Well, that's the fixtures out for the 2020 season, an event that somehow makes the season seem that little bit closer, even if we all know that we have a lot of winter to get through first.
The much maligned (often by me) ECB have got something right and at least put more cricket at the weekend than was the case before. It doesn't take Einstein to work out that if you play more cricket when people are off work, the greater the chance of more going along to watch. I find it astonishing that it has taken until this summer for the penny to drop in that respect.
The only issue, of course, is that the four-day game is consigned to the periphery of the season, rather than playing it in high summer. The irony of Jos Buttler commenting this week on the need for better wickets for the format was lost on many people, when we are committed to early season green tracks or late summer turners. Not that it matters, when Buttler and the England-contracted players are seen in the county game as often as I run a sub-ten second hundred metres.
As a consequence we have just thirteen days of Derbyshire cricket to follow from 22 July until the end of August, with only seven of those at home. It is poor fare, and especially sad that it comes in the summer of the club's 150th anniversary.
At least the RLODC sees us play Somerset, Surrey and Glamorgan, which makes a nice change, as well as playing Nottinghamshire at Grantham. There is a four-day game against Sussex in the scenic splendours of Arundel too.
I'm not sure, right now, which fixtures I will be attending. The Durham home game that starts on 8 May is a likely starting point, mainly for my only having to take one day's leave to attend most of it. Or I could wait until the Sussex game two weeks later.
After that I am struggling at present to reconcile family needs and eking out my holidays. I may take three days to go down to Durham in August, but it looks like much of my season's viewing may perforce be at a distance in 2020.
We'll see. I need to sort family holidays first, then take it from there.
Yet for the traditional cricket fan in your life, a warm fleece and a beanie hat seem like sensible Christmas gifts this year...
Wednesday, 27 November 2019
Friday, 22 November 2019
A measure of success
Billy Godleman on a trip to Nepal, Wayne Madsen starring for Team Abu Dhabi, Luis Reece signed up for the Bangladesh Premier League.
Four players picked up for the new tournament, with our two overseas players for the T20 both playing for Australia, No wonder people are starting to look differently at Derbyshire.
I am very excited about the 2020 season and look forward to seeing an exciting side play a purposeful brand of cricket. We may be on the verge of a golden period for the club and Dave Houghton deserves credit for how he has brought together a small squad of considerable talent and potential.
With others, including Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Matt Critchley, doing well overseas, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. The announcement of the fixtures for next season, due shortly, will make it seem that bit closer and we can all start looking at where and when we can get to matches.
I always look for the Durham fixture at The Riverside, as it is as close as I get to a home game, while an early season home game at Derby affords an opportunity to say hello again to friends old and new. Even if you generally need too many layers for genuine comfort...
Between times, after Christmas, I will be running a series of pieces from an interview I did with Tony Palladino in September. We discussed his career with Essex and Derbyshire, as well as his hopes for the future, in an interview I thoroughly enjoyed with an engaging man.
Something to look forward to!
Four players picked up for the new tournament, with our two overseas players for the T20 both playing for Australia, No wonder people are starting to look differently at Derbyshire.
I am very excited about the 2020 season and look forward to seeing an exciting side play a purposeful brand of cricket. We may be on the verge of a golden period for the club and Dave Houghton deserves credit for how he has brought together a small squad of considerable talent and potential.
With others, including Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Matt Critchley, doing well overseas, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. The announcement of the fixtures for next season, due shortly, will make it seem that bit closer and we can all start looking at where and when we can get to matches.
I always look for the Durham fixture at The Riverside, as it is as close as I get to a home game, while an early season home game at Derby affords an opportunity to say hello again to friends old and new. Even if you generally need too many layers for genuine comfort...
Between times, after Christmas, I will be running a series of pieces from an interview I did with Tony Palladino in September. We discussed his career with Essex and Derbyshire, as well as his hopes for the future, in an interview I thoroughly enjoyed with an engaging man.
Something to look forward to!
Friday, 15 November 2019
Hosein the latest to sign new deal
The news announced today, that Harvey Hosein has signed a contract extension at Derbyshire until the end of 2022, is welcome for a couple of reasons.
