Assorted news

In the current climate that surrounds the sport, the news that Derbyshire has registered their tenth profit in eleven seasons is little short of a miracle.

That the profit was £105k pre-tax, after a winter where it has been clear, at least to me, that we were investing more on the cricket side, is quite remarkable.

Everyone involved deserves great credit for the work that they do, on and off the pitch. Our club is debt-free and there are very few sports clubs at this level that are able to say such a thing. 

It is heartening news ahead of the season, with the final pre-season fixture starting tomorrow at the County Ground.

Further, good news came with Alan Hill continuing as club president. He is a man who has served Derbyshire well over many years, as player, coach and administrator. He has always been very approachable and courteous towards me and I look forward to meeting him again over the summer months.

I was also pleased to hear that Tom Poynton has joined the board, replacing the outgoing Colin Tunicliffe. The latter is another who has given sterling service to the county, on and off the pitch, but it is necessary for a younger man, someone closer to the modern game, to be involved at this level. 

Tom is an excellent choice and knows cricket very well. He will be an excellent addition to the board, asking the right questions of the head of cricket and enabling the correct paths to be taken. I wish him well.

Moving to on-field matters, the Telegraph today says that Lancashire's Tom Hartley looks set to go to the World Cup with England. With Cricket Australia already truncating the stay of Nathan Lyon, it looks unlikely that Jack Morley's stay with Derbyshire will be a long one. Lancashire's problem is similar to that faced by Derbyshire with Mohammad Amir and they have quickly gone from three spinners, going into the season, to only one. I would be surprised if we didn't hear something about that this week.

Staying on the subject of overseas players, if Derbyshire are using the excellent resources of South Africa for the replacement of Amir, then that player may well not be with us until the end of April. The CSA T20 Challenge continues until then and so we should not expect the imminent arrival of anyone from the Cape.

Having looked at a few options, accepting there is no real 'like for like' with Amir, I think the best alternative might be Migael Pretorius. His record suggests a good bowler, while his batting is powerful. His experience with Durham last year would stand him in good stead and he is perhaps the player best suited for four day and T20 cricket, as well as to the balance of the side. 

Others that may come into play might be Eathan Bosch, a fast bowler and big hitter, while as I wrote recently, Hardus Viljoen and Duane Olivier could be options if their demands were realistic. So too Wayne Parnell, who has been around the world and back on various deals.

For me, Pretorius would be the man, with Parnell and outside bet, but we must await developments and see if Mickey Arthur agrees.

Finally today, Glamorgan already have injury problems ahead of their first championship match. Eddie Byrom dislocated a shoulder in training, while Tim Van Der Gugten has a calf injury. Two big injuries to have so early on, hoping neither are too serious for both players.

More from me over the weekend, perhaps before and certainly during the match against Leeds/Bradford UCCE.

Derbyshire v SACA day one

Derbyshire 293-6d (Lamb 90, Dal 43*, Donald 38, Came 37)

SACA 53-2 (Perera 25*, Chappell 1-6, Dal 1-15)

Derbyshire lead by 240 runs

The first day of cricket of 2024 was overcast and grey, probably not especially warm for the hardy souls who opted to be there rather than in front of the television. But it was a good workout for Derbyshire, against a competitive South Asian Cricket Academy side.

Most of the batters got time in the middle. i especially enjoyed the assertive manner of David Lloyd, before he edged behind to a ball that would likely have dismissed him In prime, mid-season form. Harry Came continued as he left off last season, while Brooke Guest also had the opportunity for time in the middle.

The best batting of the day came from Matt Lamb. He batted splendidly for a run a ball 90, before playinBlairvg around a straight one. He was circumspect at the start, then opened out to show a full range of delightful strokes.

At the other end Nye Donald looked imperious and had taken 20 from the first four balls of an over before getting carried away and lobbing a catch to cover, who made good ground to hold it. He probably felt he had what he needed from the day, but when one considers that Madsen will need to come into this side, he and Lamb appear to be fighting for one place. 

Later, Anuj Dal Did precisely what we have become used to, as Derbyshire reached tea and declared on 293 -6. Alex Thomson also played some pleasing strokes in an entertaining partnership.

