Weekend roundup: a clarification

At the weekend I reported briefly on an article in The Guardian newspaper, which it transpires was neither fully researched nor accurate. 

The Guardian article suggested that 'every first-class county' had been the subject of a complaint on grounds of racism.

The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) has been setup as an independent and confidential body to which anyone who has been involved with cricket at any level - from schools and recreational, to professional and international - can register their experiences and/or concerns. It is not exclusive to county cricket.

I have now read that the figures being reported in the media were speculation only. As a confidential body, the ICEC has not and will not publish details of any specific cases and any figures may or may not be accurate. They also may or may not refer to the first-class game. 

I am happy to publish this clarification in the interests of fairness to all concerned. 

Weekend roundup

Perhaps this week will bring some of the news that Derbyshire supporters have been craving, that of new players coming into the club.

Last week's announcement that George Scrimshaw was staying was welcome, if not exactly a surprise. He was still listed on the club website as being on the staff and since no one had announced him as THEIR new signing, logic suggested he might stay. While he bowled well in a handful of T20 appearances, there was perhaps not enough of them at this stage to start a clamour for his services.

I can confirm that there WAS interest from along the A52, but it was not pursued, for whatever reason.

Mickey Arthur starts his last match in charge of Sri Lanka tomorrow and will hope for a winning finale against the West Indies. I think he will get it and the home side's bowlers (Lasith Embuldeniya is a canny bowler) will be too clever on their home turf.

Off the pitch there were two bits of news that may have passed you by. Apparently every first-class county has been the subject of a complaint to the ECB on grounds of racism, which means that Derbyshire are one of them and they will need to investigate.

It doesn't automatically mean that there have been wrong-doings, but it is another reason why employment and recruitment policies and processes must be robust and thorough. We have made mistakes in the past year and the Tony Palladino case still needs to be resolved, but hopefully we can soon focus more attention on matters on the pitch.

On the upside, an article I saw an article on diversity in county cricket in the Guardian which said:

The Guardian found that of 158 current board members at the 18 first-class counties, according to the counties’ own websites or their most recently published reports or accounts, only 28 are women – less than 18%. Only Derbyshire, who have three women on a nine-person board, have unequivocally met the target, with Lancashire closest to joining them – six of the 16 attendees at their board meetings are women, but only two of eight are full members of the board

Fair play to the club for doing the right thing here. After appointing a good Head of Cricket after a robust interview process, things appear to be moving in the right direction.

Now for some players... 

Team strengthening

There are a surprising amount of good county cricketers still seemingly out of contract as we get to the end of November.

Certainly there are some in the names below whose apparent availability is a surprise, but with Derbyshire in the market for players, a couple of these, maybe more, may hold considerable appeal. Nor should we discount potential signings of players who are still in contract, but want to be playing more senior cricket at this stage of their careers, or be given greater opportunity.

In highlighting the two names below I am not suggesting we are moving for them, nor indeed that they would come to Derbyshire. But nor should we discount the appeal of working with a coach of international renown,  which we now have in Mickey Arthur. That either would enhance our squad is, I think, beyond dispute. 

Danny Lamb

I am a big fan of the aggressive Lancashire all-rounder, a bustling right arm seamer and batsman. At 26 he should have played more than 19 first-class matches, but he always seems to take wickets and is a good enough batsman to have a century and three fifties to his name.

Economical in one-day cricket, might he be the latest from that county to move south, following Luis Reece, Ben Aitchison, Brooke Guest and Mattie McKiernan? Having Karl Krikken up there is no bad thing. There may well be a new deal for him, but is he happy to be merely a bit-part player? 

Paul Walter

The giant (6'7) Essex all rounder is similar to Lamb. 27 years old, he has only played 28 first-class matches but averages over 36, while striking at over 130 in T20.

As a bowler, he hits the deck hard and from that height will always be a handful, even if only offering occasional overs. He might have hoped for more cricket with the retirement of Ryan ten Doeschate, but the arrival of Matt Critchley takes that place. If there is interest, Andre Nel, his former coach and fellow Protea will be able to give Mickey Arthur chapter and verse on his merits.

There are others, like Shane Snater at Essex, Ned Eckersley at Durham and Tom Bailey at Lancashire, but I find it hard to believe they will not be offered and sign new deals. All are fine players with proven track records - indeed Eckersley seems to have amassed much of his career tally against us. 

