I have no real issue with the award of two year contracts to Alex Hughes and Tom Wood, nor the one-year one to Mattie McKiernan. It was something of an inevitability for the latter two, after the awards they won at the club's annual dinner last weekend.
With Wood having been 'poster boy' for the club Twitter feed in recent weeks, it would have looked pretty silly to then announce his release. His century against Nottinghamshire will live long in the collective memory and his power and stroke play in one day cricket will prove a potent weapon.
He has work to do on his technique for the four-day game and the defence isn't as secure as it could be, but the talent is there for the new Head of Cricket to work on.
Similarly, McKiernan was voted Second XI player of the year, so to then announce his departure would have made the club a laughing stock.
I like him as a cricketer, but he needs to make the most of his opportunities next year under a new Head of Cricket. He also needs to be given more at senior level, because his bowling seems to be seen as a 'last resort'. I think it is better than that and perhaps he, like Anuj Dal, could benefit from greater responsibility.
Long time readers will know I am a big fan of Alex Hughes and so I am pleased to see him get a new deal. Coming in from left field, he will be a strong contender for the captaincy if they don't look to Matt Critchley, certainly in the one-day games. A change is needed, in my opinion, with fresh eyes and enthusiasm.
Yet my concern is that Dave Houghton has made, or been allowed to make, decisions on contracts when he won't be at the club.
Unless the new Head of Cricket is to be given a pot of money as yet undeclared, he looks set to go with the same squad for next year, as he has been presented with a fait accompli.
I just find it very odd. So whoever comes in cannot be fairly judged next year, unless he turns us into a mid-table side, because there would appear to be only money for the overseas players.
It makes the appointment of the right man absolutely critical, because we desperately need someone with a track record of motivation, capable of getting the best from what we have.
Nils Priestley won't be part of the new regime, his release having been announced yesterday.
A talented cricketer, capable of useful left arm spin and clean hitting, his development was not sufficient, at this stage, to earn a new deal.
It could come again, if he goes away and works on his game, or his future could be outside cricket.
Either way, I wish him well.
With Dal making the progression he has this year I think it will be difficult to find a place in the team for AH as regards to making him captain he’s not really good enough to play as a batsman (sorry bats person)and with Dal fulfilling the role as fourth seamer leaves no room in the team for him
ReplyDeleteHard to say, Ranger. Alex will walk into one day sides and the key is how players respond to the new HOC.
DeleteHe wouldn’t get in my team, I agree regarding the players need to buy into the new HOC
DeleteThe awarding of these contracts without a HOC in place beggars belief.
ReplyDeleteI think it was common sense to sign these players. Contracts run from October to October . These would have been offered months ago. But if nothing done we could have lost all 3 . Some people might say good, but the squad would be so thin that the new head of cricket would have to find players to replace them. Despite people’s assumption that you can just pick good cheep county players off a heavily laden tree is just fantasy . We would really struggle to find players of this calibre especially as I’m guessing non are on huge money. At best you’d end up paying more and reducing the budget for what is absolutely necessary which is a gun top order batsman and a proven opening bowler to lead the line and take pressure off our young , talented but very inexperienced bowling attack. These signings are critical to maintain a reasonable depth of squad. Especially if Crich leaves which I fear is more likley than unlikely . People need to view the full picture . Hopefully the new HOC can get these gun players we desperately need. After all youd hope the budget would be there as we had virtually no overseas last year for the whole season. This squad ain’t as bad as a lot of people think. With 2 marquee signings and everyone fit we would be a decent team .
ReplyDeleteOh you are right, John. On our day we can give most teams a game. We should have beaten Notts 3 times this year. We just need to find that HOC who can create a siege mentality like Rooney has at DCFC and can get that performance more often than not.
DeleteBut the issue is that the new man will HAVE to go with what he has. I can only assume that there is budget for the overseas roles for next year, at this stage..
Exactly. The new HOC now has to go with 3 players he may well not rate. The stats might suggest he would have a point.
DeleteThe suggestion that we may have lost these players if we had not signed them makes we wonder who we would have lost them to.
I would have thought it would have been up to the new HOC whether 'these signings are critical to maintain a reasonable depth of squad'
Certainly Hughes would find a club easily enough.
ReplyDeleteGood experienced allrounders never have much trouble. Wood averages 50 in The 5 T20 games he’s played striking at around 130. The big question is why only 5 games but think that questions been done to death. Second highest run scorer in the RLC with the innings of the season against Notts. Think he could have found a county too. Both will probably not make the 4 day starting 11 but you still need cover for injury and loss of form in what by nature will always be a small squad. That leaves mckeirnan who for me was vastly under used in the white ball formats. Sure he was our most economical bowler in the 2020 blast . If Crich leaves he would be a decent shout as an obvious leg spin replacement. As I said before. Pretty sure you wouldn’t get better for your money, even if you could find someone who wanted to come