When it came SACA's turn to bat, the SIX Derbyshire seamers bowled very well. Chappell took the first wicket of the summer with one that broke back like a brisk off break to be caught by Guest, while Dal completed a professional day's work to bowl Malik for the second.

Interestingly, Savin Pereira, the left-handed opener, made half centuries both for and against Derbyshire's second team last season. He looks a compact, well organised player who knows his game, as one might expect from someone who played alongside Harry Brook and Tom Banton for England under 19s. It shows the talent just outside the professional game and Perera, formerly on the staff at Middlesex, has scored heavily in second team and Minor Counties cricket. A little limited in his strokes, perhaps, but plenty of similar players have enjoyed long county careers and he may find an opportunity somewhere if he continues to rack up the runs.

Finally, a special mention for the pitch. It was on the slow side, like the outfield, which is hardly surprising after the rain of recent weeks. Yet there was movement for bowlers all day and that was a welcome sight, especially for overseas bowlers who will be joining us in the coming weeks.

Play ended slightly early for bad light, allowing the players to retreat to the pavilion, likely for intravenous Bovril. It had been a good workout and they will all be quite pleased with the opportunity. 

Credit to Neil Godrich and his staff for getting it playable for the start of the day.

South Africa the source of the Amir replacement

I have already been asked my thoughts on who might be in the frame from South Africa, as the replacement for Mohammad Amir. 

Mickey Arthur said in an interview this afternoon that talks were at an 'embryonic stage' because the domestic season is 'just finishing in South Africa'.

I think we can discount the big name fast bowlers from that part of the world. Ngidi is injured, Coetzee just returning from a stress fracture, Rabada, Maphaka, Burger and Jansen are all at the IPL.

It will depend on the makeup of their 15-man World Cup squad, where in addition to those names above, Andile Phehlukwayo and Lizaad Williams are also in the mix. So too Ottniel Baartman, who has had two terrific domestic seasons running over there, producing very good spells in all formats. I'd be happy with any of those options.

If you want a left-field pick, how about Hardus Viljoen? He has had a good winter over there and he would be available, even replying to a club post about Amir on X yesterday with 'call me' emojis. For me, his stellar game at Hove apart, the jury was out on his time here before, but he has kept taking wickets, hits a long ball and usually stays fit.

Or for that matter Duane Olivier, who was back in national colours this winter? He did better for us than Yorkshire, where he took a memorable pasting from Leus du Plooy in one game, but he is a very good bowler in peak form - though T20 is not really his format.

It will be interesting to see which way Mickey Arthur has gone. Perhaps Miguel Pretorius, who had a short stint at Durham last season, could be another option, again coming off the back of an excellent domestic season

But there are plenty of very good options in those parts. It just depends on how quickly someone can get over here.

Further thoughts on Amir

From the speed and quantity of responses, it is clear that yesterday's news regarding Mohammad Amir has hit a nerve among a few people.

While respecting and understanding that everyone has to make personal and individual decisions in life, I think that the player has done himself - certainly Derbyshire - a disservice here. 

I would not be surprised if he didn't appear at all, because he will be playing a lot of intensive cricket in the next few weeks and months. He may not come through it unscathed and may feel that he needs a break after the World Cup. 

I think a lot depends now on whose services Derbyshire manage to secure to replace him. I would be surprised if we could find someone to play both four day and T20 cricket, or indeed found someone who especially wanted that workload.

I am sure Mickey Arthur will move quickly to ensure he has his overseas players in place as soon as possible. Maybe one from under the radar, like Tickner.

Certainly one for the county championship is essential as soon as possible.

We await developments...

PS PLEASE remember to append a name at the end of a comment. I will reserve the right not to publish any comment, especially of a critical nature, where no name has been added.

UPDATE: Apparently someone from South Africa...

Morley comes in on season-long loan

I wish that ten days or so back, when I suggested that Jack Morley seemed the likeliest player to be joining Derbyshire on loan, that I had used my 'gift' of foresight on a pools coupon..

He has now been announced as a Derbyshire player for the duration of the 2024 season. Which poses a few questions, but certainly improves the squad.

Morley is a talented slow left arm bowler, but at 22 is unlikely to get much first class cricket at Lancashire this summer. With two international spinners ahead of him - and his county unlikely to pick both of them very often - it makes sense for him to move somewhere fairly convenient to get regular cricket. There is, however, a recall notice in the deal, should he be required.