Our need is for a younger, more affordable back up keeper, I think, with Brooke Guest one of those to shine in a poor 2021 and worthy of being first choice for now. There will be plenty around the circuit who would jump at the chance of fighting for the gloves. 

There are a few spinners around and seemingly available, like Aron Nijjar, Jack Shutt and Amar Virdi, but their career records suggest little major improvement on Alex Thomson and Mattie McKiernan. Maybe greater opportunity could be the making of them all, but our two simply have to play some cricket to find that out and make worthwhile the award of two and one-year deals respectively. . 

Were we to pick up either Lamb or Walter, one of our overseas roles could go to a spinner, or spin bowling all rounder. Sri Lanka have one or two, as do Pakistan and Mickey Arthur will know them all well from his previous roles. 

That would perhaps leave the other role (for four day cricket) ideally going to a top order batsman.

Getting the right man in would make such a difference, as well as giving additional confidence to those whose struggles in 2021 were a puzzle after erstwhile glories.

I suspect, as most counties do, that four and one-day recruitment will differ in personnel. The congested International calendar largely makes it so and fewer players want to condemn themselves to a full English summer. So while we would likely be thrilled at Dimuth Karunaratne, the Sri Lankan Test skipper, for four - day cricket, we might fancy Wanindu Hasaranga for the T20. Who wouldn't, eh?! 

As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions. I should point out I have erred on the side of affordability in the names above, so try to do the same if throwing a few names in the ring! 

Scrimshaw signs new deal

The influx of players for the Arthur revolution began today, with the return of a familiar one in George Scrimshaw, who has signed a two - year deal.

To be fair, most could have been excused for thinking he was on his way, as there have been as many sightings of Lord Lucan as there have been mentions of him on the club's social media accounts since the end of the Vitality Blast.

There was interest from elsewhere, but somewhat sensibly George has opted to cement his future at the club that gave him a chance to resurrect a career that appeared to be gone, when he left Worcestershire after years of injuries.

I think he is wise. Ajmal Shahzad has worked well with him and can get him better still. Until he proves he can last the rigours of a lot of cricket there will always be concerns over his back, BUT when he gets it right he is a potent weapon.

Nottinghamshire and others found that out last year in the Blast, with middle over bowling of pace and hostility suggesting to batsmen that stepping away and wafting was the best approach. There were times he got it wrong and he is not yet a reliable four - day bowler, but the good days suggested he could be a serious bowler in time.

It further reinforces young seam bowling stocks and that he is from our happy hunting grounds of Staffordshire makes the signing more apposite still. 

Working under Mickey Arthur will have been an inducement too, as it will be for others, home and away, this winter.

The T20 World Cup showed the route to success as fast bowlers and leg spin. With the signing of George we have the former.

We await with interest the overseas choices to add to the Mattie McKiernan option.

Welcome back, George. In every sense, big news today... 

Weekend roundup

There will be plenty of Derbyshire supporters pondering who new arrivals may be after Mickey Arthur's interview last week.

I understand he has been looking at options for some time and will have some very clear targets in mind. 

One such player might be Graeme van Buuren. 

Having mentioned the need for a slow left arm option in the attack and support for the batting, van Buuren would be a good option to cover both bases. 

31 years old, he has played his cricket at Gloucestershire since 2016, having started in South Africa with Northerns and the Titans franchise. He didn't get as much cricket as he would have wanted last year, as there have been issues over his eligibility after the end of the Kolpak status.

He must be close to qualifying by residency now, but hasn't yet signed a new deal at the county that has been his home since he starred for Enfield in the Lancashire Leagues.

The downside to a potential signing is that it would be another 'South African signing' for a county that already has a good few.

The upside is that he is a very good cricketer, with a batting average north of 40 and a bowling one just over 30. Last year, in very limited appearances, he averaged over 50 with the bat and took seven wickets at 17. Very much an all-format cricketer, he usually bats five and would be a solid replacement for Matt Critchley.

But there are plenty of others out there. 

To catch up with my postbag, I think that Anuj Dal will stay and a contract will be down to Mickey Arthur to discuss, when he arrives.

He did very well at the end of the season and contributed well in all formats. His next step is to deliver against the stronger opponents, not forgetting that the closing fixtures were played against the weaker ones in the country. He is good enough to do it and will enter 2022 in great confidence.

As for George Scrimshaw, I don't know. I heard that Nottinghamshire offered a deal, but cannot verify that. I also heard that it was subsequently withdrawn, perhaps when they realised they already had about sixteen contracted seamers for next year... 

