So it is with Ben Smith, who was a very good county bat over a couple of decades for first Leicestershire and then Worcestershire. Forty first class centuries and a hundred half centuries confirm what was a considerable talent and he was often considered to be on the edge of international recognition, without quite getting there.
But a first class average of just under 40 confirms that he could play alright and he has been announced as the new full time batting coach for Derbyshire, replacing Ian Bell. The latter's many commitments meant he could only do the job part time and, as Mickey Arthur has mentioned, the job needs to be done on a full-time basis.
He brings considerable experience, having held similar roles at his previous counties, as well as Worcestershire, Ireland and currently the Central Stags in New Zealand.
At 51 he has a wealth of experience and this could prove to be a very astute piece of work by Mickey Arthur.
He will take up his role at the end of February and I am sure that you will all join me in wishing him well.
Seems to be a positive move. Certainly a step forward in appointing a full-timer to the role.
ReplyDeleteQuestion is while the club employing a batting coach is nesisary does the first team require a batting coach? Back in the Barnet Morris era of the eighties and nineties when County batsmen regularly faced world class bowlers on quite often bowler friendly pitches I don't recall Derbyshire employing a batting coach all they had was Phil Russell and I don't remember him always traveling with the team to away games the likes of Kim ,John Morris and Peter Bowler would have had to work things out for themselves and not had their heads filled with theories by consultants
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