It will be a very different Derbyshire next season, with no Tony Palladino running in from the Media Centre end after ten years of service. With Ravi Rampaul also unlikely to return, unless as an overseas player, there will be little experience in the seam attack.
At 37, Tony was unlikely to be the bowler that he has been and any deal was only likely to be for one year anyway. From the club's perspective, he will be one of the bigger earners but generally only plays one format, so I do appreciate the rationale.
It is also hard to be overly critical of the decision without knowing the plans that Dave Houghton has and who is (presumably) going to come in. The one sure thing in sport is that however good or loyal you have been, the end comes for everyone and it is rarely on their terms.
That there is an abundance of talent in the young seamers who played this year is undeniable. Ben Aitchison, Michael Cohen, Sam Conners and perhaps Dustin Melton will be the ones for next summer, with support from the all rounders and, one assumes, an overseas player. That the county, like others around the country, has to balance the books post-Covid 19 is also undeniable. I don't know the true picture, but without a lot of off-field income the playing budget must have taken a hit and the only way to try and sort that is in players at the end of contracts. From the club's perspective again, the savings from Tony and Ravi may enable recruitment in key areas and/or allow us to stay within view of a break even, or at least minimise the loss.
But it hurts. It will be hurting Tony right now and anyone who has been in similar positions will empathise. He has been an outstanding cricketer for the club, since his arrival from Essex. You always knew that he would test techniques, take wickets and at the very least keep things quiet on the shirt fronts. He ran in as hard at the end of the day as he did at the start and over the course of those ten seasons was a reliable bowler, the club's highest wicket-taker of the 21st century.
He could bat too. There was that memorable century against Australia A, plenty of key contributions when others had failed and some uncomplicated hitting that enlivened many an innings. I always got the impression of a good team man, another reason why, in ideal circumstances, he would have been useful for one more year to advise the young bowlers, take a spell when the going got tough.
But it is not to be. I feel for supporters too, as many would have loved the opportunity to say goodbye and wish him well in person. I have got to know Tony over the past decade and always enjoyed the experience. We had a long chat in the bar in the aftermath of the title win in 2012, plenty of others when I was able to visit the County Ground at other times. He was no different to me than to plenty of others, friendly, courteous and thoroughly professional, always with a regular smile.
At the end of the day 'professional' is the most apposite word for Tony. I have recorded his career with us in interview last winter, which you can find if new to the blog. I wish him the very best for his future and suspect that someone will end up with a very good coach when he gets the opportunity. They will get a top bloke, for sure.
It has been my pleasure to watch him and to get to know him. The club will continue, of course and although he will be hurting right now, I am sure that his next role is just around the corner.
For all the young bowlers at the club, Tony Palladino has set the benchmark for you. If you can reach his standards on the field and be as well-regarded off it, you will do all right.
Go well, TP. You will be sorely missed and thank you for the memories.
Disappointing news to hear that Tony Palladino has not been offered a contract for next season and the end of an era in our bowling department. I will not say too much on the decision, the club and coaching staff have to weigh so many different aspects together and they have to make tough decisions sometimes, ones that I am glad that I do not have to make.
ReplyDeleteWhat is undisputable though is what a fantastic contribution Tony has made to Derbyshire cricket both on and off the field.
My own personal memories of his career here include that brilliant century versus Australia A, although I missed the majority of it. I seem to remember arriving at lunch and noticing the scoreboard and asking the gateman who had scored a century and he said Tony had! I couldn't believe it, although Tony was a doughty hand with the bat and he played many useful knocks for us down the years.
In terms of bowling I always remember him forming a good partnership with Tim Groenewald, which was our first consistent new ball pair since Cork and Dean. I can recall Tony's excellent performance in that crucial home match with Kent back in 2012, when he took 7-53 in their second innings. At that time he was probably at his peak and was the spearhead of our attack. In recent years he remained a reliable performer, not quite as sharp as before, but always bowling a good line and length and giving nothing away.
He always seemed to be of a friendly deposition, very approachable by all accounts and cared for the club a great deal. As you say Peakfan, I am sure he will be hurting at present but I hope that he remains on good terms with the club.
It is a great shame that it appears that he will not get the opportunity to say goodbye to the supporters and for them to thank him for his efforts and achievements for the club. A possibility to potentially do this may be in the planned 'Derbyshire Legends' match to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the club, which is now due to take place next year (Covid-19 permitting). To see Tony appearing in that match, hopefully in front of a decent crowd who could give him the fitting send off that he deserves would be marvellous.
Thank you for the memories Tony and best wishes in your future endeavours.
Morning Peakfan, what a shame Tony Palladio is leaving, He has been a great servant of the club and I hope we can give him a proper send off. Is this the right decision? Given his age and the perilous financial position of county cricket, then probably. However if we don't get Abbott for next year, we will have a very young and inexperienced pace attack. It is worth noting that in the recently published bowling averages, no Derbyshire pace bowler appeared in the top 50, albeit from a small sample in terms of games played this summer. Let us thank Tony for all is great efforts, one of Derbyshire's best. Good luck Tony.
ReplyDeleteClay Cross Mark