Midweek Musings

We've all had quite a glow in these past few days, eh? Top of the league, Nottinghamshire lost again, we beat Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire lost again.. Sorry, might have said that twice...

It would have been handy had they beaten Yorkshire, but like I wrote a week or so back, they just don't strike me as a team. Eleven talented blokes, on their day, but not a tight unit and when the chips are down, that is what pulls you through. 

With this Derbyshire side, you get the feeling that you take on one, you take on eleven. It is why I don't fear playing anyone, regardless of their reputation. We might be missing several experienced players, but the rest are pulling manfully together. Hats off to the new recruits, who to a man have contributed. I read a tweet by David Griffin, the club's Heritage Officer, this morning that said that we have so far used eleven bowlers in two matches - and every one of them has taken at least one wicket.

Moving on, I have been asked a couple of times recently if I thought we should try to bring Ben Slater back from Trent Bridge. My answer is simple. No. 

For one thing, he is under contract to the end of next year, while for another I suspect he will end up where he is now, at Leicestershire. For a third, and most important, he wouldn't get into the current Derbyshire side. 

Cue protests from Chesterfield, but I am not saying he isn't a good player, his issue is consistency. He averaged 20 last year for Nottinghamshire, with a season-highest of 76. This year, he started at Leicestershire with 170, then followed it with a pair. By definition, as a county player you are among the top one per cent of players in the country, but to get to the national elite needs that little bit more.

How would Ben get into our current top four? Billy is skipper, Wayne and Leus pick themselves, then there's Luis.

Ben averages 31 in first class cricket, 50-plus in List A and rarely plays T20. Luis averages 33 in first-class and is a key all rounder in all forms. He opened batting and bowling in the last match and taking Ben out of the equation, who else could do that?

Ah but Luis could bat five, you say? No, because he likes and prefers to open. Besides, Critch bats five, or Alex Hughes. Then there's Harvey (or Brooke Guest) and Fynn, besides other options. I don't see it happening and I genuinely don't see how he could get into a first choice side. That is a sure sign of how we have progressed.

I think he made a mistake leaving Derbyshire and may have kicked on with Dave Houghton and Mal Loye as his batting coaches. He hasn't done so at Trent Bridge and I think he will look back on that move in years to come as one where he made the wrong decision or was poorly advised. 

Next, the T20 fixtures are out. No surprises, as we play the same teams every year, but it runs from 27 August to 20 September. You can see the fixtures here

And finally today, in response to emails, my thoughts on the team for Yorkshire. 

There will not be many changes, for me. I think Tony Palladino might be back soon, but not just yet. I don't think they will pick Fynn Hudson-Prentice as they will want to ensure he is right for T20. I also think that Sam Conners will be rested, as he looked tired on Monday and that Yorkshire's loan of Ed Barnes will preclude his involvement. 

With Ravi Rampaul stranded in Trinidad, I expect to see the following eleven at Headingley:

Godleman, Reece, Madsen, Du Plooy, Critchley, Hughes, Hosein, Dal, Cohen, Aitchison, Melton. 

As always, your comments are most welcome!