But as I said pre season, there are plenty of good wicket keepers around the county circuit, not able to force their way into their county's first eleven.
So it is that Mickey Arthur has moved quickly and been able to acquire the services of Hampshire wicketkeeper bat Aneurin Donald.
I saw him a few years back playing for Glamorgan second eleven against Derbyshire at Belper and he looked a player of Incredible talent. He scored a century that day and the ball disappeared to all parts. It was the equal best century I have seen in a county second team game, matched only by one scored by Ian Blackwell against Yorkshire at Chesterfield, going back way too many years to count!
He has produced some powerful hitting over the years. People always reference the double century he made against us in 2016, but there have been others of equal power. 173 from 144 balls for Hampshire in the Royal London Cup of 2019 was special, so too 76 from just 36 balls against Yorkshire the same year.
He then missed two years of cricket after a freak accident and surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament. At 26, this move works well for player and clubs. He has a year remaining on his Hampshire contract and an opportunity to show what he can do, with or without the gloves, is not one to turn down.
In the short term, he offers Derbyshire additional power in the middle order and he looks likely to play in the second team double header against Lancashire today, before doing so against the same opposition on Saturday.
Like everyone else, I look forward to seeing what he brings to Derbyshire and thank him for coming to God's own county for a little while.
Here he is in action last season
https://youtu.be/naAdSBlPkJw
Quite a few Hants fans surprised and disappointed that he's unavailable for their T20.
ReplyDeleteRobert
The lack of planning is being blatantly shown up by this type of event. Absolutely predictable.
ReplyDeleteI disagree Bobby. We don't have the money to pay two wicket keepers, one of who will likely never play in the first team.
DeleteAs I said preseason, there are plenty out there and counties are happy for them to get match experience, while some players and their agents will appreciate an opportunity to impress
He is an incredible talent and I well remember that record breaking double century against us in 2016. He would be an amazing asset if we could keep him.
ReplyDeleteI doubt we can and he is contracted until the end of next season, for all that contracts mean these days!
DeleteIt's fine if you have someone like him on the staff who is good enough to play as a bat, and keep wicket if required. He is a very good player, and incredibly destructive when it is his day.