That may be another one for the new HOC, but there has been no mention of him in months, so perhaps bridges are burned at the Derbyshire end. We will know soon enough. 

Finally today, it was good to see Leus du Plooy in good form in South Africa, making 91 and 85 in his two innings against Easterns for South West Districts. He was batting four, so the solution of one place higher in the batting order remains one of the challenges for Mickey Arthur this year. 

Among those bowling against Leus was my new favourite cricket name, Divan Posthumus, who narrowly edges out his fellow countryman Shadley von Shalkwyk. 

Proper names!

Keep your questions coming and I will answer when I can. 

PS thanks to all those who logged in to read about Mickey Arthur's appointment. There were over three thousand views that day, which just shaded the 2.5 thousand who wished our dog Wallace a happy birthday on Twitter.

Wallace is much better looking than me, though... 

Arthur interview adds to excitement

If excitement in the appointment of Mickey Arthur was high before, it cranked up a little after last night's short interview on BBC Radio Derby with Dave Fletcher.

Thanks to Dean for alerting me to it. 

The interview was at 6.50pm on Radio Derby and Arthur said that he had been 'looking for a project' after living in Asia for five years and in a hotel room for 2.5 years. Aside from the cricket, it offered him a chance to have a home again and doubtless his wife and three daughters will join him here in due course.

Fred Swarbrook and Eddie Barlow were cited as the biggest influences on his career, the latter especially important, his coaching style based on the former county and South African legend. 

He has already been in touch with players at Derbyshire, has watched them on YouTube and expressed surprise that the obvious talent wasn't matched by results. 

He is already working in his new role, alongside his current one and expects our first overseas player to be announced 'in the next couple of weeks' .

It was interesting that he has already identified the need for a left arm spinner, wicket-keeper, top order bat and experienced seamer. Some will doubtless come from county ranks, but I suspect a left arm spinner has to come from overseas, as I can't think of an available one in county cricket.

Two or three in the world game come to mind: Imad Wasim and Mohammad Nawaz in Pakistan would be good all round options, so too Mitchell Santner, but I suggest these with no inside knowledge.

Nawaz, a player just outside the Pakistan squad at present, would benefit from a stint in this country. As a powerful left handed bat and skilled spinner, he would be a huge asset and replace Matt Critchley quite nicely. 

But these are decisions that the Head of Cricket will make. His contacts book must read like a set of encyclopedias and we should go into next season far better equipped than we did the last one. 

There will be a buzz around the Incora County Ground at this appointment. The players will be revitalised and excited at working with a man of such reputation. 

Members, supporters, sponsors and advertisers should respond in similar manner. 

I'm certainly in, reassured that he is in this for a good length spell and already seems ahead in organisation and communication on what we have had of late.

Strap yourselves in. It will be a hell of a ride.

I wonder how long it will be before Sky commentators call us 'Mickey Arthur's Derby'? 

The challenge facing Mickey Arthur

The appointment of Mickey Arthur to the role of Head of Cricket at Derbyshire will undoubtedly be a talking point in cricketing households around the world in coming days.

It is a big appointment for Derbyshire, but also for county cricket.

He is a huge name and I was surprised when I heard that he had applied for the role. My reservations on the previous post may attract comment, but I always consider different perspectives and I feel they are valid. 

He has, however, signed a three - year deal, according to reports from Sri Lanka, so any approach for his services between times would doubtless see Derbyshire compensated. That assuages some of my earlier concerns, when I feared his stay might be little longer than that of an Amazon delivery driver at your door... 

Reports add that his preference was to stay there, adding 'all I wanted from Sri Lanka cricket was an indication that you were happy with how I was doing my job'. Their loss may well turn out our gain. 

Tim Dale Lace, a respected South African cricket writer, told me:

I think he may put you at ease. He played 15 seasons for a very unfancied side and often beat the big guns.

 Also before becoming South Africa coach he coached two teams similar in stature to Derbyshire to a white ball T20 final, as well as a 50 over one. Both teams had at most 2 South African international players

Adding a stint in English County cricket to a CV is never a bad thing and Mickey takes over a club in the doldrums. We were much the same when Eddie Barlow arrived and the only way was then and is now upwards. 

As I wrote last week, he has a free hit in 2022, because he has inherited someone else's squad. Once he gets in post he will quickly identify what he has to work with and will undoubtedly attract a lot of interest from out of contract players seeking a trial.

