Season review

In writing my season review, I thought I would revisit the preview that I wrote back in March. For a range of reasons, that seems a long time ago.

There were two short paragraphs that stood out at me. The first said

'If the wickets at Derby can replicate the one at Chesterfield last year, then Derbyshire have every chance'. 

Meanwhile the second said:

'..the feeling remains that some of the squad may have reached their peak and have no more to give. Maybe not, but that's my final caveat. Can the Head of Cricket get ten per cent more from everyone? 

The pitches were nothing like Chesterfield, while it is fair to say that too many players proved to have peaked in 2022. I take no pleasure in saying that, nor in being proved correct, but 2023 was largely disappointing from the perspective of a Derbyshire supporter.

There were good performances, most of them by individuals. Reece, du Plooy, Madsen and Guest had excellent summers, Came, Chappell and Thomson good ones. The issue was that collectively the team didn't deliver. Until we get the players who can do that, until the gap between the side at their best and their worst is narrowed, there won't be an improvement. The absence of overseas players above is telling and can make a difference another year.

I won't go down the route of some commentators on social media, who have been quick to say they have never seen worse. I can only assume collective amnesia, because I certainly have, a few times. Yet there was genuine excitement and anticipation after the 2022 season and it largely fell as flat as last week's champagne.

It all went wrong early. The announcement that the Head of Cricket was going to combine his role with a similar one with the Pakistan national side cannot have gone down well. Regardless of any manufactured benefits (first call on their best players apart) it said to me that he felt they didn't need him, perhaps created too relaxed an environment or left some people feeling undervalued. When a fallout with long-serving former captain Billy Godleman became a poorly kept secret, the die was cast for a summer of disappointment.

We didn't win a four-day game and rarely looked like doing so. When your highest wicket taker has 31 in 14 matches the reason is clear, but none of the bowlers would have looked forward to a day at county headquarters. Conditions were far too heavily weighted in favour of batters and match after match saw high scores and fairly mundane cricket. To be at its best, the game needs to offer something for everyone. It didn't at Derby and this simply has to be addressed for next season. Zak Chappell and Sam Conners destroyed Sussex on perhaps the only bowler-friendly surface of the summer. That needn't be a one-off and shows the talent is there.

The pitches were fine for 20-over cricket, but again the inconsistency of the side was a frustration. Zaman Khan did well, but the side lacked the nous for big occasions and we lost too many matches against sides that were eminently beatable. Meanwhile it was another hugely disappointing 50-over competition. Supporters watched the success of neighbouring Leicestershire in frustration, aware that a side of comparable, probably lesser quality managed to raise their game when it mattered, talented individuals making up a team to be reckoned with.

Batting averages were impressive in favourable conditions. Leus du Plooy and Luis Reece towered above all in fine summers, the former in his last before a (still strange) move to Middlesex. He progressed from 'talented' to 'international possibility' this season, although his captaincy was a much weaker suit. We will remember him as a player of devastating brilliance at times, though on occasion, when his footwork was more hesitant early in an innings, he could look less at home. I wish him well, even if he, like George Scrimshaw, will still be playing in division two next season.

Luis Reece came top, yet in a prime example of muddied selection wasn't in the team at the start of the summer. He recovered his best form with bat and ball and was rewarded with a new contract, very much deserved. He is part of the county scene now and will hopefully remain so for a long time to come. He was Bradmanesque at the end of the summer and can hopefully resume in similar vein next year.

Harry Came was the most improved player. He had suggested that he was coming to terms with county cricket towards the end of the previous summer and an average in excess of 40 was testimony to his burgeoning talent. He looked secure and classy, whether playing aggressively or in a more circumspect manner. Another rewarded with a new deal, he looks set for a very good career.

At the other end of the experience scale, Wayne Madsen, like Ol' Man River, just keeps rolling along. The runs continued to flow from his bat in both 4-day and 1-day cricket and he remains the wicket perhaps most sought by opponents. He will be 40 when next season starts, but still looks to have a year or two in his tank before the inevitable - more appositely unthinkable - happens. Life without Madsen is not yet a palatable thought, likely never will be.

