Recent signings make Wood move unlikely

A comment from Chaddesden Jim below my season review made me think a short piece was in order on Tom Wood.

Jim suggested that Tom was worth signing as batting cover, after his prolific run-scoring in the Derbyshire Premier League, for the second team and in Australia for the last few winters, where he has been a consistent and prolific scorer in first grade.

I am a fan of Tom and there is no doubt that he can play. At most points of our recent history, up to and including the early summer this year, I would have said him worthy of greater opportunity than he has had.

Then we signed Leus du Plooy and Fynn Hudson-Prentice, followed by a deal for Anuj Dal for the next two years.

The first two have made a big and immediate impact, both delivering runs and Fynn appearing to be an all-rounder of considerable talent. Anuj just missed out on a maiden century batting high in the order, fielded brilliantly and showed himself a bowler of some potential.

I just don't think that we can afford a batsman as cover, especially when one looks at the strength in depth of the current squad and people able to step up.

A notional first choice twelve for next summer would be Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Hughes, Critchley, Hosein, Hudson-Prentice, Dal, Overseas, Rampaul, Palladino.

That ignores the possiblity of signing Tom Lace on a permanent deal and sees good players already outside the squad. Most in that top nine could move up the order a place or two, and the ability of almost all of them to offer something with the ball makes them valuable cricketers.

Tom bowls a little off spin, but not to the standard of the others. Nor is he as fleet-footed in the field, though he has a fine pair of hands.

I think him deserving of an opportunity, based on his returns at lower levels, but I also think we would have heard by now, had that been an option. We cannot afford £20K-plus for a second team player for the summer, who may likely not be required in all but exceptional circumstances.

I feel for him though. He has put a career on hold to try to make it in the first-class game, travelled around the country for expenses only playing most second team matches over the last two summers and not got anywhere at the end of it. It's a shame, but such is professional sport, as such is life. It is a competition and a lot of people don't get what they want, or perhaps deserve in it.

Maybe, just maybe if Lace stays at Middlesex, there will be a gap in the resources, but I have a feeling that the staff can see and are buying in to what Dave Houghton is building at Derbyshire. I would be more surprised if Tom didn't sign, than if he did, but as his current employer Middlesex are entitled to enter and conclude contract discussions before we can make a move.

We'll see.