What has gone wrong at Derbyshire?

There have been a lot of comments over the last 24 hours and I thank you for them. Plenty of these have been on the blog, but there have been more that have come to me as emails, which I will respond to as soon as I have the opportunity.

I think there was a very pertinent comment made by David Lloyd after yesterday's game. His performances so far have suggested a man who will be prepared to battle, will be honest and will be happy to front up, when required. If he is not captain at least of the 4-day side next year, I would be very surprised and consider it an opportunity missed. I want such a man as skipper of my county.

'There is so much talent in the dressing room..' said Lloyd, 'we have one of the best squads in the competition'. Looking around the counties, I find it hard to argue with that assertion. 

So what is going wrong? Why has such a squad won only seven out of the 29 games they have played this season? Why am I, as a supporter for over 55 years, resigned to the fact that we are unlikely to add more to the wins column before the end of the summer?

For me, the blame has to be laid at the door of the Head of Cricket, Mickey Arthur. I expressed my concerns prior to his appointment and at the time that it was confirmed. I know that he is highly regarded as an international coach of teams containing elite standard cricketers. Therein lies the rub, because while the Derbyshire players are good, by definition of being 'first-class' cricketers, they are not the 'creme de la creme', as that well known cricket coach Miss Jean Brodie would have called them.

From what I have read and heard about Mickey, his coaching style can be abrasive and confrontational. That can work on a short-term basis, but is unikely to yield results in the long term. Nor is such a style conducive to a happy and productive dressing room, because an environment where there is an element of fear can rarely be so. I am not an internationally known cricket coach, but I am an experienced senior manager who people enjoyed working for. You cannot manage everyone the same way and expect them to respond in your desired manner.

My understanding of the fallout with Billy Godleman, which has come from several sources, was that it was not done in private and was embarrassing from all perspectives. I wasn't there, I am getting this second hand, but suffice to say it creates an uneasy working environment for those left behind.

As too, almost certainly, did Arthur accepting the role with the Pakistan Cricket Board. It is easy to say that there are benefits for Derbyshire in his being able to lure top talents from that country to England. It is also true, but my concern is the message that it sent to the Derbyshire players and indeed to his coaching staff. Essentially, it said he could handle the job part time and I remain to be convinced that anyone can serve two masters with equal care and due attention to detail. Results do not suggest it is working at 'our' end and he won't be around for the requisite development work over the winter.

It is a massive one for Derbyshire County Cricket Club. I felt last year that Arthur was unduly generous with one or two contracts that were handed out, perhaps blindsided by the 'potential' of some players that others struggled to see. Having done that, we move forward a year and really need to clear the decks, but within obvious budgetary and contractual constraints.

Can he do that? Are there players out there who are out of contract, see Derbyshire as the 'county of choice' and are within our budget? Not only that, are they genuinely better than we already have? 

I am not convinced. But nor will I accept that we have to spend and get ourselves into debt to compete. There are no guarantees that spending big gives guaranteed returns. A look at the averages of this year's overseas players in the Vitality Blast illustrates that. Recruiting sensibly and within budget is the only way forward, then creating and maintaining a positive environment in which they can flourish.

Which brings us neatly back to getting more from the players who are here. 

Several good cricketers have, in my opinion, gone back this year. Is this down to the coaching, to their having 'topped out' or to the management style? It would be very interesting to hear Arthur's thoughts on this, because he has been conspicuous by his absence after matches for a good part of this season.

Like many other supporters, team selections have baffled me at times. That's OK if a left-field call produces dividends, but the decisions made have rarely done that.

For example, it is patently clear that two of our existing spinners will not be here next season. Mark Watt will be with Scotland at the World Cup, while it is hard to make a case for Mattie McKiernan, when he has largely been a peripheral figure for much of the summer. Fifty-two overs bowled all summer, I make it.

So why play him now? What happens if he scores a quick 50 and takes four wickets, when the decision to release him has perhaps already been made? Why not play Tom Wood, a mercurial local talent, and give him the opportunity to win or lose a contract? Either he or Matt Lamb could have offered a spin option and much more with the bat. Poor Mattie has bowled thirteen overs in three games, faced two balls with the bat and been out to both.

Why play Anuj Dal yesterday instead of either Wood or Lamb, but not bowl him? Why continue to play an overseas player (Suranga Lakmal) who has been underwhelming at best, when he won't be here next year? Why sign a talented middle order batter from Pakistan and get him to open the batting on early season English pitches? 

There are so many examples. I think supporters would be more understanding of the remainder of the summer if the likes of Wood, Wagstaff and Moore were given opportunity. More appreciative of their success and more understanding if there were defeats. Maybe we can salvage something from a wretched summer by letting them see what is required.

Members and supporters deserve answers. One contributor made the good point that Derbyshire may well make their best appointment of the winter in an appointment to the club board, replacing the loyal and long-serving Colin Tunnicliffe in the Spring of next year, when he stands down.

I have massive respect for what Colin has done for the club, both on and off the pitch. But the reality is that he is 72 years old. The game has changed since his day, as life has changed. I am only ten years or so outside of a long career in public libraries, but I wouldn't now put myself forward for a senior position in them.

We need someone younger, more in tune with the modern game, perhaps more willing to hold the Head of Cricket accountable for decisions that are being made on the playing side. Going a step further, perhaps even a cricket committee could be established, reporting to the board, a conduit for cricket matters and not allowing the Head of Cricket - whoever it is in the future - the complete autonomy they have had in recent years.

It works at other counties and I am sure there are several former county players who would relish the opportunity to be involved in some way. Because let's face it, everyone on the club board is very well qualified for the role that they hold on it and do sterling work, but none of them have the background in and the experience of professional cricket, nor are able to challenge the Head of Cricket on decisions, performances and results. Of a CRICKET club.

It may well be that Mickey Arthur has some stunning signings to unveil in the coming months. I hope that is the case, but we need to recruit well and augment a group of cricketers who have a lot of talent but are simply not producing the results that they should be.

I have mentioned before that the pitches at Derby need to offer more to everyone. It is all very well saying that we are hard to beat at Derby, when we all know the reason why.  Get more grass left on them, or take more off, find a way to make both your new recruits and your existing stars excited at the prospect of the 2024 season. Trust your players to deliver.

Let's face it, a squad with Came, Reece, Lloyd, Guest, Madsen, Chappell, Dal, Conners, Amir, Aitchison and Brown available for selection should win their fair share of cricket matches.

IF they are well managed, well coached and appreciate the tactics, the team selection and the environment that is being created.

On too many occasions this season, the body language of the Derbyshire players has suggested those things are not currently happening. 

Why is that? I hope that the answers are forthcoming in the weeks ahead.

To close, answering a question that has been asked of me - do I think Derbyshire are further forward than they were under Dave Houghton?

Aside from the individual development of some players, no. There was light at the end of the tunnel in September of last year, but maybe it was only just a burglar's torch..

Next season has to be better than this one, or we have to go back to the drawing board.