This week the cricket media picked up on what I posted last week and confirmed that Mickey Arthur was staying at Derbyshire, not that there was any real suggestion that he was leaving, other from those voices that emanated from Pakistan.
It didn't really make any sense, to your correspondent at least, and for reasons that are well documented over the past couple of weeks. He seems to be happy, totally focused on Derbyshire and hopefully ready to build on the sound foundations that were established in 2022.
There are new players in place and there will be even more by the end of this month, when our second overseas player will be announced. At this stage it is hard to say if this player will fulfil all of the duties of that position, or will be only for a part of the county commitments.
I have seen various names mentioned, in comments on this blog and on social media. The reality is that none of us know who that player will be and that is good to see. I have every confidence that Arthur will have picked up a very good cricketer, my main interest being whether he has opted for another experienced man, like Suranga Lakmal and Shan Masood, or has gone for a man with a reputation to build. There are a few names in that latter category, while the best fit in the suggestions I have seen for an experienced man was Usman Khawaja.
Masood has had a difficult winter and been nowhere near as prolific as many, self included, thought he might be. Perhaps Yorkshire will not have picked up the run machine that he was for Derbyshire and last year may have been a never-ending purple patch that isn't extended, when he takes over the reins at our northern neighbours.
With twelve of the current staff coming to the end of their contracts in September, a lot of people have much to play for. I think that is the right thing, though of course, the risk in not securing players to a longer deal is that they could be 'poached' during the summer. I would expect a few counties to be keeping a close eye on the situation with Leus du Plooy, Luis Reece and Sam Conners, while George Scrimshaw is likely to be another to come under close scrutiny.
By the same token, all of them can earn another deal with Derbyshire. Having been given the captaincy, I would be surprised if du Plooy left, while Reece has always been grateful to Derbyshire for giving him an opportunity when he was released by Lancashire. In an ideal world we would retain the services of all four players and of course I hope that we do.
Finally today, I will be doing a draw this weekend among the blog subscribers who have a chance to win a cricket book. I will put the names of the winners on a post over the over the course of the next 2 days and if those people could get in touch at their convenience, I can sort out the prize for them.
To all of you, thank you for your continued support.
Postscript: in an interview published on the club website this afternoon, Arthur said that our new overseas player was 'young, very exciting and someone he has worked with, but only briefly...'
Hmm ..my gut feeling remains Abdullah Shafique. Any other thoughts?
In his interview on the club web site, Mickey said he is close to signing a young and exciting player, who he has worked with, briefly, in the past. My money's on a batsman, and it might well be Shafique.
ReplyDeleteBit worrying to hear Conners has had to have an injection in his arm/elbow. Possibly cost him a Lions tour according to MA.
ReplyDeleteI think that Abdullah Shafique is the man.
ReplyDeleteIf Shan Masood is unable to reproduce the form for Yorkshire that he displayed for us, my comment would be the one used by the sergeant major in It Ain't Half Hot Mum - "Oh dear, how sad, never mind."
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