There must be money available, though finite, so the coming months will be fascinating to watch. So too the season ahead. 

As was the case with Eddie Barlow  in 1976, Mickey inherits a squad that is not without talent. There is a clutch of talented young seam bowlers, as well as a top four that SHOULD be better than their returns last year. While Luis Reece's involvement will be limited, at least in early season, getting the best from Wayne Madsen, Billy Godleman and Leus du Plooy will be key to progress.

All of them will be out of contract at the end of 2022. The new man will look at what they offer and  work out if they remain good value for the club. Wayne and Billy will be the highest earners by some distance, so their returns must be seen to match that outlay.

I suspect he will help them rediscover their best form and will be a welcome boost to other players too. Coming from outside, it will be interesting to see where he goes with the captaincy. 

He will hopefully quickly secure the services of Anuj Dal, before turning attention to the crucial overseas roles.

This will be a challenge, with the perenially-congested international calendar, but he will know plenty of players! I suspect that Pakistan and Sri Lanka may be obvious sources and I wouldn't say no to the hugely talented Wanindu Hasaranga, the leg-spinning Sri Lankan all rounder, for the T20.

But it is Mickey Arthur's job and I am hopeful and confident that he will do a good one. Much as he did in Sri Lanka, bringing through some talented young players to compete well on the world stage. All the stories I have read suggest him very popular and respected by players, so that augurs well.

So too does the quick response from players on Twitter, Wayne Madsen hailing it 'brilliant news', while both Mikey Cohen and Dusty Melton professed their excitement. 

With local sport in the doldrums, this is a welcome boost and the coming months should offer plenty of food for thought and excitement for Derbyshire supporters. 

Well done too to those who got this over the line. I was doubtful, but am happy to acknowledge a job well done. 

Make sure you check in on the blog on a regular basis for the latest news. And please feel free to donate if you are disposed to doing so. You can use the button on the left of the blog, paying either a one-off amount or a monthly donation.

All of which helps to keep a stylus-wielding, temporarily one-handed blogger motivated and happy! 

Mickey Arthur is new Head of Cricket

I have to say the odds on my writing that kind of headline never crossed my mind when I started writing this blog..

On the face of it, a man who has been coach of South Africa, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in turn is a stellar appointment. He has been a success at top level coaching and this is probably a bigger surprise than anything since the appointment of Dean Jones, a quarter of a century ago. 

I have to say I have reservations, so may as well state them at this early stage. Of course I wish him well, as  I want the best for my/your/our club. If he gets us pushing for promotion in four day cricket and out of the T20 group stages then I will be first to applaud and admit I was wrong.

But my concern is his lack of expertise and experience with non-elite players. As I said in a previous piece where I coincidentally mentioned him, the gig is quite different, and only time will tell if he has the requisite skill set. He has 'only' coached at international level for the past sixteen years and will face totally different challenges. Not least a very small Derbyshire squad with only one wicket-keeper, that has just lost its most prolific batsman and lead spinner, as well as a very talented seam bowling all rounder and a well-liked wicket-keeper batsman whose best years were ahead of him. Not to mention a raft of players struggling to establish themselves at this level. 

A bigger issue is whether we are merely a short-term port in a storm. His contract in Sri Lanka ended with the World Cup and the career path of South Africa to Australia, then Derbyshire via Pakistan and Sri Lanka is a curious and unconventional one. I just hope we aren't looking for someone new at this time next year, or earlier, the coach lured by a bigger and more lucrative international role, where his track record would make him a big target. 

Those services won't come cheap, of course, so I also hope a condition of the role isn't that he can take on a coaching role in the new competition mid-season, or head off to one of the franchises in the winter months. I assume we won't have Dominic Cork back for the T20, so his salary will presumably help cover for some of Arthur's costs. 

Derbyshire need (and deserve) a full time coach who knows county cricket and has a network of contacts to attract good overseas players. I am not sure how many county players he will know, but suspect his close friendship with John Morris may prove useful, as will his support coaches. He will know plenty of players overseas, an area of recruitment where I expect to see major improvement. 

He is a very good, well-liked and respected coach of high reputation. If he can bring in the right overseas players and players respond to him, then all well and good. I would love to see him galvanise a relatively young squad and take us forward, use high-class motivational skills and promote/develop the academy products. He would doubtless do a very good interview and impress a panel with a CV of that nature. 