First, he's a good cricketer. He did well in four-day cricket last year, had a decent average with the bat, kept wicket pretty well and can still improve further. At 23 that is a given, as despite his being around for years, he is nowhere near his peak. Once he can marry his exemplary technique to greater power at the crease, he will be some player. I am sure he will work with Ben McDermott on that, a man who will likely keep in at least the RLODC next summer.
Second, it reaffirms the club's commitment to its own. Plenty of people, some within the support, feel we don't do that enough, though I am a firm believer that the cream will rise to the top if they are prepared for the graft that goes along with it. I also believe that we shouldn't just persevere for the sake of it. While I have long since acknowledged that players don't come to know their games until their mid-twenties, if there are signs earlier that it isn't going to happen, for some fundamental reason, we aren't sufficiently well off to hang fire 'just in case'.
Alex Hughes has managed it. There's been plenty of criticism in his direction over the years, but he has become a key part of the side as a gritty, sometimes flamboyant batsman, a tricky one-day bowler and a brilliant fielder wherever required. It hasn't happened by accident, but by a lot of graft. A willingness to get fit, play through injuries and work at his game.
So too Matt Critchley, OK, he isn't from our academy, but he has spent a few years with the club and has emerged from the second team to become a good cricketer. Again, there's plenty of work to be done to make the batting more consistent and the four-day bowling more penetrative, but Critch is a fine player, hopefully the next to sign a long-term deal.
Sam Conners could get there too. The whippy pace and bounce is there, he looks like he has all the raw components for success and he now needs to tap into that work ethic to get and stay fit. He and Michael Cohen could be long-term opening bowlers for the club, perhaps for some time after Tony Palladino and Ravi Rampaul retire, but the work starts now, for both of them.
It has been a very good winter, so far, for county supporters. I don't anticipate any more new signings, but I guess it depends on who becomes available.
Enjoy your weekend.
First, he's a good cricketer. He did well in four-day cricket last year, had a decent average with the bat, kept wicket pretty well and can still improve further. At 23 that is a given, as despite his being around for years, he is nowhere near his peak. Once he can marry his exemplary technique to greater power at the crease, he will be some player. I am sure he will work with Ben McDermott on that, a man who will likely keep in at least the RLODC next summer.
Second, it reaffirms the club's commitment to its own. Plenty of people, some within the support, feel we don't do that enough, though I am a firm believer that the cream will rise to the top if they are prepared for the graft that goes along with it. I also believe that we shouldn't just persevere for the sake of it. While I have long since acknowledged that players don't come to know their games until their mid-twenties, if there are signs earlier that it isn't going to happen, for some fundamental reason, we aren't sufficiently well off to hang fire 'just in case'.
Alex Hughes has managed it. There's been plenty of criticism in his direction over the years, but he has become a key part of the side as a gritty, sometimes flamboyant batsman, a tricky one-day bowler and a brilliant fielder wherever required. It hasn't happened by accident, but by a lot of graft. A willingness to get fit, play through injuries and work at his game.
So too Matt Critchley, OK, he isn't from our academy, but he has spent a few years with the club and has emerged from the second team to become a good cricketer. Again, there's plenty of work to be done to make the batting more consistent and the four-day bowling more penetrative, but Critch is a fine player, hopefully the next to sign a long-term deal.
Sam Conners could get there too. The whippy pace and bounce is there, he looks like he has all the raw components for success and he now needs to tap into that work ethic to get and stay fit. He and Michael Cohen could be long-term opening bowlers for the club, perhaps for some time after Tony Palladino and Ravi Rampaul retire, but the work starts now, for both of them.
It has been a very good winter, so far, for county supporters. I don't anticipate any more new signings, but I guess it depends on who becomes available.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sunday, 10 November 2019
Book Review: Back From The Edge: Mental Health and Addiction in Sport by Luke Sutton
A few years ago, I sat on the boundary edge at Chesterfield with the then Derbyshire coach and chatted about all things cricket.It was a second team fixture, so afforded such an opportunity and the conversation moved on to the growing criticism of players on social media, especially on one platform, which was increasingly, at that time, a cause of concern.
