Derbyshire v Surrey RLODC

Derbyshire 215 (McKiernan 38, Wagstaff 36, McKerr 3-43, Moriarty 3-44)

Surrey 219-2 (Patel 111*, David 52*)

Surrey won by 8 wickets

The gap between cricket's haves and have nots was amply illustrated today, as Surrey's second team hammered that of Derbyshire by eight wickets, with over thirteen overs to spare.

Despite missing most of their first choice side to the new competition or international duty, the visiting top four of Patel, Stoneman, Pope and David was way ahead of anything that we could field.

A classy century by Patel and a bruising knock by the giant Singapore international David saw it almost like men against boys, the home attack powerless to stop it.

Surrey played well, or as well as they had to do in beating what is a very ordinary Derbyshire side.

Mitch Wagstaff batted well, though his departure confirmed his callow youth with an unnecessary shot. There is something to work with in the seventeen-year old, but the rest of the batting was anaemic. McKiernan did well for a while and Smit, on his return, at least ensured we got past 200. Most people got going, but no one went on to a big score.

The game was in fact a microcosm of the season. The batting can't get close to enough runs, the bowling, shorn of key players and confidence, looked distinctly average. Even Rampaul looked finished, his three wickets in the competition coming at a cost of over seventy runs each, a pale shadow of the T20 star of 2019.

In short, the squad needs a major overhaul this winter. As regular readers will know, I strongly feel this should start at the top, but very much doubt anyone on the board has the desire to change anything, which is both extraordinary and shows them as out of touch with support. 

We have too many players who are just short of this level, decent players but not match winners. I feel for them, because it isn't easy getting hammered every time you play, but we have to do so much better and we won't under the current regime.

I have heard things this summer, verified by several sources, that have in turn shocked, disappointed and saddened  me and I haven't seen the club at such a low ebb since before Eddie Barlow came.

We are losing Fynn Hudson-Prentice this winter and I don't expect him to be the last. Money is tight, but the club's future is at stake here and we can ill-afford to have another summer like this in 2022.

Bottom in four-day cricket, bottom in fifty-over cricket, next to bottom in T20, merely on a technicality. There are some good players at this club, but they need leadership and motivation, or the talent drain will become a flood.

I don't think Dave Houghton will help us turn the corner. At 64 he cannot have the energy for what is needed and if the club board, whether through misguided loyalty, a lack of awareness, or simply not caring expect him to they are delusional.

Houghton said that after three years as his coach he doesn't know whether Anuj Dal is a batsman who bowls or a bowler who bats. Isn't that damning? Given that the lad has been unable to buy a run all summer, wherever he has batted and was the eighth bowler used today, the players seem to have a clearer idea.

Similarly he has said he can't put his finger on what is wrong. Isn't that his job? In my senior roles, if I don't know where the issues are I expect to be pulled up about it. 

There have been so many issues this summer. The continued selection of Godleman when he was clearly struggling, the insulting treatment of Hughes at Chelmsford as night watchman, the disappointing overseas selections - whitewash it any way you like and I could go on, but it has been shocking. This from a bloke who has been supportive of most coaches in my time doing this blog and likes to accentuate the positive. 

We have more  cricket in eighteen days time but I expect disappointing news for supporters in the intervening period, or at least season end. Let's face it, the remaining September fixtures are effectively 'best of the worst' matches anyway. 

I am not optimistic of us winning many, even with some returns from injury and illness.

I just hope that the board surprise me and show a greater willingness to do something than they have suggested this far.

Otherwise, I am afraid the clock is ticking on our club. It may be anyway, but to do nothing is frankly an insult to supporters after this season.

Sport is a result - driven business and we haven't got many this year. Yes, there are some reasons, but too many have been self-inflicted for my comfort.