He is an intelligent, talented and ambitious lad, who should have gone on the Lions tour this winter. That he did not, after the summer he had, was a disgrace.
In moving to Essex he follows a path trodden previously by Geoff Miller, and will be closer to where the media are to push his England claims. How much bowling he gets is a moot point, with Harmer and Lawrence already bowling spin there, but he will be playing division one cricket, which is the major factor in his move.
I am just glad he is not moving down the road to you-know-where, or to Glamorgan, which made no sense from anything but a financial perspective. There will have been other interest, but I suspect he has chosen well.
I wish him all the best. I shall miss his languid class with the bat and his coltish enthusiasm in the field. Most of all that developing leg spin, which helped him give us a genuine and rare three in one player. Not to mention his cheery smile and warm welcome on the occasions we met.
It leaves the new Head of Cricket with a big gap to fill. We have lost our top scoring batsman and lead spinner, not easy boots to step into. They may look overseas to do so, with spin looking comfortably our weaker suit. Can Alex Thomson or Mattie McKiernan step up? Is there someone out there who can deliver those dual roles? Essex have had to pay a fee to release him from his contract, so there is at least money there.
Anyway, thanks for the memories, Critch.
It was always a pleasure and I wish you well.
Question is how hard did Derbyshire work to keep him?one of the few players from last season worth keeping, the sooner Derbyshire appoint a new HOC the better
ReplyDeleteDelighted with this, but i thought he was off to Glamorgan. Any idea how much the release clause was Steve, i'm sure you posted it before?
ReplyDeleteHopefully not another Greg Smith, who I never rated even at Derbyshire, and will fill a big RTD sized hole. What it suggests for the future of Simon Harmer who only has another year left and could earn at least double if not triple what he does currently and one of the TMG's, is a bit worrying.
Commiserations to Derbyshire fans, but hope he will fit in well. Not sure it will help his international ambitions though, we are not very fashionable, see the fact Sam Cook also is not on the Lions tour and Jamie Porter never got a look in despite being the best seamer in the country for a couple of seasons.
We also have a number of fringe players out of contract, most notably Paul Walter and Aaron Nijar, wouldn't be surprised to see some leave. Feroze Khushi who I hope stays but worryingly didn't get a much of a game in the dead rubbers, is a fine prospect who is also out of contract, would be a good signing for Derbyshire.
Essex fan
You have a good one in Critch, so treat him well, Essex fan. Thanks for the heads up on our of contract players, which is interesting.
DeleteRelease clauses are generally 50% of the contract. So I guess if Critch was on £60-70k, the release would be an additional £30-35k, giving around £100k in the budget to replace him.
Decisions, decisions...
** out of contract
DeleteIt was obvious he was going to move but as you say it seems unlikely he will get the overs bowling for Essex that he did for ourselves. Hope it doesn’t turn out like Borthwick at Durham who moved to Surrey and never seemed to bowl again till he returned to his home county. Anyway I wish him all the best
ReplyDeleteVery sad, although inevitable day for DCCC. Critch was one of the few players in the current squad who excited the members when he came into action. Hopefully he gets the game time with Sir Alistair & Harmer to push his game on to the next level. I wish him well and thanks for the last 6 years. Hosein retired and Critch moved on leaves a big hole in our squad, hopefully the services of a top class HoC can be announced soon before all the players looking to move have been snapped up!
ReplyDeleteDisappointing news i would imagine for Derbyshire's long suffering fans, It always is when you lose one of your own but from Matt Critchleys pov it was an understandable move,If MC wants to play for England (and yes he does have that level of ability) then he did need to be with a Division 1 team.
ReplyDeleteMy allegiance lies with that team from down the A52 and i did wonder if we might have been interested in MC, A few years ago we may have been! But that was then, The present Notts side already has an excellent spinner, If you then add in the likes of Matt Carter and Calvin Harrison and you can see that Notts had no real need for another spinner.
I would have been lying if i didn't admit to myself that Critchleys batting would have been nice,Runs can sometimes be a problem for us.
Essex is a wise choice Simon Harmer can't go on for ever and given a decent run in their first team he should finally get the international attention his ability deserves.
I hope your hand is healing well Peakfan,I read your blog on a pretty regular basis and your comments all feel nice and balanced, Lets hope both our sides have an excellent 2022.
Take care
MikeyC
Thanks Mikey! I couldn't see how he would get a game at Notts so didn't see him moving there.
DeleteHand will be slow. 2 weeks in heavy cast, 2 weeks in a light one, then physio. Hopefully restored to full health thereafter, but the op was bigger than expected. Such is life! Do please keep in touch and thanks for the kind words
Yes, given such a poor season the club had, and the uncertainty over who will become head of cricket, it was inevitable Critchley would leave. Ultimately he wants to play for England, and that was unlikely to happen while at Derbyshire. I wish him all the best at Essex. He's a very talented cricketer.
ReplyDeleteLosing Hudson-Prentice, Hosein and Critchley, three of our best players, means we need to make some shrewd signings.
Hosein and Critchley also had Derbyshire in their DNA, so you also have to replace that empathy with the club. Without their batting in the group stage last year, we'd have been in an even bigger hole. I can only hope this gives a chance to the likes of Sheikh and Wagstaff, although it would be highly unlikely they would average in the 40's, like Hosein and Critchley this year. Kris
ReplyDeleteCheers Kris. We need to recruit as those lads may be in education for a good part of the summer. I hope their chances come, but it would be silly to expect averages in the 40s, as you say
DeleteAny idea when there will be an announcement about the new HOC? It's a month since the closing date for applications yet still there has been no.news. Whoever he is he will need to address the loss of talent, especially Critch of course.
ReplyDeleteI was planning to ask the same HOC question as Chapel Guy. It is quite a depressing time for Derbyshire fans with the departures of MC, FHP and HH.
DeleteLucky we have our inept Committee leading the search for the HOC. I wonder if they are spending so long trying to work out how to ‘spin’ how good Houghton was and that they have managed to persuade him to reconsider and have him back again.
Peakfan: I hope you have heard some rumours that we will be appointing a good HOC.
Get better soon!!
Gareth
The new HOC has a big job on his hands, not least because he won't start until November at the earliest
DeleteI have heard names in the frame but won't say anything at this stage, as it is the club's right to announce this when they see fit. And when they can, a comment that will make more sense in the fullness of time...
We need a replacement for three good county cricketers and it won't be easy to get like for like replacements. Plus we need contributing overseas players and getting a squad prepared for a better season next year.
He will need to hit the ground running, but whoever gets the nod is eminently capable of doing so.
Peakfan,
ReplyDeleteMay I ask if you would be happy with the potential names you are hearing for the HOC role?
Thanks
Gareth
Both would be excellent options for us, though I have some reservations on one..
DeleteDefinitely a trade up!
Thanks Peakfan. From your previous reply, it sounds like the names you have heard are already in a role which is why we may be waiting for an announcement.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed it is sooner rather than later because there is a mountain of work for any HOC to sort the mess left for them by Houghton and the Committee.
Gareth