Arthur interview needs health warning

As a Derbyshire supporter, it was good to see Mickey Arthur in bullish mood on the interview released by the club yesterday.

In that interview, he revealed the reasons for his delayed arrival and that he should be in Derby in the next 7-10 days.

All well and good, though doubtless a couple of months later than he and we all hoped for. His philosophy seems well-aligned to that of the late, great Eddie Barlow, in that Derbyshire have to be fitter and field better as non-negotiables. We can all get on board with that one, even when I am reminded of the words of Mike Hendrick - 'he wants us to be best team in the country at fetching the ball back, if it gets hit for six'..

Hendo was joking of course, but the worry of the interview was that further recruitment is likely to be a season-long seamer from overseas, with 'someone else' for the Vitality Blast.

I am concerned. While it is laudable that he offers opportunity to contracted players, I suspect that Dave Houghton's last acts as HOC may be ones that stymie Arthur this year.

Let's face it, we have lost our leading batsman and spinner, one of our best-averaging batsmen and keeper and a seam-bowling all-rounder of talent in Messrs Critchley, Hosein and Hudson-Prentice respectively. None look like they are being replaced, though two months from the season that was going to be tough anyway.

Factor in that Luis Reece will do little bowling this year and Mikey Cohen is returning from his latest stress fracture, the challenges are clear.

If Arthur's man management is better than that of his predecessor (which it surely will be) will getting an extra ten per cent from his charges be enough to make Derbyshire competitive?

It is a tall order. The batting was woeful last year, but with Godleman, Madsen and du Plooy out of contract at the end of this season, all have incentives for big summers. My guess is that they were alluded to in his reference to 'a couple of contract extensions'.

Either Alex Thomson or Mattie McKiernan needs to step up to prove a worthy first choice spinner, since we appear to be going with what we have. With 29 career first-class wickets between them, they have less wickets than Critchley took last summer alone, so the challenge is clear.

Much seems to rest on the quality of overseas players and my viewing of Shan Masood yesterday suggested a player who will be enjoyed. Nonetheless, a slow Karachi track is somewhat removed from a traditional English April green top and we shouldn't get too carried away at this stage. We have all seen exciting signings kiboshed by injury before arrival too, so I will keep my powder dry for now. 

As for the season-long seamer we are signing, your guess is as good as mine. I think we can rule out South Africans, since they tour here this summer, as do New Zealand. I did wonder about Scott Boland, who ripped through England this winter and a recent article revealed several county approaches for his services. He seemed wary of committing to it, however and suspect if he came the bidding war would put him out of our reach, with the player likely more keen on a shorter stint anyway and seemingly wary of burn out. 

My guess would be someone from Pakistan, where there are numerous good options, or Sri Lanka, where good players rarely get county exposure. None of these would be unduly expensive, as for most it would cement growing reputations and widen their experience.

Finally, he mentioned 'in addition' to the overseas players, someone else for the Vitality Blast. Logically that may mean a Scotland player, or someone at least with a UK passport.

My guess would mean a return for Mark Watt, who only went for six an over in the T20 World Cup and looked a much fitter, equally canny bowler to his previous spell with us. 

He is a very skilled operator in that format and hard to get after, certainly an asset to most sides. Arthur has referenced a need for a slow left arm bowler before and Mark would fit the bill quite nicely. 

So there you have it. I have said before that Arthur has a 'free hit' this year, but members and supporters need to see a more aggressive, purposeful style of cricket than last year.

We will see if the change in ethos and fitness levels alone can bring dividends, or if more sweeping changes are required in due course.