsen and du Plooy spend time at the crease, we will win a lot more games.Here, their partnership was only seven overs, but it produced 87 magical, maniacal runs as they put the home side to the sword. There were several top edges from Madsen, but his 66 from just 37 balls, with six fours and four sixes, saw him top score. When he does that, we do well, such is the rate at which he scores.
Yet he at times seemed pedestrian alongside the magnificent du Plooy. Reaching fifty from just twenty deliveries, he equalled Wes Durston's county record, to go with setting a new benchmark for fifty in the RLODC game on this ground in 23 balls. Not bad for half a season's work and for the second time on this ground he took Duanne Olivier apart.
du Plooy is a special talent and he will play international cricket, though whether for England or South Africa only he (and the terms of Brexit) will decide. His hand/eye coordination, coupled with his footwork, is breathtaking, his timing and placement extraordinary. He is not of brawny build, like a Wilkins or Kuiper, but he hits a ball a long way. With this summer's experience of English wickets behind him, he should be really something next season, that's for sure. I look forward to winter news of a contract extension for an outstanding cricketer and lovely bloke.
Eleven sixes came in the innings and the brisk start of Reece and Godleman should not be overlooked, nor the sensible batting of those who took us past 200, even if it was a little like after the Lord Mayor's show. I would still have Hudson-Prentice at five and a delicious sashay down the wicket and stroke over extra cover, when he first came in, oozed class.
Yet the home side were up with the rate for a long time, their main issue being the loss of regular wickets. Neither Rampaul nor Rankin bowled as well as in previous games and there were ten unnecessarily profligate wides in the innings. Yet today I am happy to say that Logan van Beek was star bowler by a mile, taking 4-17 in three overs of controlled aggression.
With the home side on 134-5 after thirteen overs, the dangerous Leaning and Thompson both in and going well, the result was far from certain. Yet the former was one of two catches by Godleman, to go with an excellent, direct hit run out before Leaning gloved a sharp bouncer from van Beek to be brilliantly taken, around second leg slip, by the diving Smit. The game was over at that point.
Luis Reece bowled very well too, keeping an excellent line outside off stump, while Matt Critchley bowled another controlled spell of leg spin.Fittingly it was van Beek who finished things off with the run out of Shutt, capping an excellent performance, his best for the county.
For all their international absentees and their protestations to the contrary, this isn't a great Yorkshire side. Read or listen to their supporters, or the commentators today, who were just as bad, and one would assume they had a divine right to win matches. Team spirit didn't appear high to me, but it wouldn't be, as the defeat dropped them to the bottom of the group.
A 'little' county like Derbyshire really shouldn't be beating a 'big one' like Yorkshire, but we do so on a remarkably regular basis. If we can channel today's aggression and purpose, we are capable of winning at least two of the next three games, maybe even going on to qualify, but you just don't know.
Will the real Derbyshire County Cricket Club stand up?
Because I liked today's version. A lot.
Yorkshire 152 (Leaning 36, van Beek 4-17)
Derbyshire won by 55 runs
After ten years of doing this blog, I still haven't worked out if Derbyshire are a fine side that too often slips into the land of mediocrity, or a poor one that sometimes, eye-catchingly, plays way above itself.
Make no mistake, if we had gone out in previous matches with the same attitude that was displayed today, as we breezed past our Yorkshire rabbits for the sixth successive time in this competition, we would be sitting pretty in the northern section.
Maybe I should write them off more often, but the time to get excited is if we replicate this performance against Worcestershire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire this week. If we do, then at least two of those games are winnable, because we were brilliant today. Goodbye anaemic cricket, hello fresh plasma, with a topping of iron tablets.
We batted without fear, with lots of common sense and with terrific skill. There's no rocket science to a game plan that says if Madsen and du Plooy spend time at the crease, we will win a lot more games.Here, their partnership was only seven overs, but it produced 87 magical, maniacal runs as they put the home side to the sword. There were several top edges from Madsen, but his 66 from just 37 balls, with six fours and four sixes, saw him top score. When he does that, we do well, such is the rate at which he scores.
Yet he at times seemed pedestrian alongside the magnificent du Plooy. Reaching fifty from just twenty deliveries, he equalled Wes Durston's county record, to go with setting a new benchmark for fifty in the RLODC game on this ground in 23 balls. Not bad for half a season's work and for the second time on this ground he took Duanne Olivier apart.