Is he right for Derbyshire?

If it lasts, yes. My only concern is will it be for long enough to make a real difference? 

We will see, but we at least have a Head of Cricket fit for the role. Definitely, by any standards a stellar appointment. 

It goes without saying that I wish him all the luck in the world and he will have my backing, like that of all county supporters.

We will play aggressive cricket under Mickey. In itself, that will make a refreshing change. He starts after the forthcoming Sri Lanka Test series against West Indies and I am sure we will all look forward to seeing if he can bring the sparkle back to Derbyshire cricket.

If we can get three years from him, he may just 'do a Barlow'.. 

Update

Reports online suggest that no decision will be made on the future of Mickey Arthur as Sri Lanka coach until after the end of their Test series against West Indies on December 3.

A faction of their powers that be seem to prefer a Sri Lankan coach, with Roshan Mahanama mentioned in despatches, a man somewhat bizarrely with no coaching experience. 

Arthur will take the West Indies series but what then? That is another three weeks of waiting with, it appears, no guarantee that he would be available at the end of it. 

Those of you attending the Member forum this week (Thursday) may want to ask these questions:

Can we afford to wait until the new year for a new HOC? 

Have we put a deadline in place for an answer? 

What about plan B? Specifically, if in the intervening period, plan B accepts another role? 

What about outstanding contracts, like Anuj Dal? 

Recruitment? Because we need players.. 

Looks like this one will run and run... 

Weekly roundup

My plaster comes off on Monday, I am pleased to say. A splint comes next and in a couple of weeks, physiotherapy, Not been the easiest of times, but getting there, after three weeks.

Which is more than can be said for our Head of Cricket search, which is akin to waiting for Godot. That didn't end in the expected fashion, either.

Someone asked me in the week why I was so concerned over the timescale, and the answer was quick and simple. Because I care and have concerns over our future. 

We are short of players and if we get this appointment wrong may have a second successive summer like the one just ended. Imagine that summer with Hudson-Prentice, Critchley, Hosein and Reece missing and welcome 2022.

We can ill-afford another bad year, but the new HOC, whoever he is, will have a free hit this year. I would still be surprised if it was Mickey Arthur, and for my main concern takes you forward 10-12 months.

This time next year, Wayne Madsen, Billy Godleman and Leus du Plooy are all out of contract. I would like to think that their deals would be sorted in good time, but if we appoint someone who sees us only as a fall back position and is off to pastures new in that timescale, we have major issues. 

Thankfully there are still players out there who are available, but I would be surprised if Ed Moulton returned to the Incora County Ground. He was released by Lancashire this week, but I didn't see enough in him during his loan spell to suggest a longer-term deal.

He is a tidy bowler, but the stock ball appeared to be the in swinger. He seemed some way back behind Messrs Aitchison, Conners and Cohen, while Nick Potts and Dusty Melton will be pushing for game time too.

Maybe this week will bring some news... 

Time waits for no one.. but Derbyshire do.

This might be a contender for one of my shortest blogs, but I have an observation on the delay in appointing to the Head of Cricket role.

They are obviously waiting to see if Mickey Arthur is going to take the job, or if he is going to stay on in his post in Sri Lanka. Or maybe, for all we know, talking to Middlesex about their vacancy. 

Why are we doing this? Why should we be someone's plan B, or fallback position? Were it anything to do with me, there would have been a deadline for the role to be accepted, after which it is offered to the very good (in my opinion better) alternative.

We are looking a bit silly. That could get worse still, if and when we have to readvertise.

We will, if they aren't careful. 

Nuj, George and an overseas source..

Amid the puzzles of our current situation, the status of Anuj Dal and George Scrimshaw are fairly well up there.

After struggling for a fair part of his time with us, things finally clicked for 'Nuj' as the season came to a conclusion. The runs flowed, wickets came, the fielding was as good as ever. The club's PCA representative looked good value for a new contract, perhaps an all round  replacement for the now-departed Matt Critchley, albeit in a different style.

Yet the contract offer didn't come, pre - Houghton departure. I can only assume that the player and club are apart in their valuations for his services, because he had a greater claim to one than others who have been signed, sealed and delivered.

Thus he remains one of a number of county circuit  players out of contract. I would hope he wants to sign and we are now awaiting the new HOC to ratify things, but it is an additional uncertainty at a time when we don't need to look too far to find them.