The rest of the batting was a curate's egg. Guest was solid, expansive and brilliant at times, though his average dropped. I suspect he will be even better down the order at five or six next year, with time to rest after he has been in the field. His wicket keeping was consistently excellent, though how long we can expect him to play every game is a moot point, even for one of such remarkable fitness.

Haider Ali impressed at times, always looked a player of class and could hit a ball a country mile. Yet an average of 32 isn't enough for an overseas player of such obvious talent, not helped by his being asked to open in early season. His attitude was excellent, however and his fielding capable of brilliance anywhere. He will be a top player, but hopefully learned a lot from a mixed summer.

Mitch Wagstaff got into the side in late season and impressed with bat and ball. His batting is the stronger suit, but his leg spin looks worthy of further investigation and he is worthy of opportunity another year. He will be in the mix for a place, either in the middle order or as a back up opener, but competition for places should be fierce.

Matt Lamb disappointed after his move from Warwickshire, but a back injury severely restricted both his season and movement. If he can get that sorted in the close season I expect him to show his best form next year, as he is a player of real talent. His innings at Durham and in the one-day cup at Northampton showed his mettle and hopefully his fitness will be improved another year.

Anuj Dal had a much reduced batting average and was another affected by injury. Half of his runs came in one innings and he will hope to turn that around next year. But his bowling moved up another level and he could look as good as anyone, while his fielding remained brilliant. I expect him to come again.

Alex Thomson perhaps vied with Came as most improved player. He bowled with considerable skill and with 31 championship wickets took more than anyone. A good late order bat, he can be proud of his summer's work in all formats.

Zak Chappell arrived from Nottinghamshire and ended the season as the leading wicket taker in all formats. He bowled very steadily, remained fit and contributed useful runs down the order. A very good acquisition, with the potential to get better still.

Conversely, Ben Aitchison had a troubled campaign that ended early with a stress fracture. His rhythm didn't look right and he will need a good summer next year, with competition for places at a premium. At his best he can be a very good bowler and I hope he can get back to his form of previous summers, once he recovers and sorts a couple of technical issues in his action.

Sam Conners had his struggles too, but I have sympathy for bowlers who ply their trade on the current Incora County Ground wickets. There were signs that he was returning to his best form towards the end of the season, but he is a far better bowler than 26 wickets at 45 suggests. With a little more help from pitches next year, I expect he could be part of a strong Derbyshire seam attack in the best county tradition.

Nick Potts lacked opportunity but was another who seemed to have gone back a little when he did play. Next year is important and he will need to work hard to force his way into the first choice reckoning, in the final year of his contract. The talent is there, he needs to show he can take that next step now.

Harry Moore impressed in limited one-day cup opportunities and looks very talented. His availability will be limited by education and he can hopefully build his skills and his physique around that.

Towards the end of the summer, Pat Brown arrived on loan from Worcestershire, ahead of his permanent move next year. He showed enough in limited appearances to suggest that he can be a success in all formats over the next three seasons. He has plenty of variations, runs in hard and will be best utilised as a strike bowler in the four day game.

I have covered players who will be leaving the county elsewhere and all that remains is to thank them for their loyal service in their time with Derbyshire. They all had their days in the sun and their best efforts were always enjoyed and appreciated.

It will be a winter of change and the first choice side for 2024 promises to be quite different. Better, I suspect, as it needs to be as this will now be Mickey Arthur's team.

With that comes heightened expectation. If the names already signed and widely linked come in, there can be no excuses. Individually, the quality of the squad will be much improved. 

It is now down to Mickey Arthur to provide an environment in which they can thrive and produce their best games. The players coming in are competitors, match-winners, capable of high-level performance.

If home pitches can offer better balance to batters and bowlers alike, we can keep key personnel fit and have our share of luck with the weather, next year's end of season write up should be more easily written. It COULD be special, but let's wait and see.

I won't pretend it's been easy this year. Between my own major surgery, the death of my father and both Mum and mother in law needing care packages set up, it has presented a number of challenges. But I have been grateful for and heartened by your support and regular comments.

Thank you to everyone for your regular engagement. I plan to keep things ticking over through the winter, have a competition or two for blog sponsors and do at least a weekly blog. Any questions or ideas for articles are always appreciated.

Stay well everyone. Cricket will be back again before we know it..

Despite the summer's frustrations, we all know we can't wait!