Playing for Welsh Fire it was always going to be so and the frustration is that they aren't THAT much better a side than Derbyshire. Fair play to them for winning the RLODC yesterday, but they were affected less than most by players going to the new competition. I don't see them winning other competitions, but can see others pursuing Matt's services too.
There is apparently a £30,000 buy out clause in his contract, which would need to be paid should anyone secure his services, but the question is whether Derbyshire can do anything to hang on to him?
We are always going to be outbid in these situations. The grounds hosting Test matches and the new competition have greater financial clout and, let's face it, we are the only county to have not won a one-day trophy in the 21st century. Dave Houghton could offer him one-day captaincy as an incentive to stay, but the reality is that a player with ambitions of international and other selection will likely always choose others over Derbyshire. We may not like it, but have to face facts. There is only so much we can do financially too, so there must be a collective gritting of teeth among support. Losing Fynn Hudson-Prentice was tough. Were the same to happen to Critch it would be a massive blow.
It is one that Dave Houghton will have to handle this winter. Despite the poll on Twitter showing that 83% of supporters don't feel he is the right man to take us forward, my understanding is that he already been given a contract for 2022.
My feelings on that are clear, but what's done is done. Therefore we must hope that he makes a decent fist of the winter rebuild. With so many players out of contract - and at least one more possibly leaving - there is an opportunity to bring in some who can make us more competitive.
Houghton simply MUST do better on his overseas signings next year. I accept and acknowledge that the days of picking up a Kirsten, Jones or Azharuddin are gone, let alone a Barlow. But I hope Dave talks with performance analysts and finds us players with good statistics, just as Leicestershire did this year. Their T20 signings were far from household names, but by going on figures of where and how they scored runs and took wickets, they pulled out two gems.
With respect, Billy Stanlake was a disaster waiting to happen, while we were unlucky with Ben McDermott, though his travails outside of Australia don't suggest he would have been an automatic success. Logan van Beek was available and did take wickets, though too expensively, while Ravi Rampaul looked like time had caught up with him. Meanwhile Dustin Melton struggled with injury and hardly played.
I have ideas on where we need to recruit and what we need.
That's for another day and another article..
It’s good to read any County that wants to sign Matt Crichley will have to pay Derbyshire £30000 it’s a pity this didn’t happen in the past when you consider the number of Derbyshire players that have been allowed to leave while still under contract, the list is endless starting with John Morris in 1994 the way in which players have been allowed to leave has made a mockery out of having these players under contract and the contracts not being worth the paper they are written on
ReplyDeleteIt is, Ranger. The concern is how many counties will not renew contracts or will release players this year. Knowing full well they will need to raise an, RLODC side next year when they lose X players to the new competition.
DeleteHoughton will need to shop canny, without a doubt
It would be interesting to learn why the management board have offered DH another year when there appears to be no progress at all. Do the senior players have any confidence in DH if not this could be their signal to jump ship
DeleteI can only think they have bought into the 'unlucky' story. We have been, but even with a full squad have batted dreadfully for the large part.
DeleteThe key will be next year. At season end the contracts of Godleman, Madsen and du Plooy will be up.
Are we going to have a ceremonial handing over of the HOC baton to Wayne? Is he ready for that? Can Billy recover his form to justify another deal, and can Leus be retained in the face of what is likely interest?
Again, a positive environment and better summer will be key in any contract discussions..
It is very difficult to become a successful county side when any players who do well are picked up by other counties. You end up with just the players who did not turn out to be successes.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a constant conveyor belt. Find unproven talents, hopefully bring them on and fingers crossed retain them.
DeleteOtherwise, start again...
Staggering incompetence if a buyout clause was inserted into a contract - making the contract almost meaningless - and further staggering it is for only £30,000, which would fund an unproven or journeyman cricketer at best. George Dobell is a fantastic journalist and do give Cricinfo's latest Switch Hit podcast a listen - it outlines how counties' votes (including Derbyshire's then representative) for The Hundred have started a slow decline for the smaller counties. I guess it could only take personnel changes at the ECB to stop that, otherwise say bye bye to Derbyshire and hello to the Western Farmers, the Anglian Windows and the Even More Northern Northerners.
ReplyDeleteYes, £30k would fund a Thomson or Came. But don't forget Critch's salary too. Though the challenge for DH is persuading a player that we are their best career move, after this summer.
DeleteOnly if there are no other offers will we have much chance, in my opinion. Word will be around the counties on how things are at the club, after all..