It will be interesting to watch his progress, because I have always been impressed by him when I have seen him. He made his debut against us at Liverpool a few seasons back and did pretty well. He bowls tightly, yet is unafraid to give the ball a little air. There has been nothing so far to suggest he is a batter, which is why Tom Hartley forced himself ahead in the available options.

I have no doubt he will take wickets, given opportunity, but while pretty much confirming that Samit Patel will play no four-day cricket this year, it does raise a question about whether he or Alex Thomson will be first choice. Logically the man on our staff should be, but equally Derbyshire will want a good look at Morley and Lancashire will want him to be playing cricket at a higher level than second team.

I had thought that he might be looking at his options ahead of next year, but Lancashire have announced that he has signed a new contract to the end of 2026.

Maybe, as the summer progresses, we might field two spinners? As I have said many times, it is hard to be overly optimistic about our 4-day chances until we know what the pitches at Derby will be like. The presence of Reece, Dal and Lloyd in a first choice side offers the option of two spinners, but I would be very surprised if that happened in early season.

Doubtless these questions will be answered in due course. In between times, welcome to Derbyshire, Jack.

If you do as well as the other lads who came down here from the red rose county, there will be few complaints! 

Amir blow for Derbyshire

In a classic case of 'the best laid schemes of mice and men' and all that, Derbyshire's plans for the season were thrown up in the air today, with the announcement that Mohammad Amir is the latest to announce a U-turn on his international retirement.

He will return to the Pakistan national side for the forthcoming T20 series against New Zealand, followed by the T20 World Cup. 

He will thus only be available to Derbyshire for the last half dozen group stage games in The Blast, which is a bitter blow to Mickey Arthur. I feel sorry for the Derbyshire Head of Cricket, because he made his plans early and was entitled to think he had played a blinder in the signing of Amir. While accepting the player has the right to do is he chooses with his career and his life, it is very disappointing that this has happened at such a late stage.

That being the case, all we can do is hope that the contacts book has been well and truly riffled since the news broke. Arthur said that he had already had 'good conversations' with other options and it will be interesting to see how he goes about this. Does he go for a like for like in the county championship, picking up another seamer, before mixing it up for the Blast with a player who has all round talents? Or can he find someone who is available and sufficiently skilled for both formats?

I suppose one way of looking at it is that he will be able to sign people, at this late stage, who will have an idea that they will not be going to the World Cup. To take Pakistan as an example, if they are taking Amir and Imad Wasim to the World Cup, two good players will now miss out.

So it promises to be a busy couple of weeks on the news front. I would expect the story to break about our supposed loan spin signing in the next few days, while Arthur will move quickly to fill the other overseas spot.

Life is never simple, eh? Anyone any thoughts on who might be a good option for us? 

Weekend warmer (last for a while!)

This, ladies and gentlemen, is a good weekend.

While Derby County blew a chance to put daylight between themselves and third place, Chesterfield won promotion back to the Football League, no doubt to scenes of great rejoicing in that town tonight.

More importantly, In three days time Derbyshire are supposed to be playing their first pre-season match, at the Incora County Ground, against the South Asian Cricket Academy.

Looking at the forecast for the next week, I wouldn't advise putting your beer or milk money on a great deal of play. If they get on at all I will be impressed, but regular rain and showers appears to be set for the three days of the match.

Still, cricket is here again and we have made it through the winter.

I was mildly amused this morning to read that Pakistan spin bowling all rounder Imad Wasim has now 'unretired' from international cricket and made himself available for the T20 World Cup. This comes on the back of talks initiated by the Pakistan Cricket Board, following on from his excellent PSL, In which he produced match- winning performances in both the semi-final and final.

He is a fine player, one regular readers will know would have been high on my list for Derbyshire. Yet this move seems to put the kybosh on him playing for anyone in the Vitality Blast this year. Although it would not be a major surprise if, after all that, the Pakistan Cricket Board didn't pick him..

Rumours of another spinner coming in are not going away, however, although I have no idea who the player in question may be. Nor am I sure, to be perfectly honest, why we need another spinner at this stage, unless there is a problem with Alex Thomson.

