Durham thoughts and the Godleman 'situation'

I appreciate your forbearance this week while I sorted some pressing domestic things at my parents.

I saw very little of the Durham game, only the last hour or so of the final day when we got home, but I appreciated all of your comments as always.

First up, a massive round of applause for Leus Du Plooy for scoring two centuries in the match. I recall seeing him bat at Durham when he first started playing for us. The game was noteworthy both for his low place in the order (Dave Houghton saying he had to earn his elevation) and for the fact that he got hit in the 'crown jewels' several times, which was the first time I had seen it so often for one player.

His was the starring role for Derbyshire, although the 90 by Anuj Dal in the first innings and the century by Brooke Guest in the second were also crucial knocks as the game progressed. Both men have had stellar seasons and I can pay no greater tribute to Guest than that there have been no comments about our missing Harvey Hosein, nor about needing competition for him. Only the legendary Bill Storer has more centuries for the county as wicket keeper (12) than Brooke, while Bernie Maher also scored four.

Meanwhile Nuj has a batting average of 76 and a bowling one of 20 wickets at 32. A genuine all rounder who has come to the forefront this year, he is now a key part of the side. 

That trio, plus a good second innings from Hilton Cartwright, enabled us to set Durham a challenging total after the timeless Chris Rushworth threatened to run through us, not for the first time. I would love to see how many career wickets he has against Derbyshire and how many overall at Chester le Street, because there can be few better bowlers on the circuit who didn't get a national call.

It was always said - and wrongly - that Les Jackson was overlooked because most of his wickets came at Chesterfield and Derby. I am not sure if that is true of Rushworth, but what a servant he has been to the northern county.

Which brings me to another loyal servant and Billy Godleman. He has been a fine player for us since his arrival from Essex in 2013 and especially from 2015 to 2019 was a run machine at the top of the order. The two Covid-wrecked seasons saw his average slip to the mid-twenties and last year would have been the same, bar for an unbeaten century in his final innings.

This year that average has slipped to just fifteen, with a season - highest of just 38. Like everyone else, I have willed him to runs each time he has batted, but the charm and effortless flow of Shan Masood has made his unique, awkward style look all the more eccentric.

At 33 he is young enough to rediscover his best days, but after his latest failures he must surely be allowed some time out of the firing line. Nottinghamshire are next and their attack will be a challenge for any opener, especially one for who form is so elusive. As pointed out by a contributor earlier, Harry Came scored 87 and a century in his two innings against Yorkshire and deserves a chance, albeit against the best seam attack in the division.

I was and remain surprised that Billy was given a new twelve-month deal, though it may be tied into a benefit. Either way, with Mickey Arthur saying that the currency of players is runs and wickets, it is clear that he needs to rediscover his mojo fast.

His poor summer has overshadowed that of Luis Reece, another who in a season of batting 'plenty' has struggled for rhythm and his best form. An average of 28, with just one fifty in the four-day game, with one of only 15 and one fifty in the Vitality Blast. I suspect and hope that his winter of inactivity with surgery to knee and shoulder are the contributory factors.

But the truth is that however well we have done this year, to pick up on it in 2023 we need both men back at their best. Neither has suggested permanence at the crease and for the club to move forward we need eleven players contributing their best form.

Overall, though, a decent four days at Durham. The fight is strong, the 'failure' to force a win on the last afternoon down to a young attack and the wicket not really deteriorating, as few have this year.

I thought we might have seen Hilton Cartwright bowl on the final day, just for something different, while the spin of Madsen and du Plooy might have been worth an over or two.

But we ended the game in the ascendancy and that is again a step forward.

Sound winter recruitment will take it on again.