- With one in the eye for those commentators who declare a six a 'maximum', he took 14 from the first ball of Olivier's final over. First he swatted an above waist height full toss for a straight six and then, having got two for the no ball, thrashed the free hit over mid on and out of the ground. 32 (yes, THIRTY-TWO) came from the over, which saw the chastened bowler retire from the attack.
du Plooy is a special talent and he will play international cricket, though whether for England or South Africa only he (and the terms of Brexit) will decide. His hand/eye coordination, coupled with his footwork, is breathtaking, his timing and placement extraordinary. He is not of brawny build, like a Wilkins or Kuiper, but he hits a ball a long way. With this summer's experience of English wickets behind him, he should be really something next season, that's for sure. I look forward to winter news of a contract extension for an outstanding cricketer and lovely bloke.
Eleven sixes came in the innings and the brisk start of Reece and Godleman should not be overlooked, nor the sensible batting of those who took us past 200, even if it was a little like after the Lord Mayor's show. I would still have Hudson-Prentice at five and a delicious sashay down the wicket and stroke over extra cover, when he first came in, oozed class.
Yet the home side were up with the rate for a long time, their main issue being the loss of regular wickets. Neither Rampaul nor Rankin bowled as well as in previous games and there were ten unnecessarily profligate wides in the innings. Yet today I am happy to say that Logan van Beek was star bowler by a mile, taking 4-17 in three overs of controlled aggression.
With the home side on 134-5 after thirteen overs, the dangerous Leaning and Thompson both in and going well, the result was far from certain. Yet the former was one of two catches by Godleman, to go with an excellent, direct hit run out before Leaning gloved a sharp bouncer from van Beek to be brilliantly taken, around second leg slip, by the diving Smit. The game was over at that point.
Luis Reece bowled very well too, keeping an excellent line outside off stump, while Matt Critchley bowled another controlled spell of leg spin.Fittingly it was van Beek who finished things off with the run out of Shutt, capping an excellent performance, his best for the county.
For all their international absentees and their protestations to the contrary, this isn't a great Yorkshire side. Read or listen to their supporters, or the commentators today, who were just as bad, and one would assume they had a divine right to win matches. Team spirit didn't appear high to me, but it wouldn't be, as the defeat dropped them to the bottom of the group.
A 'little' county like Derbyshire really shouldn't be beating a 'big one' like Yorkshire, but we do so on a remarkably regular basis. If we can channel today's aggression and purpose, we are capable of winning at least two of the next three games, maybe even going on to qualify, but you just don't know.
Will the real Derbyshire County Cricket Club stand up?
Because I liked today's version. A lot.
Saturday 10 August 2019
Belief
“None of the games are easy, we have Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Leicestershire and then Notts, they are four games that we have to go out believing that we can win. If we win all four, we have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals''
Thus spake Dominic Cork in this morning's press piece from Derbyshire. He's right, of course, and every team has to believe they can go out and win every game that they play, otherwise there is no point.
Yet, speaking as the realist I am, rather than a fantasist, it is unlikely. Having blown it big time last night, the chances of our winning those four games are toothpick-slim. While we have a good record against Yorkshire, we had a good chance in the first game against Worcestershire and threw it away, while our record against Leicestershire is nowhere near as good as it should be. As for Nottinghamshire, much as I dislike the club, they pretty much beat us at will, so I am not at all hopeful that this will change.
The loss of our overseas signings wasn't helpful, nor that the one that we have has added injury to a below-par summer. Yet the signing of Darren Stevens continues to puzzle and my overriding feeling is that he was signed by Dave Houghton, though not necessarily with the approval of Dominic Cork.
How can you otherwise explain his omission from so many matches? For me, a slow wicket yesterday would have been perfect for the Kent all-rounder's medium pace, while his batting might just have steered us to a win when it got tight at the death. Instead, van Beek got the nod and went for ten an over, while we all know his batting isn't going to win many matches.
One could also have made a strong case for Mark Watt to play. One can only wonder what his figures may have been, when the out of form Matt Critchley returned fine figures of 2-22. I'd also question why we didn't bowl Wayne Madsen or Leus du Plooy, rather than 16 overs of seam. Durham bowled ten overs of spin, three of them albeit part time from Short, but their other spinners, especially Liam Trevaskis, stifled us and won the match.