Anyway, I will be back soon. Remember the signed memorabilia - links on the previous post - that has already attracted bids on eBay, if signed, cricket memorabilia is your thing.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I look forward to interacting with you again soon!

Derbyshire memorabilia for sale

I've been going through my Derbyshire cricket memorabilia and have uncovered a few duplicates and things that I am happy to sell for the right price.

On eBay now is a signed Derbyshire Phantoms size XL shirt from 2006, never worn and which can be viewed at this link

Starting on Saturday at 11am I have a signed Derbyshire CCC Reebok cricket bat, pristine, unused with tags from 2014. It will be here

Finally, perhaps the star item, a signed shirt from the Derbyshire squad in 2012, which as you all know was second division championship year. Again brand new (with tags) and size XXL (I was never that size!) You can see it from 11am on Saturday here

If they don't meet asking prices I am happy to keep them, but there are Derbyshire fans out there who collect signed shirts and bats and I would sooner they go to someone, ideally a county supporter, who can display or use them properly.

I also have a selection of duplicate Derbyshire yearbooks for sale. I am happy to sell these at £3 each plus postage  If you want more than one I can work out a price for you.

First come first served and years available are:

1964, 1970 (centenary edition) 1978, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000

Email me at peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk if these are of any interest.

But you will be pleased to know that I am not clearing out all my Derbyshire material! I spent the afternoon getting it all arranged in a new cabinet, with my complete run of yearbooks (when it was the standard A5 size) from 1954-2006 taking pride of place among many others!

Postscript: items now LIVE with early bids!!

A little joy (at last) from 'The Hindered'

Derbyshire's chances of having a good go at the One Day Cup this year increased considerably yesterday.

Only Wayne Madsen was selected for 'The Hindered', which leaves us, on the face of it, in a pretty good position.

I won't pretend to pay enough attention to the competition to know if there are further drafts. But although the likelihood of players dropping out and needing replaced remains, there shouldn't be too much difference between our first choice side and the one that has taken the field over the past couple of years.

Having said that, the new Scottish T10 competition overlaps with both of the above tournaments and it may be that one or two of our players could be sought after. The competition runs in Aberdeen between August 16 and 31 and six men's franchises – representing Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, Perth, and Dundee – will play 34 matches across 16 days.

I find T10 an even more curious beast than The Hindered. I am between two and a half and three hours from Aberdeen, closer than many reading this, but a five-six hour round trip for a ninety minute game holds zero appeal. People do it all the time for football, but these are clubs of long histories and fan bases. I would likely do it were Derbyshire playing, but a newly-concocted city franchise? I would hazard a guess that no one participating in this tournament will live in Perth, Inverness or Dundee and I am unsure how many people from there will get behind it.

Good luck to Scottish Cricket. It is innovative, it might work and it brings top level cricket to a part of the country where it is not often seen (with the honourable exception of Kyle Coetzer and Dallas Moir..)

I still have scary thoughts about my last cricket trip to Aberdeen, many years ago. My club had progressed through several stages of the small clubs cup and were drawn against a fairly big, yet still deemed 'small' club from that area.

We endured an awful trip up there, taking closer to four hours because of road works, but our opponents had told us a nice lunch awaited. After enjoying it, we headed for the ground and chased leather as our opposition posted nearly 300 in 40 overs.

Then it rained, pretty heavily. When the covers were taken off, we found rain had got through them and left a very obvious large puddle on a length. Despite our protestations to the contrary, the umpires insisted we batted to complete the match and, despite a valiant effort with the ball flying at one end, we didn't get close.

Back in the pub afterwards, a little disgruntled, we were even more so when the opposition captain came over, said thanks for the game and handed us the bill for our lunch...

Was that the worst? Oh no, on the way back the windscreen wipers in the car in which I was a passenger stopped working. So for a good part of the journey home, through persistent rain, we cleared the windscreen by alternately pulling on a piece of string to pull the wipers back and forth. 

Oh, and four of us went down with food poisoning, victims of a fish soup that can't have been especially fresh.

Aberdeen? I think I will pass, thanks...

An eleven I would have loved to see

I have often been asked over the years in which I have written this blog what my best Derbyshire side would be from those I have seen.

