It was also nice to see Derbyshire players chatting with him and enjoying his company as much as he did theirs!
On the pitch it was the same old story. A weakened home attack did Ok, but on a typically blameless wicket they were hit around by Andy Umeed, who played a fantastic innings. Someone with that talent should be playing regular first team cricket, and with good support from Dickson and Goldsworthy he took the Somerset innings well in excess of 300.
I enjoyed watching Sam Conners and Harry Moore opening the bowling. Local lads, nice actions, a pleasure to watch. Both took stick later, but there was much to enjoy in watching them run in hard and bowl with no little skill. Moore looks a serious talent and one has to remember that he still has time at school before he is even regularly available for the first team. At sixteen he has the potential to be a serious player.
The batting wasn't so good. Reece was clearly unhappy to be given out, but the top four had gone in the first four overs, rendering it more a run limp than chase.
Haider Ali, playing his last game, again played some lovely shots, but his dismissal and that of Guest seemed to make the result a formality.
I left at that point, with things to do, but got back to Mum's to watch a valiant rearguard action, led by the masterful Anuj Dal. He is a lovely player to watch and one of the best runners between the wicket you could wish to see. Thomson lent good support, having bowled well earlier (as did Reece).
Value for money came in a last wicket stand with Sam Conners, which added 88 in 15 overs. It allowed Nuj to reach a deserved ton and avoided the tournament ending in a real hammering.
It still was, but it was at least heartening that there was fight in the team. It was also good to hear Mickey Arthur say that there will be six new faces next year, suggesting he is well on with arrangements.
Lloyd, Brown and Amir will be three. The others we will find out in the coming weeks.
We really do rely on bits of individual magic at Derbyshire, as a unit we are terribly poor. Fantastic innings by Dal ably supported by Thomson, but that was it from a batting point of view. We seem to rely on a couple of individuals each match to make the score look quite respectable, we need to start supplying as a unit. Huge season ahead for Mickey Arthur next season
ReplyDeleteM.A.
Deletehas been an a abject failure.
were languishing near the foot
of "the tables"
he should sack himself.
return to managing/coaching
pakistan..imho
Why, is he still at Derbyshire?
ReplyDeleteAs good an innings it was the match was already lost Dal was able to go out and bat knowing there was no pressure on him at all
ReplyDeleteSo another bitterly disappointing trophy campaign comes to an end, with just two victories from eight matches, this squad really can't compete when a few big names are missing.
ReplyDeleteSo much work for Mickey to do this winter, in an ideal world six or seven would go, and the same amount brought in. Going to be very interesting to see how things pan out
In Mickey’s interview after the Somerset defeat, he spoke about making more new signings for next season. He didn’t specify how many, but said it will be a “different squad next year” and “numerous others are going to be in our dressing room”.
ReplyDeleteHe also mentioned that he would like to bring more local players into the squad instead of going to the market. That was good to hear. There’s nothing better than seeing a local player make it into the first team. Mickey said of Harry Moore that he didn’t look out of place. He’s right. Moore bowled more like a twenty-year-old than a sixteen-year-old.
Regarding the last four CC games, he said they provided an opportunity for some players to make a strong case for being with us next year. In other words, if they don’t, then they will leave.
The Somerset defeat summed up our season. We were trounced by a, largely, inexperienced team. Even Andy Umeed, who posted 172, has only played a handful of games. We do seem to have gone backwards.
However, we might look back on this season as one that was about rebuilding rather than achieving. If we perform well next season, then I could accept that. Mickey spoke about his job being a three-year project. Let’s wait and see.
Coaching a county team has probably been a steep learning curve for Mickey, who has been used to coaching internationals, who are the best of the best. Some players won’t train as hard as internationals do, possess a real hunger for success, and have the mental capacity to bounce back after failure. Mickey will have worked out those players who have reached their level, and those who have the skills, work ethic and mental attitude to achieve great things.
From my reading of the situation, I've listed the following players will definitely be in the squad next season.
With the five Pathway players, they might not all be offered full-time contracts, because of our small budget and their lack of experience, but I would expect to see them involved with the club, and playing a game here and there. They have time on their side.
Turning to overseas players, I think we need a batsman. The departure of du Plooy, who has really peaked this season, has left a big hole in our batting. We need someone with a proven track record of being able to post a big score and rack up runs quickly when required. Haider’s youth has been highlighted to, in part, explain why he didn’t do as well as many thought he would. Yet he’s nearly twenty-three. Peter Kirsten and John Wright were both twenty-three when they joined Derbyshire. So, youth is not necessarily a barrier. Look at the form of James Rew (19) this season. Or Harry Brook’s meteoric rise (he’s still 24). Haider had a decent season, but not an outstanding one. We never saw him take apart an attack.