The coach, who trusted me, went on to tell me about one player and the problems that he was currently experiencing in his personal life. It was fairly horrific and fully explained the dip in form that player was suffering, something to which the armchair critics were oblivious, of course.
And yet we should be, all of us. We all have bad days and periods in our lives when it appears that everyone and everything is against us. Our lives and performance suffer as a result, so why should it be different for sports stars? A job that many of us envy does not give them immunity to life's challenges.
That player wasn't Luke Sutton, but his brutally honest account of his struggles with alcohol and mental health issues should be compulsory reading for everyone who has ever gone onto social media to berate a player, irrespective of the sport. It is an important book that deserves a large audience, enabling a greater understanding of the subject among laypersons, inside and outside of sport.
To those of us on the boundary edge, Luke had it all. A good looking, super-fit sportsman from a privileged background, a reliable and admired county cricketer and sometime captain of the club, a man with a lovely partner and a future that seemed to be bright, in and out of the game. He was always approachable, friendly and professional, but that persona masked an increasing dependency on alcohol.
Like many others over the years, he partied hard and then trained harder still to get the nights of excess purged, but was tipped over the edge by the death of his partner, Nia, in a tragic car accident. It eventually saw him leave the county for a fresh start at Lancashire, but drinking became an increasing part of his life. Long nights became even longer days, mornings of waking up somewhere, anywhere - then starting all over again.
This is far from an easy read. How could it be, when you are a spectator at the gradual deterioration of a sporting hero? It cost Luke his marriage, yet it could, as his account of time spent in The Priory confirms, have ended so much worse.
His encounter with 'Jonathan', a successful lawyer who 'genuinely looked close to death' and knew he was drinking himself to an early grave is a harrowing one. Then again, so is the entire book, which is why people should read it. The list of sports personalities who have fallen foul of drink, drugs and addictions is a long one and continues to grow. Luke discusses several here, and while everyone wanted to be Gazza and chuckled at his excesses, his descent has been slow and painful. So too Robin Smith, whose battles with alcohol are well known. So too Ben Cousins, an Australian sporting deity with a nigh-perfect body, whose ability to party hard was 'admired', until it caught up with him and resulted in a crippling drug addiction.
Don't buy this book expecting to see lots of anecdotes on Derbyshire cricket. It isn't that kind of book, though Luke tells of the 'incredible' support that he had from Dave Houghton in his time at the county. Things could have turned out very differently for him, except for interventions by Jimmy Anderson, Mark Chilton and Glen Chapple, who with their wives appear to have been wonderfully supportive.
The support of such friends is crucial for those facing mental health challenges and it is admirable that Luke, now a successful agent who has come through the other side and found love again, is brave enough to tell his story.
It shows what is possible, yet things could have turned out very differently. Indeed, for a long time that appears to have looked more likely.
He deserves great praise for his bravery in telling his story, warts and all.
At a time when mental health is slowly becoming less stigmatised and hidden, it is a very important read for all of us. With greater understanding comes acceptance and there are always people out there to help.
Back From The Edge: Mental Health and Addiction in Sport is written by Luke Sutton and published by Pen and Sword Books. It is available from all good booksellers, priced £12.99
Thursday, 7 November 2019
No news on Lace
The first club members meeting is tonight and I expect that at some point Dave Houghton will shed some clarity on the Tom Lace situation.
After the announcement of the signings of Sean Abbott and Ben McDermott in the last 48 hours, Lace would appear to be the 'outstanding business' for the county. Yes, in an ideal world we could do with an off-spinner of quality, but looking around the county circuit I don't see too many who are available and good enough to force a way in. Besides, with better luck with injuries, Mattie McKiernan could well enjoy more cricket next season.
This is already a strong Derbyshire squad. I agree with many of you on that and if we approach next season as professionally as we did the last we will do fine. Yet Lace showed last season that he could provide quality ballast in the engine room, averaging over forty and looking every inch a player of class, at the tender age of 21.
The problem is that he is still contracted to Middlesex for another year, while the even greater one is that I don't now see them willing to let him go, having already lost Dawid Malan to Yorkshire.