I recently offered an eleven of players I enjoyed watching, rather than necessarily the best, which I have done a few times

It made me think that I should offer eleven players who I would most have wanted to see in their prime. I can't really present it as a playing eleven, because given our history, there are more bowlers than batters. But here you go. As always I would welcome your own thoughts

Les Jackson

I saw him once, in a match against the International Cavaliers at Chesterfield in 1968, but he had been retired for several years and was 47 years old. He still managed to bowl his nine overs straight, for just 19 runs, taking the wickets of South African dasher Fred Goldstein, as well as Geoffrey Boycott. A benchmark player for my old Dad; every seamer since he would say to me 'he's good - but he is no Les Jackson'

Cliff Gladwin

He played his last county game in August 1958 and I was born the following month. Bad timing on my part! Feisty and combative, his strength, according to contemporaries, was to be able to bowl a ball that only started to swing half way down the pitch, not from the hand. But besides that inswinger, he had a lethal leg cutter, and sometimes managed to swing it in THEN cut it away. 

Not especially quick, but a real handful in helpful conditions. There were plenty of those when pitches were uncovered

George Pope

Another real competitor, with many stories to attest to that. Tall and strong, capable of powerful runs as well as awkward, probing bowling, he would have been a joy to watch and to skipper. 

To think we won the title in 1936 largely without him, because of a knee injury. One of the best all rounders and another who finished too soon

Stan Worthington

A powerful bat, good enough to play for England when there were plenty of options, a very handy seam bowler who reduced his workload as others came to the fore. Walter Goodyear told me he was a 'grand fella' - as well as being an excellent mechanic, which helped out Walter a few times! 

Close to 20,000 runs and 700 wickets. A serious player.

Les Townsend

A genuine all rounder, probably the most consistent, hard hitter of the pre-war period. Also an excellent off spin bowler who would have had many caps for England had it not been for the many others in that period. Tom Mitchell used to bowl at him in the nets then run away, so powerful was his driving..

Based on his record, a serious rival to Geoff Miller in an all-time county eleven

Tom Mitchell

Lots to love about a good leggie! Tom was one of the best, but very aware of the value of money and very much his own man, so hard to handle at times. He could have returned after the war, but opted for the job security and money down the pit. Had spells when he was quite ordinary, but when the muse took him he could run through sides - and frequently did.

If I write another book, Tom would be a strong contender for the subject, as he was a fascinating character!

Bill Bestwick

Probably not fast in the modern sense, but quick enough and awkward. Not the easiest man to handle, when he was in drink, but if his captain got him on to the pitch he was happy to bowl long spells and frequently had to. I think of Bill when I see Joe Leach of Worcestershire bowl, he's the closest I can imagine him being in the modern game.

Mick Pope's brilliant biography of him is an essential read.

George Davidson

Another lively character who died tragically young, but what a player he must have been! Widely reckoned to have been the man to keep Derbyshire as a first class county in the late nineteenth century. Probing, penetrative bowler from a curving run up, hard hitting bat and never short of a pithy word or comment. Definitely worth the price of admission. I wrote a lengthy piece on his career and tragic end here

Levi Wright

The finest Derbyshire bat of the early period and apparently a graceful accumulator at a time when we didn't have too many. Often the burden of runs fell heavily on him, but he was a consistent scorer who lived longer than most of his age, surviving to the ripe old age of 91. There is a longer read about him here

Arnold Hamer

Another bat who carried the side over the years, he scored so heavily against Nottinghamshire, in particular that their bowlers would often, half jokingly, offer to buy his wicket for a half century before the start of play.

Powerful, stylish, prolific. Not especially an athlete but it didn't matter too much when he brought other things to the party. With one more quality bat to take pressure from him, we would have won titles in the 1950s.

William Mycroft

Of course, the game was different then, but he took 863 wickets at just 12 runs each. Maybe he did throw his fast, left arm yorkers, or maybe he was just too quick for opponents keen to apportion blame for their dismissal.

Took five wickets in an innings 87 times and is one of only two players to take 17 wickets in a match and still be on the losing side...

One of the benefits of advancing years is that I have had the opportunity to watch many outstanding players over the last half century and more. 

Those players would have been special to watch live. But be assured there are plenty in the current county ranks who in years to come you'll be able to talk about with equal reverence and great fondness.