To be expected, but not so sure Glamorgan will have been that impressed by his performances for Welsh Fire.
ReplyDeletePlayers do well for us then other counties come calling it's nothing new. I seem to recall Graham Wagg leaving us for Glamorgan, apparently to win trophies and enhance his chances of playing for England....
I think Critch has had a good year for us and counties will now be alerted to his availability.
DeleteI don't blame the lad for wanting to further his career, but like Parkinson going to Leics to do it, Glamorgan, regardless of the 100 spot seems an odd pick.
His chances of England recognition were/are slim with us. Can't think a move to Wales would enhance them..
I'd release Godleman as he isn't value for his reported salary and offer MC the captaincy and a pay-rise to match, increasing that 'buy-out' as part of the new deal.
ReplyDeleteIf this had all happened three years ago then I'd have been annoyed with Critchley. Surely you should show some loyalty to the county that made your career? Not forever, but for a while.
ReplyDeleteNow, however, I don't blame him. Why should a player with lots of potential and ambitions to succeed hang around at a county that celebrates mediocrity and seems content with its status as the worst county side - by a long way - in the country?
I don't expect us to see too many more Madsens and Palladinos. Certainly not until the players can be convinced they can be part of something special.
DeleteAs for status, on this year's form I can't argue. We are, by some distance. I would like to think professional pride might change that another year, but will reserve judgement until I see the winter recruitment (and losses)
If Matt is going to leave I hope it is sorted sooner rather than later. I have no hard feelings towards him as he has always given his best for the county. I thought it would be hard to keep him at the end of his current contract and always feared Lancashire would come after him especially now Parkinson is in and around the England set up.
ReplyDeleteIf he is leaving I think it would be beneficial to give McKiernan a run in the team to see how he can handle it especially with his contract up in the summer. He maybe a bit rough round the edges at the moment but Critchley was when he first started bowling. It maybe that we already have a ready made replacement.
Regarding the overseas player next season I would lean towards a batsman rather than a bowler as with bowlers countries will try and control their workload before releasing. Looking at Future Tours Programme I see that Australia have little cricket next summer barring a short trip to Afghanistan so was wondering if Usman Khawaja would be interested in returning or someone like a Matt Renshaw who has been out of AUS team for a couple of years.
edit : Australia tour is Sri Lanka not Afghanistan
DeleteI think McKiernan a better bet as first choice spinner than Thomson, on what I have seen. Another option, of course, could be an overseas spinner, though availability is key.
DeleteLike the thought of Renshaw or Khawaja, the former perhaps more affordable if he still qualifies.
Be interesting to see how many overseas are allowed next year. I haven't seen any regulations yet...
If we lose Critchley, it will be a massive blow, the same as losing Dominic Cork and Chris Adams. It took us many years to recover from the loss of these players. We need to give Matt a big pay rise and make him the captain of the team. I would also like to see improved contracts given to Hosein, Reece, Du Plooy and Connors.
ReplyDeleteMatt impressed leading the team in some T2O matche, and I think his game would improve with the extra responsibility.
We also need to trim the squad and try to encourage more young players in the Academy like Wagstaff to make it into the first team. There are too many fringe players who have not performed well during the last two seasons. Hopefully, we can also find talented players like Guest and FHP that have been rejected by their counties.
My choice for an overseas player. Will Young from New Zealand.
Daljit
Very good comments, Daljit. And Will Young would be a good pick for overseas. Much like Guptill a few years back, he needs to push himself to the front of the queue in NZ.
Delete“ With so many players out of contract - and at least one more possibly leaving - there is an opportunity to bring in some who can make us more competitive.”
ReplyDeletePeakfan: Are you referring to Critchley in this paragraph or another player leaving? If it is the latter and another one of the few good players that we have left is off, sadly we may as well pack it in now.
On a final note, your bad news that the Coach has been ‘rewarded’ with a contract for another year by the inept Management literally sums up what a disaster of a Season this has been for a club.
Gareth
My understanding is that another player is being actively pursued, but is unsure whether to jump ship at this stage.
DeleteAs for the committee, when one person on it is responsible for and knowledgeable about all cricket matters and advises on the role of a friend, the end result is a foregone conclusion.
DH has a contract for the coming year, but I can think of few sports clubs that would do that, after the year we have had.
It is either admirable loyalty or gross incompetence. Time will decide which.
A board of 8 people where only one knows much about playing first class cricket and that was over 35 years ago should have anyone's alarm bells ringing.
Delete