I know how much Tom enjoyed his time at Derbyshire last summer and he has made great friends among the squad. Were the decision his alone, I am sure he would be heading up the M1 to sign on the dotted line for Dave Houghton, for who he has considerable respect. Equally I am sure that Dave would have him signed up by now, were it a possibility.
Perhaps Middlesex have guaranteed him an early slot in the side next summer, as much as a sports side can ever do that, but if he isn't in the side then I wouldn't be surprised if a loan move was requested by him. The Lord's camp doesn't appear an especially happy one at present, from reports.
I'd equally be surprised if Derbyshire didn't make a prompt expression of their interest to sign him by putting in a 28-day notice at the start of June. There may be other interest, of course, but Tom is at an age where he needs the right environment and the right coach to get the best out of him. From what I have read and heard, I don't think that is at Middlesex.
It's awkward for Houghton though, because if Lace does stay down south, we end up a batsman down for the summer. If he becomes available and he has signed someone else, it is an even greater problem, because the budget will have gone.
The player I really feel for here is Tom Wood. I don't think there are many supporters who wouldn't want to see Tom Lace at the club, but Wood has done little wrong in the past three years. He has scored prolifically at all levels other than county, where he has had no chance and is now coming to his prime when we have our best batting side in a decade.
There may, of course, be an option for a contract for the RLODC, when we will be shorn of Madsen, du Plooy and Reece for this Hundred malarkey, but I'm not sure how many people around the country could drop commitments in other jobs to go and play cricket for a couple of months.
It is a big ask for any player to go from even top club cricket to county level, with no intermediate step. Maybe Derbyshire feel they can cope with the staff they have for the RLODC, assuming there are no injuries, but options may be very limited, for us and everyone else.
If anyone is going along tonight, do make sure to let us know what is discussed. I don't expect much more in the way of signings, after a busy old end of season and Autumn.
But you never know...
After the announcement of the signings of Sean Abbott and Ben McDermott in the last 48 hours, Lace would appear to be the 'outstanding business' for the county. Yes, in an ideal world we could do with an off-spinner of quality, but looking around the county circuit I don't see too many who are available and good enough to force a way in. Besides, with better luck with injuries, Mattie McKiernan could well enjoy more cricket next season.
This is already a strong Derbyshire squad. I agree with many of you on that and if we approach next season as professionally as we did the last we will do fine. Yet Lace showed last season that he could provide quality ballast in the engine room, averaging over forty and looking every inch a player of class, at the tender age of 21.
The problem is that he is still contracted to Middlesex for another year, while the even greater one is that I don't now see them willing to let him go, having already lost Dawid Malan to Yorkshire.
I know how much Tom enjoyed his time at Derbyshire last summer and he has made great friends among the squad. Were the decision his alone, I am sure he would be heading up the M1 to sign on the dotted line for Dave Houghton, for who he has considerable respect. Equally I am sure that Dave would have him signed up by now, were it a possibility.
Perhaps Middlesex have guaranteed him an early slot in the side next summer, as much as a sports side can ever do that, but if he isn't in the side then I wouldn't be surprised if a loan move was requested by him. The Lord's camp doesn't appear an especially happy one at present, from reports.
I'd equally be surprised if Derbyshire didn't make a prompt expression of their interest to sign him by putting in a 28-day notice at the start of June. There may be other interest, of course, but Tom is at an age where he needs the right environment and the right coach to get the best out of him. From what I have read and heard, I don't think that is at Middlesex.
It's awkward for Houghton though, because if Lace does stay down south, we end up a batsman down for the summer. If he becomes available and he has signed someone else, it is an even greater problem, because the budget will have gone.
The player I really feel for here is Tom Wood. I don't think there are many supporters who wouldn't want to see Tom Lace at the club, but Wood has done little wrong in the past three years. He has scored prolifically at all levels other than county, where he has had no chance and is now coming to his prime when we have our best batting side in a decade.
There may, of course, be an option for a contract for the RLODC, when we will be shorn of Madsen, du Plooy and Reece for this Hundred malarkey, but I'm not sure how many people around the country could drop commitments in other jobs to go and play cricket for a couple of months.
