So it is that today I give you my fantasy five-man short list of people who I would love to have applied for the Derbyshire job. I have no idea if they have, but these five would give the board some fascinating interviews and provide a heady mix of experience. Thanks to an old friend for providing the stimulus for it!
Ian Bell
I think he wants to get in to coaching, so why not with a challenge? On the up side, his name would generate interest. On the down side, he has no background in coaching but has recent playing experience. Can he motivate people?
Karl Krikken
The coach with the best record in recent history. Would he leave a role at Lancashire where he is settled? Would he go back to a club that sacked him? He is good with young players, both spotting and developing them.
Mark Alleyne
Back working with Gloucestershire and a man with a fine track record as player, captain and coach. Yet not given a role in the game for a few years, for some reason. That he would be a canny coach is beyond doubt, that his tactics would be sharp is too. Could he get the best from a group of players not without talent? Would he capture media attention?
Simon Katich
Knows Derbyshire, knows the English game, but likely to be part of the 100 in some capacity and while the concept is appealing, the conflict of interest would be an issue. An overseas coach might be the way to go if he could cover the bases of the job description and offer knowledge of the county and world game.
Grant Bradburn
For me - and I have spent a lot of time in recent months studying potential coaches around the world - he would be 'the man' .
The question mark is if he would be remotely interested in Derbyshire. He has a senior role, Head of Performance in coaching the top coaches in Pakistan.
His career and reputation has been made in improving the fortunes of clubs and countries that were minnows. He did it in New Zealand, in Fiji and in Scotland.
I would be astonished were he to apply, but this is a fantasy list and I have read that he is away from his family in Pakistan, which must be a strain. He is also known to John Wright, who brought him to the county for a few weeks to work on the T20, with success.
That is my top five fantasy list. If any one of those applied they would be a stand out, bringing new ideas, voice and tactics to the club.
If they all applied? You couldn't go past Bradburn. Living in Scotland, I saw what he did for the cricket team and its media profile up here. The players both respected and responded to him. They beat England, claimed several other notable scalps and became more professional. He is a thinker, a strategist, a tactician, but most of all a motivator who gets the best from people.
We can all dream, right?
And if you have ideas for other articles over the winter, please drop me an email or DM on Twitter.
I'm awaiting the usual bs statement from the club of ' the standard of applicants for the Derbyshire head coach role has been very high'. Expect that in the next few days
ReplyDeleteI know one thing for sure, Chesterfield Blue. If they end up deciding that the best candidate is already at the club, I will have grave doubts about a due and thorough process. Shahzad seems to be a decent bowling coach, but I don't see him yet as HOC material. Nor do I see Loye as that person, so fresh eyes and input are required, for me
DeleteAs a matter of interest, why was Karl Krikken previously sacked, when he had such a good record...?
ReplyDeleteI think the then administration felt that we weren't doing as well as we could.. I think we did well with a young, close knit team and he was unlucky to be sacked
DeleteChris Grant changed the structure of the club and made Krikk apply for his own job, which I imagine he saw a disrespect, quite justifiably. Ludicrous decision given the relative success we had had.
DeleteWe could do with a change in structure now - to get more and recent cricket experience at board level. We also need to get an academy team playing in the local Premier League like other counties do.
Agreed 100%. A committee of a CRICKET club that has only one former player on it is incorrectly weighted.
DeleteEspecially when that player was last involved in the game 40 years ago.
So much has changed and as a club we need a person or persons on there whose experience and knowledge is of the demands of the modern game.
And I say that with no disrespect to Colin Tunnicliffe, a man I have much time for.
Just as the playing squad desperately needs an injection of quality/experience, so it would make sense to recruit someone with a proven track record in cricket management. Without that, the chances of meaningful - and above all, sustained - improvement are slim. Derbyshire need to be ambitious for success and determined to try to achieve it, if the club is to survive. So the board definitely needs to look outside the club. Ian Bell doesn't have the relevant experience and although Karl Krikken is by far our most successful coach this century (though it's a low bar) and was unlucky to be sacked, I wouldn't go back. Of your candidates, Grant Bradburn and Mark Alleyne, if they have applied, fit the bill. Bradburn has the best track record - but is he interested in taking on such a challenge?
ReplyDeleteThat's the million dollar question, Martin! I think him a perfect fit for us, but he may or may not be interested, might not even have seen the ad!
DeleteBut this is fantasy stuff, eh?!
A player I wouldn't mind us looking at would be George Munsey of Scotland. Doubt he'd break the bank but he'd add real oomph to the top order and showed for Kent this season he can flay County attacks the same way he sees off associate sides at international level.
ReplyDeleteMunsey is a good player and it is noteworthy that he, like several other Scots players, took a giant leap forward when Bradburn was HOC.
DeleteVery hard to get an overseas player these days with not only Covid but the amount of cricket being played around the world in all forms.
ReplyDeleteWhat about someone like Cameron Green from Australia, emerging, top order bat with a fine record, useful bowler, young, county cricket would further him more, plus help Derbyshire.?
Not sure what our schedule is for touring in 2022, but he seems he's only been picked for Test Cricket at the moment.
Worth asking him or his management.
Green would be an excellent pick, Tony. Bats four or five, averages over 50 and around 30 as a seamer. Very talented player.
DeleteSo too Wil Pucowski, an opening bat who scores BIG. Young lads with the willingness to learn and make a reputation would be a good option for us.
Together with perhaps a more experienced seamer or spinner would be nice for 4 day cricket..