So too George Scrimshaw, who I understood was talking to other counties after rejecting a deal with us. It is his prerogative, of course, but there was supposedly a multi-year deal on the table, fair for someone with his previous injury record. Will the new HOC ratify that, or has that now been withdrawn?

Anyway, the wait goes on and one assumes that contracts will eventually (shortly?) be flying in and out of the club faster than a Shaheen Afridi thunderbolt.

Quite apposite, as I expect counties to be looking to Pakistan this winter  after their stellar World Cup. 

There was a time, as I grew up, that the likes of Zaheer Abbas, Mushtaq and Sadiq Mohammed, Majid Khan, Imran Khan and Asif Iqbal graced the county game. Later came Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq and Danish Kaneria.

Then it all stopped, bar for the occasional T20 signing. Was it the match-fixing scandal involving the latter, or rumoured contract problems with some players represented by several agents, all wanting their cut? Perhaps a combination of the two, with post - Covid travel also an issue.

I expect that to change. They have looked a superb side in the World Cup, with powerful batsmen, canny spinners and lightning quick bowlers. With a population of over 200 million and cricket THE sport, there are a lot of fine players on the periphery, some of who would qualify to play over here. Nor are they awash with  tours this summer, an added appeal. 

Were I on the marketing side of a first class county, I would be looking to cash in on their huge interest in the game and bring over one or two of those stars to engage the local population whose roots lie in that country. We tried it before with the signings of Indian players, before the IPL put an end to that malarkey. It could well boost crowds and memberships to go down such a route, as besides anything else they are very good cricketers.

It must also be said, as an observation only, that should Anuj Dal leave for pastures new we have no players of BAME background on our staff.

I am not for a minute suggesting that we have been doing anything untoward in recruitment. With an Equalities Officer on the board, that is unlikely. Merely that, with all that is going on with our northern neighbours at present, it is not a good look. 

Hopefully the fine talent emerging from our Academy will help to naturally address this imbalance in time, as the role of bowling coach Ajmal Shahzad does, of course. 

But it is increasingly important that the county side reflects the demographic make up of the community that it represents, as long as recruitment and selection is on merit, not mere tokenism. 

Unease at Arthur appointment

Thank you to Gareth for alerting me to a piece on the Island Cricket Twitter feed today, which said that Mickey Arthur will take charge of the Sri Lankan squad for the two-Test series against West Indies, starting on November 21. The following is taken from the article:

Arthur’s two-year contract with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) ends in the first week of December, but SLC sources said that he and several other members of the support staff whose contracts also end during the same period have been asked to continue till the end of the West Indies Test series. The Test series ends on 3 December.

“We are in the process of evaluating their performances and that would be discussed further with the Technical Advisory Committee before we take a call on it,” stated an SLC source. “We have informed the support staff to continue until the end of the West Indies Test series.”

With regard to the approach made by Derbyshire, SLC sources said that they have only seen media reports about it, but have not heard anything from Arthur.

My concern is that we are prepared to wait until early December and then find out that not only is Arthur's contract extended by Sri Lanka, but option two, a very good coach who will be in demand, also has another role by that stage. Derbyshire are then back to square one and looking for a new coach with only two or three months to the season and large gaps in the squad to fill.

That Sri Lanka seem to know little about our 'approach' is a concern. That there was a two - stage interview that he had to apply for - therefore we never made one - is even more so.

It just seems a bit of a mess, potentially a protracted mess. Even worse, a protracted mess that may end up with the club in yet another pickle and with neither of their preferred candidates available..

If Arthur wants the Derbyshire job, let him take it, now the World Cup is over, or at least confirm he is going to do so.

If not, let's get the alternative in, the players introduced, new ones brought in and the next phase of our history underway.

The club and its supporters deserve that. 

Cat out of bag as name revealed

The Daily Mail has today revealed what I heard a week or two back, that Mickey Arthur has been 'targeted' by Derbyshire for their Head of Cricket role.

Given there has been an interview process for which he had to apply, I am not sure the word is correct. Nor am I sure that this will come to fruition, now it is in the public domain. 

Yet no one can be disappointed by the news, nor will they be with the option, if this results in a new contract for Arthur in Sri Lanka. 

With Middlesex also seeking a replacement for Stuart Law, I will reserve my excitement for down the line, as and when this gets across it.

Sources tell me this should be by the weekend, or we will know it is time for plan B by that stage. 

Just be assured that there is a very good alternative in the wings and that, either way, our club will be in good hands next summer.