It is a big ask for any player to go from even top club cricket to county level, with no intermediate step. Maybe Derbyshire feel they can cope with the staff they have for the RLODC, assuming there are no injuries, but options may be very limited, for us and everyone else.
If anyone is going along tonight, do make sure to let us know what is discussed. I don't expect much more in the way of signings, after a busy old end of season and Autumn.
But you never know...
G'day to Ben McDermott as county go full Oz
Such was the case when I heard that Ben McDermott, son of Australian fast bowling legend Craig, was coming to Derbyshire as overseas player for the Vitality Blast T20 and Royal London One-Day Cup.
Having announced the signing of Sean Abbott yesterday, Derbyshire have completed a full set of Australians with the signing of McDermott, who at 24 has already established himself as a one-day specialist good enough to play for his country in eleven T20 internationals.
It is a very sound, common sense signing, a horses for courses affair. Abbott will play the early season four-day cricket and T20, while McDermott will join him in the short form and be the permitted player in the RLODC. Presumably, if the early season championship matches go well, a decision will be made down the line regarding someone for the final four-day games, but Dave Houghton, as he likes to do, has got his signings in early - and well.
Ben has a strike rate of just under 130 in T20 cricket, which is just less than Virat Kohli and a few higher than Steve Smith. I'm not claiming he is a better batsman than those two, but it gives an indication of the speed at which he scores his runs. With a List A average of 54 and a T20 one of 31, he can obviously play and a look at Youtube confirms him as a batsman who can clear the boundary on his day.
There is always a concern with big-hitting overseas players that they may come undone in English conditions. Loots Bosman didn't really come off, though an ankle injury didn't help him, while Shahid Afridi generally produced one innings a tournament, as we found out to our cost three years ago. I get the impression that there's more to McDermott than a slog, however and he was won matches with well-paced innings too. Perhaps he will be more Adrian Kuiper then, which would do quite nicely.
Interestingly, and reinforcing my assertion of it being a common sense signing, he is a wicket-keeper too, which would give us a genuine, dynamic batsman in that role. While Harvey Hosein is a talented young player, and Daryn Smit an outstanding wicket-keeper, neither has shown sustained ability to change a game with the bat in short form cricket. Ben would take his place in a top five with Godleman, Reece, Madsen and du Plooy, giving us a serious line-up along the lines of:
Godleman
Reece
Madsen
du Plooy
McDermott
Hughes
Critchley
Hudson-Prentice
Dal
Abbott
Rampaul
Welcome to Derbyshire, Ben.
God's own county awaits with considerable interest - and here he is in action.
Wednesday, 6 November 2019
Abbott seems perfect fit for Derbyshire
Quick, with the ability to zip the ball about, he should enjoy bowling in early season conditions here. The Australian, who plays for New South Wales and the Sydney Sixers, has a fine record in all formats and was a stand out in last year's Big Bash competition.
At 27 he is coming to his prime and has the ability to make the national side, something that a good English summer could help with. The prospect of Abbott and Ravi Rampaul opening the bowling is an exciting one, perhaps supplying the missing ingredient from last season. What side wouldn't benefit from a quick and hostile opening bowler? Perhaps two, after the addition of Michael Cohen last week.
He can handle a bat too, as most of his countrymen seem able to do. Don't be surprised to see valuable late runs and some powerful hitting in the T20.
He has done very well to put the Phil Hughes tragedy behind him. It will always be there, of course, but it was an accident, the kind where perhaps the real surprise was that it hadn't happened before.
Of course, we shouldn't get too carried away. You don't need the longest of memories to recall how the signings of Billy Stanlake and Kane Richardson failed to go to plan this year and we all know that quick bowlers can pick up injuries at any time.
But if this goes to plan...well, we have an attack coming together to match the batting line up that produced so well last year.
With another overseas player to be announced tomorrow - and my money on another bowler for the second half of the summer - things are really looking good for 2020.
Welcome to Derbyshire, Sean.
You are joining the friendliest club in the country - and one very much on the up.