It was a chance conversation with a friend, but I didn't reveal the player's identity at the time, as it is not my place to do so. The club had done all the work on the deal and deserved the opportunity to break the news when they were ready.
Harvey Hosein was the only wicket-keeper on the staff and my considered opinion is that competition is only ever healthy. If you are guaranteed your place in any team, regardless of performance, it is not conducive to a sustained high level, as complacency can set in. Harvey Hosein now knows that he has good competition for the role and must maintain standards with bat and ball to retain his place in the side.
It also affords the opportunity for rotation, which he, like other players, will appreciate. Harvey took a bang on the finger in the first match at Trent Bridge and had that been serious, we would have been looking at emergency loans. A quality wicket-keeper as back up or alternative is exactly what we needed. With games coming thick and fast, this also helps to guard against mental tiredness, which can legislate against sustained performance.
Make no mistake, Brooke Guest, 23, is a talented player, Born in Manchester, he grew up in Australia and played for their under-19 side as well as Western Australia age group sides. He was named in the Australian under-19 World Cup squad for 2016, before security concerns saw them withdraw from the tournament. He has scored a lot of runs for Lancashire Seconds in recent years and is regarded as a 'dynamic' player with bat and gloves, according to those who know him.
I see him as a very good option for one-day cricket, where he has played some games for Lancashire, before leaving to take on what should be greater opportunity with us over the next two years.
Welcome to Derbyshire, Brooke!
Didn't see this one coming to be honest, when you mentioned that we had agreed a contract with a young player in an area that we were short in, I had presumed it to be a off-spinner. I trawled through my Playfair Annual and had one or two possibilities in mind! However, we certainly need another keeper and his background sounds very promising. There will also be the chance for both keepers to challenge for a place in the side solely as a batsman if they miss out with the gloves.
ReplyDeleteI like the look of this signing.
ReplyDeleteI think it unlikely that we will be able to sign many high profile young prospects as we seen with Tom Lace slipping through our fingers nor can we afford to sign players at their peak who are proven performers.
So our options are to bring through our own as we are with young Harvey or to look for the less wanted of other counties.
Frequently this could look like signing up an experienced player at the very end of their career and trying to squeeze the remaining performances from them before their body gives up.
Or as in this case we can look for the potential that just hasn't quite been able to breakthrough due to the quality in some of the bigger county sides. Guest is 23 so should be chomping at the bit to get more first team cricket under his belt and should be at a point in his development where he's ready to contribute straight away.
Very excited to see how he goes. Additionally in his favour I think Hosein is good enough to play up the order as an out and out bat if required so there is no reason both can't feature in the same side if we experience a run of injuries or player form starts to drop.
Hi Peakfan,
ReplyDeleteIt's been good to see Tom Wood get a contract after doing well for the second and young Nils Priestley also getting a chance. In bowling terms Conners looks to be stepping up also.
Who do you think the next cabs off the rank are with both bat and ball from within the county? I've heard good things about Joss Morgan.
It is hard to say, James as there has been so little club cricket this summer.
DeleteJos is part of a Borrington, Wood, Morgan and Cork top 4 at Ticknall that is seriously strong. He can obviously play and was identified as a serious talent in his native South Africa
There is expectation, of course, with Wayne as his brother in law. But when people get to a certain age and a steady job, there is the big question... do they gamble on a cricket career or play it recreationally?
I don't know what his answer would be, but with Daryn Smit now in charge of the Seconds and academy, we will be looking at youngsters carefully.
We also seem to be scouting further afield and Lancashire is proving a good hunting ground for us, with Guest and Aitchison joining Reece and McKiernan on the staff.
Good to see!
I would also say that if a player like Tom Wood has struggled to break through with his record, it will be tough for a young batsman.
DeleteHow do you displace Godleman, Reece, Madsen or du Plooy?
Interesting and good points raised. What sort of player do you feel Jos is?
DeleteCould he perhaps be brought in for the t20 campaign where he may be able to fit it around other commitments and we've perhaps lacked power hitters or is that not his game?
I don't see him coming in this season, James, for budgetary reasons as much as anything.
DeleteIf we are bringing in a hitter, Tom Wood deserves an opportunity but whether at the top only time will tell. He is a proper bat but scores quickly.
I haven't seen Joss bat myself, but have heard only good things from people whose judgement I trust.
I don't see any new faces for T20, to be honest, just what we have!