What I am saying is that if we don't read our own wickets, and select the right eleven to do okay on them, we can believe all we like, but won't win enough matches to make a difference.
The toss was crucial last night, as scoring runs became difficult for both sides once the ball got softer. Batting second on a slow track is never easy, but especially when you have muddled team selection.Whether it was coach, captain or both who were responsible, we got it wrong last night.
Yorkshire tomorrow, so expect the same squad as there is no one else. And while I accept that 'little Derbyshire' did well to take Durham close, just as we took Worcestershire close, that doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the grand scheme of things.
Nor will it do, until someone, from somewhere, starts to regularly find that extra ten per cent needed to get us across the line. Like I said at the start of this summer (and every summer), we can be happy to just compete with the perceived 'big boys' , or we can get team selection right, hold our catches, pick the right captain for the format, hold our nerve when it matters and go out and beat them.
Belief, for me, needs to start much earlier than halfway through the competition.
Of course I hope that Derbyshire win the next four, indeed the next seven games.
But I don't believe we yet have the mentality or personnel to do so.
Thus spake Dominic Cork in this morning's press piece from Derbyshire. He's right, of course, and every team has to believe they can go out and win every game that they play, otherwise there is no point.
Yet, speaking as the realist I am, rather than a fantasist, it is unlikely. Having blown it big time last night, the chances of our winning those four games are toothpick-slim. While we have a good record against Yorkshire, we had a good chance in the first game against Worcestershire and threw it away, while our record against Leicestershire is nowhere near as good as it should be. As for Nottinghamshire, much as I dislike the club, they pretty much beat us at will, so I am not at all hopeful that this will change.
The loss of our overseas signings wasn't helpful, nor that the one that we have has added injury to a below-par summer. Yet the signing of Darren Stevens continues to puzzle and my overriding feeling is that he was signed by Dave Houghton, though not necessarily with the approval of Dominic Cork.
How can you otherwise explain his omission from so many matches? For me, a slow wicket yesterday would have been perfect for the Kent all-rounder's medium pace, while his batting might just have steered us to a win when it got tight at the death. Instead, van Beek got the nod and went for ten an over, while we all know his batting isn't going to win many matches.
One could also have made a strong case for Mark Watt to play. One can only wonder what his figures may have been, when the out of form Matt Critchley returned fine figures of 2-22. I'd also question why we didn't bowl Wayne Madsen or Leus du Plooy, rather than 16 overs of seam. Durham bowled ten overs of spin, three of them albeit part time from Short, but their other spinners, especially Liam Trevaskis, stifled us and won the match.
What I am saying is that if we don't read our own wickets, and select the right eleven to do okay on them, we can believe all we like, but won't win enough matches to make a difference.
The toss was crucial last night, as scoring runs became difficult for both sides once the ball got softer. Batting second on a slow track is never easy, but especially when you have muddled team selection.Whether it was coach, captain or both who were responsible, we got it wrong last night.
Yorkshire tomorrow, so expect the same squad as there is no one else. And while I accept that 'little Derbyshire' did well to take Durham close, just as we took Worcestershire close, that doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the grand scheme of things.
Nor will it do, until someone, from somewhere, starts to regularly find that extra ten per cent needed to get us across the line. Like I said at the start of this summer (and every summer), we can be happy to just compete with the perceived 'big boys' , or we can get team selection right, hold our catches, pick the right captain for the format, hold our nerve when it matters and go out and beat them.
Belief, for me, needs to start much earlier than halfway through the competition.
Of course I hope that Derbyshire win the next four, indeed the next seven games.
But I don't believe we yet have the mentality or personnel to do so.
Friday 9 August 2019
Derbyshire v Durham T20
Durham 160-5 (Short 68, Steel 47, Critchley 2-22)
Derbyshire 153-7 (Godleman 39, Hudson-Prentice 31* Trevaskis 3-16)
Durham won by 7 runs
For me, that was the most disappointing result of the T20 campaign so far for Derbyshire.
They had done well at the half way point, but I had a feeling that the visiting side's decline from a position of 114-0 in 13 overs was as much down to a slowing pitch as it was to good bowling. No one was really collared, but the visiting side's subsequent use of three spinners with success suggests that the omission of Mark Watt may have been a mistake tonight. Darren Stevens' experience may have been useful too, but life is always easy in hindsight.