Recognition for the blog

Very nice to wake up this morning to an email saying the blog has been ranked number 31 in the world's top hundred cricket blogs and websites by FeedSpot

I am honoured and flattered by this, especially when the blog is in with some heavy hitters here, mostly done by more than one person.

I am grateful for this and also for your support over many years. I will of course endeavour to keep things going over the months ahead, which promises to be an exciting time for Derbyshire cricket.

You can see the FeedSpot top hundred by clicking here

County Championship Division Two - the rivals

 In considering how well Derbyshire might do in four-day cricket this season, it is of course necessary to look at our rivals. With that in mind, I present to you - and would be interested in your thoughts on - the following:

Glamorgan

With a new coach, the excellent Grant Bradburn, expect the Welsh county to at least start the season well. Sam Northeast is the new skipper, replacing David Lloyd who is now with us, of course. The batting should be fine, with Marnus Labuschagne and Colin Ingram sharing overseas duties and plenty of prolific scorers elsewhere. But Mir Hamza will be following a fine player in Michael Neser, who has moved to Hampshire and needs to hit the ground running. 

I think they might struggle to bowl sides out and their attack isn't the youngest, though the addition of Mason Crane on a season-long loan may help later in the summer, when it starts to turn

Gloucestershire

Bottom of the pile last year with no wins (like Derbyshire) and will hope to do better this time around. Mark Alleyne is a shrewd appointment as coach, but few changes in personnel mean this year may be another struggle. 

Cameron Bancroft will get runs on his return and is available all summer, while Zafar Gohar is a canny spinner when conditions allow. Yet Alleyne will need to get more from his squad for them to mount a promotion challenge. The development of the talented Price brothers will be interesting to follow.

Leicestershire

Like Derbyshire, a side with plenty of changes. Colin Ackermann and Callum Parkinson have both moved to Durham, while former Derbyshire men Will Davis and Ed Barnes have gone, along with several others.

Ben Mike has returned after a spell at Yorkshire, while Liam Trevaskis has moved from Durham to replace Parkinson. Ben Cox should offer runs as well as excellent glovework after his move from Worcestershire, while Wiaan Mulder and Peter Handscomb are solid overseas players. I expect them to be competitive under Alfonso Thomas and as a club they are doing good work on and off the pitch.

Promotion will be down to keeping Chris Wright fit, as he remains their best bowler. But at 38 can that continue?

Middlesex

Two players who lined up for Derbyshire last season will now wear their colours - our former captain Leus du Plooy and Henry Brookes, who appeared on loan from Warwickshire. John Simpson has left to join Sussex, while crucially Tim Murtagh has retired and is now a coach at the county.

They are unlikely to have an overseas player because of their financial issues and it is hard to predict a successful season, unless those new signings galvanise the rest. Ethan Bamber will lead the attack well and Ryan Higgins is one of the more underrated players on the circuit.  If they start well they could challenge, but need more runs than last season in order to do so.

Northamptonshire

They have signed George Scrimshaw, erstwhile of this parish, but Tom Taylor has gone to Worcestershire so they will miss his important all round contributions. George Bartlett has arrived from Somerset but they are the only non-overseas changes. Karun Nair is an interesting overseas signing from India, as is Chris Tremain until the end of April.  

Both did well last summer in short stays and I think they will need to do so again to take them up the table. Nair's runs could help, but taking twenty wickets may prove problematic, unless Ben Sanderson has a vintage year.

Sussex

Another side to recruit well, with John Simpson arriving from Middlesex and Danny Lamb from Lancashire. Runs shouldn't be a problem, with Cheteshwar Pujara around until the end of May, but Jayden Seales from Trinidad will need to make an impact with the ball for them to challenge and other key players will need to stay fit. Fynn Hudson-Prentice will offer consistent  runs and wickets after signing a new contract in the winter.

Didn't seem the happiest of camps last year and they must hope for less internal friction and on-field indiscipline to be among the pacemakers.

Yorkshire

Even with their England absentees, there is no reason for Yorkshire not to challenge. Matt Fisher and Ben Coad are as good as any county opening bowlers and with Dan Moriarty arriving from Surrey to offer spin, they should take wickets, IF they all stay fit. 