We also need a spinner who is a proper batsman, a player with the ability to make a century. Our batting in the middle to latter part of the innings has looked very fragile at times, and we’ve often gone into games with a long tail. Hopefully, Chappell might become a genuine all-rounder. That he scored 45 and 46 in the first CC game of the season suggests he has the potential to do so. Aitchison, who has a 50 to his name, also has the potential to become a genuine all-rounder.
If Zaman Khan is available for the T20, I’d take him. He had a fantastic campaign.
Derbyshire squad 2024
Batsmen
Came
Madsen
Lloyd
Lamb
Wicket keeper
Guest
All rounders
Dal
Reece
Spinners
?
Pace bowlers
Conners
Aitchison
Brown
Khan
Chappell
Pathway players
Batsmen
Bin Naeem
Wagstaff
All-rounder
Harrison
Bowlers
Potts
Moore
Personally I would add Alex Thomson to that list. I think he has shown improvement this season and I'm also not sure there are any better English qualified available spinners out there. Of course, Mickey might know better.
DeleteI agree. I think him the best for Mickey in 2024, there is little else out there and he has contributed with bat and ball.
DeleteWith good recruitment and people back from injury that is a good squad. Lamb and a fit Aitchison will enhance things when fully fit
DeleteI agree about Thomson. He should be in our squad for 2024.
DeleteAnd I think we will sign a batter or all rounder alongside Amir for T20..
DeleteI would keep Thomson. Multi format player, economical and bats a bit. Kris
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Kris. I expect to see him offered a new deal.
DeleteA quick question, PF : why was it Haider Ali's last game? Is he not available for the last 4 Championship games in September?
ReplyDeleteHe is playing in the Pakistan side at the Asia Games see https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/66586545.amp
DeleteWith respect to the club, this explanation doesn't even begin to answer that question. The Asia Games don't start until Sept 28th, none of the Full Members play until October, and the entire tournament for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh comprises three games played over four days from Oct 4th to 7th.
DeleteI could understand if the PCB wanted to withdraw him from the last Championship game so he arrived less last minute, but if he's missing the whole of September that either means the PCB have a pre-tournament camp or Haider wants a rest before the Pakistan domestic season--not just that he's playing in the Games. Either--especially the latter--are understandable, but some more honesty from the club wouldn't go amiss.
Dave
Whilst it is hard to find many positives out of another failed tournament, I would like a short note in praise of Luis Reece. He is having a splendid season. In the 50 over cup he was leading run scorer by some distance with just shy of 400 runs at an average of 49. In addition only Sam Conners took more wickets, and Luis was both the most economical and had the best strike rate of any of the regular bowlers.
ReplyDeleteIt could be argued that he struggled a little to achieve a good scoring rate in the Blast, but he did score 50+ runs in a quarter of his innings.
In the Championship he currently has an average of 70, admittedly skewed by 6 not outs. In addition he is joint leading wicket taker alongside Conners.
To think that he started the season as the forgotten man, and only found his way into the team when Anuj Dal was injured, with his place consolidated following Billy-gate.
He is a great servant to the team who makes the very most of his talents.
Yorks and Middlesex have also failed, across 3 formats. Huge counties. Worcs have done well. 2nd in CC and 3rd in both white ball competitions. That is what we should be aiming for. Kris
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I would like sorted for next season is that most of the coaching team seem to have other jobs either with Hundred or National teams. Arthur, Bell, Shahzad all have other interests. When you think we had a rookie captain in Brooke Guest in the 50 over comp what help did he receive ? If this is continue I would like one person in the coaching team who has 100% of his time with the team maybe someone like a Alex Hughes.
ReplyDeleteSpinners have been mentioned in other posts and whether it is me but counties spinners seem to spin the ball more making ours look more like slow bowlers than spinners. As mentioned in other posts Alex Thomson seems to have more potential to improve so I would expect him to be retained next season. When Matt Critchley left I was wondering if we would try Matty McKiernan in a similar role but he seems out of favour at the moment.
Do we read anything into Mickeys comment in his interview that it may not be the last we see of Haider Ali?
ReplyDeleteI spoke to Haider yesterday on the boundary edge and he said he hoped to come back 'to England' in 2024 'but for the T20 only, as he had found it a long season. I wouldn't be averse to it being at Derbyshire, he can be very destructive and will have learned from this year. Excellent fielder, good team man, right attitude and respectful of his obligations to supporters, especially young ones
DeleteI would have no problem with that. Realistically our best chances of success are in white ball cricket. It will be interesting to see Haider's scores during winter to see how he develops.
DeleteRegarding Haider, I'd be happy to see him come back for the T20. As Mickey said, he's learned a lot this season.
ReplyDeleteTrevaskis to Leicestershire. I think he would have been a great signing. Hope we've got a quality spinner lined up.
ReplyDeleteYes, they have money spare, of course, with Parkinson, Wright and Ackermann leaving. I rate him as a player, but I am hopeful we will have a good spinning option for next season..
Delete