When we reached 42 in the fifth over, Godleman going like a train, the chase looked on target. Despite the quick loss of both openers, du Plooy and Madsen rebuilt and appeared to be making the run chase a formality, 87 on the board at the halfway stage. Billy's dismissal is not one that he will look back on with fondness, but my assumption is that he was trying to maximise the runs from the seamers, before the introduction of spin.
The advent of the excellent Trevaskis to the attack removed both of our main men in one over and although Derbyshire's cause wasn't helped by rain delays, the decline had set in at that stage and the middle order contributed disappointingly little.
Once again Hudson-Prentice hit well, but 29 were needed from two overs after the final rain delay and in the end we were narrowly beaten.
The visitors did well but will reflect on the winning of the toss being very important tonight.
But we face an uphill task to qualify from here and need to pull of a surprise result or two in order to do so.
Derbyshire 153-7 (Godleman 39, Hudson-Prentice 31* Trevaskis 3-16)
Durham won by 7 runs
For me, that was the most disappointing result of the T20 campaign so far for Derbyshire.
They had done well at the half way point, but I had a feeling that the visiting side's decline from a position of 114-0 in 13 overs was as much down to a slowing pitch as it was to good bowling. No one was really collared, but the visiting side's subsequent use of three spinners with success suggests that the omission of Mark Watt may have been a mistake tonight. Darren Stevens' experience may have been useful too, but life is always easy in hindsight.
When we reached 42 in the fifth over, Godleman going like a train, the chase looked on target. Despite the quick loss of both openers, du Plooy and Madsen rebuilt and appeared to be making the run chase a formality, 87 on the board at the halfway stage. Billy's dismissal is not one that he will look back on with fondness, but my assumption is that he was trying to maximise the runs from the seamers, before the introduction of spin.
The advent of the excellent Trevaskis to the attack removed both of our main men in one over and although Derbyshire's cause wasn't helped by rain delays, the decline had set in at that stage and the middle order contributed disappointingly little.
Once again Hudson-Prentice hit well, but 29 were needed from two overs after the final rain delay and in the end we were narrowly beaten.
The visitors did well but will reflect on the winning of the toss being very important tonight.
But we face an uphill task to qualify from here and need to pull of a surprise result or two in order to do so.
Thursday 8 August 2019
Derbyshire v Durham preview
So tight is the northern section of the Vitality Blast that we sit bottom tonight, just two points behind third placed Nottinghamshire, with a game in hand.
It is that close and tomorrow's eminently winnable game against Durham at the Pattonair County Ground can go some way to maintaining our place in the race for the knock outs.
We warmed up today with back to back wins against Northamptonshire's second eleven. In the first, Leus du Plooy made a blistering 82 from 46 balls, while Tom Wood gave food for thought with 39 from 25 balls. Alfie Gleadall then took a hat trick, before Alex Hughes starred in the second game with an exhilarating fifty.
It augurs well, but warm up wins count for nothing and we must be at our best against Durham tomorrow. They have a decent side, but were beaten with ease by Northamptonshire the other night, a side that we beat ourselves last weekend.
I can't really second guess tomorrow's side, but Logan van Beek came through his game today and may reappear tomorrow night. There is a positive vibe emanating from the club at present and there is no reason why we cannot make a good fist of the remaining fixtures.
My guess at the side tomorrow:
Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Hughes, Critchley, Hudson-Prentice, Smit, Watt, Rampaul, Rankin
Matt Critchley made 150 for the second team in the week and getting the ball in the middle of the bat will improve his confidence and likely see him retain his place. The rest of the side broadly picks itself, unless Watt is omitted for van Beek or Stevens and we go without a specialist spinner.
Durham have yet to announce their squad, but their side is unlikely to change from the other night, with Aussies Darcy Short and Peter Handscomb their overseas players and former Derbyshire player Nathan Rimmington also in the side.
The likely eleven:
Short, Steel, Clark, Handscomb, Lees, Trevaskis, Poynter, Burnham, Carse, Potts, Rimmington.
A decent, yet beatable side and they will look at ours and be wary of an increasingly impressive batting line up, together with an attack that looks a little better with the addition of Boyd Rankin.
I'm going for a home win, as long as we don't let the Aussies get away. If our own big guns fire, we can match them, for sure.
What do you think?
It is that close and tomorrow's eminently winnable game against Durham at the Pattonair County Ground can go some way to maintaining our place in the race for the knock outs.
We warmed up today with back to back wins against Northamptonshire's second eleven. In the first, Leus du Plooy made a blistering 82 from 46 balls, while Tom Wood gave food for thought with 39 from 25 balls. Alfie Gleadall then took a hat trick, before Alex Hughes starred in the second game with an exhilarating fifty.
It augurs well, but warm up wins count for nothing and we must be at our best against Durham tomorrow. They have a decent side, but were beaten with ease by Northamptonshire the other night, a side that we beat ourselves last weekend.
I can't really second guess tomorrow's side, but Logan van Beek came through his game today and may reappear tomorrow night. There is a positive vibe emanating from the club at present and there is no reason why we cannot make a good fist of the remaining fixtures.
My guess at the side tomorrow:
Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Hughes, Critchley, Hudson-Prentice, Smit, Watt, Rampaul, Rankin
Matt Critchley made 150 for the second team in the week and getting the ball in the middle of the bat will improve his confidence and likely see him retain his place. The rest of the side broadly picks itself, unless Watt is omitted for van Beek or Stevens and we go without a specialist spinner.
Durham have yet to announce their squad, but their side is unlikely to change from the other night, with Aussies Darcy Short and Peter Handscomb their overseas players and former Derbyshire player Nathan Rimmington also in the side.
The likely eleven:
Short, Steel, Clark, Handscomb, Lees, Trevaskis, Poynter, Burnham, Carse, Potts, Rimmington.
A decent, yet beatable side and they will look at ours and be wary of an increasingly impressive batting line up, together with an attack that looks a little better with the addition of Boyd Rankin.
I'm going for a home win, as long as we don't let the Aussies get away. If our own big guns fire, we can match them, for sure.
What do you think?
Monday 5 August 2019
Thoughts on the T20 so far
Whisper it quietly, but it just may be that the signing of Boyd Rankin makes all the difference to Derbyshire's T20 prospects.
Aside from the fact that he is 35, there is great merit in signing a highly experienced bowler, especially one whose track record in the format is an average of just 7.25 runs an over. He was a fast but wild bowler in his formative years with us, but experience has made him into a solid cricketer. One who, I suspect, had he been available for the summer, might have made a difference in the overseas role.
He offers much needed support to the outstanding Ravi Rampaul, who has been a colossus for us throughout the season. At the end of last year I don't think too many would have been fussed had we found a creative way to release him. Yet this year, his performances have been diametrically opposed and he has bowled with consistent accuracy and penetration. He has looked every inch the international bowler he was for many years and deserves great praise for his efforts.
Maybe there is still time for Darren Stevens to show what he can do. You don't produce the statistics that he has over many years without being a very good player, but the pressure of effectively replacing an overseas would be tough for anyone, let alone a player of 43. I am not yet convinced by the signing as anything more than a panic buy, but would be happy to be proved wrong. At his pace, his bowling could go a long way on the wrong wicket, but on the right one he could yet tie the opposition down. There were glimpses of what he has to offer with the bat at Worcester, and he might find a key niche in the side for when the overs are running down.
There are three fine and aggressive batsmen in the top four, with Luis Reece, Wayne Madsen and Leus du Plooy all clean stroke players. Billy Godleman can hit, but sometimes he gets bogged down, something no side can afford in the format.
The out of form Matt Critchley is a source of concern, and he doesn't have the mojo with bat or ball right now. We could bolster the batting by bringing in Tom Lace or Anuj Dal, fine fielders both, but perhaps being dropped isn't the best for Matt right now. We do need him back to his best form to progress though, as there will be wickets to come where an extra spinner is important.
Alex Hughes will also come more into his own and his brief cameo at Northampton will do his confidence good. His lot with the ball was made easier last year by the perception that he was the bowler to 'get after', which was a big mistake. He isn't such a danger so far, but his all-round potential gets him in my side for this format.
I stand by my assertion that Lancashire, Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire will be three of the qualifiers, with the fourth place between pretty much everyone else. Only two points separate Nottinghamshire, in third after seven games, from Leicestershire, who are second bottom after the same number. We are third bottom but have played a game less, so the importance of Friday evening's game against Durham is clear.
Leicestershire have shown what is possible by beating both Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire in their last two matches, confirming for all to see that anyone can be beaten in a format that offers little margin for error.
If we can keep the opposition to under 200, ideally under 180, there is enough depth to our batting to fancy our chances. And if Messrs Critchley and Stevens can find their best form, that top six is as good as anyone, with the power and improvisation of Smit and Hudson-Prentice to follow.
Fynn, already in his fledgling career with the county, strikes me as someone who makes things happen. Taking key wickets, scoring quick runs and holding important catches, he offers additional balance and all round ability that confirms Dave Houghton's keen eye for talent.
I am enjoying the season. There have been disappointments, but plenty of reasons to be cheerful.
And likely a few more before the end of September...
Aside from the fact that he is 35, there is great merit in signing a highly experienced bowler, especially one whose track record in the format is an average of just 7.25 runs an over. He was a fast but wild bowler in his formative years with us, but experience has made him into a solid cricketer. One who, I suspect, had he been available for the summer, might have made a difference in the overseas role.
He offers much needed support to the outstanding Ravi Rampaul, who has been a colossus for us throughout the season. At the end of last year I don't think too many would have been fussed had we found a creative way to release him. Yet this year, his performances have been diametrically opposed and he has bowled with consistent accuracy and penetration. He has looked every inch the international bowler he was for many years and deserves great praise for his efforts.
Maybe there is still time for Darren Stevens to show what he can do. You don't produce the statistics that he has over many years without being a very good player, but the pressure of effectively replacing an overseas would be tough for anyone, let alone a player of 43. I am not yet convinced by the signing as anything more than a panic buy, but would be happy to be proved wrong. At his pace, his bowling could go a long way on the wrong wicket, but on the right one he could yet tie the opposition down. There were glimpses of what he has to offer with the bat at Worcester, and he might find a key niche in the side for when the overs are running down.
There are three fine and aggressive batsmen in the top four, with Luis Reece, Wayne Madsen and Leus du Plooy all clean stroke players. Billy Godleman can hit, but sometimes he gets bogged down, something no side can afford in the format.
The out of form Matt Critchley is a source of concern, and he doesn't have the mojo with bat or ball right now. We could bolster the batting by bringing in Tom Lace or Anuj Dal, fine fielders both, but perhaps being dropped isn't the best for Matt right now. We do need him back to his best form to progress though, as there will be wickets to come where an extra spinner is important.
Alex Hughes will also come more into his own and his brief cameo at Northampton will do his confidence good. His lot with the ball was made easier last year by the perception that he was the bowler to 'get after', which was a big mistake. He isn't such a danger so far, but his all-round potential gets him in my side for this format.
I stand by my assertion that Lancashire, Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire will be three of the qualifiers, with the fourth place between pretty much everyone else. Only two points separate Nottinghamshire, in third after seven games, from Leicestershire, who are second bottom after the same number. We are third bottom but have played a game less, so the importance of Friday evening's game against Durham is clear.
Leicestershire have shown what is possible by beating both Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire in their last two matches, confirming for all to see that anyone can be beaten in a format that offers little margin for error.
If we can keep the opposition to under 200, ideally under 180, there is enough depth to our batting to fancy our chances. And if Messrs Critchley and Stevens can find their best form, that top six is as good as anyone, with the power and improvisation of Smit and Hudson-Prentice to follow.
Fynn, already in his fledgling career with the county, strikes me as someone who makes things happen. Taking key wickets, scoring quick runs and holding important catches, he offers additional balance and all round ability that confirms Dave Houghton's keen eye for talent.
I am enjoying the season. There have been disappointments, but plenty of reasons to be cheerful.
And likely a few more before the end of September...
Friday 2 August 2019
Northamptonshire V Derbyshire T20
So Derbyshire earned their second T20 win of the summer tonight, a game that I perforce followed at a distance.
That being the case I will rely on your comments and observations tonight, including what you thought of the returning Boyd Rankin.
As a short-term signing it makes more sense to me than that of Darren Stevens. He seemed to bowl well, though once again Rampaul was outstanding.
Luis Reece and Wayne Madsen did the spade work with the bat, with a late blast from Alex Hughes.
So who impressed you tonight?
I look forward to your comments!
Northamptonshire V Derbyshire preview
Sorry folks, no time to do a preview of today's game at Northampton for family reasons, but it is a winnable game for Derbyshire.
I don't expect much change to the side, but hope we come out on top and get back to winning ways.
Sadly, I won't see it on Sky later either, but look forward to the comments of those of you who do!
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