That has been a challenge most summers, but Shan Masood will hope for consistent runs from a talented batting line up that isn't always the most reliable. But a top four of Bean, Lyth, Masood and Malan surely should hope to dominate?

How much continued behind scenes issues affect the squad is anyone's guess, but failure to be one of the top two sides with the players they have would be seen as a considerable disappointment.

Conclusion

There is always one surprise side and players who hit golden form early. Yet four-day cricket is a long haul and at the end of it I expect promotion to be between Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Middlesex and Derbyshire.

What do you think?

Season prospects - the County Championship

 I did my first season preview for Derbyshire in 2008, which seems an unfeasibly long time ago. For most of that time, I suspect regular readers might say, I have remained optimistic to a level that at times has scarce been warranted. Far too often, the light at the end of the tunnel has been nothing but a burglar's torch and we have seen more false dawns than a Tony Orlando tribute convention.

Whisper it gently, but **might** this year be different?

I certainly have sensed a greater optimism than before among contributors to this blog. More so than those seasons when we signed Shiv Chanderpaul and expected him to bat one end from April to September, or when we picked up a gun overseas who turned out to be injury prone/injured or to have other plans.

This is year three of the Mickey Arthur Project and for me the one on which he should and will be judged. In season one, the arrival of the big name coach got an extra ten per cent out of players, but the ceiling of talent was still too universally low for genuine progress, although there were reasons for optimism. Last year there was a regression, the reality of some players not QUITE being the standard that we needed. Injuries to key personnel didn't help, nor did pitches at Derby that were largely lifeless and only occasionally conducive to results. Batters loved them, but bowlers can seldom have racked up with anything other than heavy hearts.

This winter has seen revolving doors at the Incora County Ground, as a number have left and more have come in, the latter players of reputation. standing and talent. Leus du Plooy has gone, to Middlesex in a move that still bemuses, as has George Scrimshaw, a key member of the T20 side, together with local favourite Tom Wood. Mattie McKiernan has moved into coaching, while Mark Watt will be with Scotland at the T20 World Cup. There will also be no Billy Godleman, after admirable service over many seasons.

Yet those coming in are winners, as we have heard many times on social media, with more collective silverware than the average episode of Antiques Roadshow. The question, I suppose, is if they are all here to enhance those collections, or for one last pay day. I am old enough to remember the time when Derbyshire became the last chance saloon for an assortment of county veterans, most of them showing too frequently why their erstwhile employers had dispensed with their services.

I don't think that will be the case with the class of 2024. There are time-served warriors, for sure, but there appears to be a collective desire to do something special. With a wily coach of international reputation now giving us his undivided attention and two time-served players as red and white ball skippers, this **could** be the year.

How you quantify success is another question and it may not yet be in silverware, but recruitment has produced what on paper looks a side for all formats, with the usual caveats in place of good fortune with the weather and injuries, as well as holding the chances when they come.

Those chances should be there with the arrival of Mohammad Amir, he of the silky skills and basilisk stare. Recent viewings in the PSL have suggested a player at the very height of his considerable powers, still lively, still with great control of the ball and with many variations of grip and pace. He will need to be nursed, as the leap from four overs in two spells in T20 to twenty overs a day in four-day cricket is considerable. He will put a few on the gate, because the shouts of 'AMIR, AMIR' from the stands of the PSL have confirmed he is still box office, but I suspect we will see limited four-day appearances, his powder largely being kept dry for the Blast...

Blair Tickner will arrive from New Zealand as an international bowler, albeit one who has snuck under the radar. He looks to be lively in pace and crucially appears to bowl a length that may do well in this country. The county has engaged Kiwi quicks with mixed success in recent years and time will show if Tickner can be one of the more memorable, but he has a reputation to build and a good summer here will push him up the list back home, when international squads are being chosen.

The supporting cast of seamers is good. Zak Chappell made a good impression last year and will want to build on his success, while Sam Conners has the chance to push himself into contention among England possibilities. If Sam can cut out the too-frequent four balls that sometimes ruin his figures, he has the ability to produce the special that could take him to the next level. 

Pat Brown has arrived from Worcestershire and while T20 will be his forte, he could be used as a strike bowler in the longer form. He wanted greater opportunity and will get it, even if the variations that make him such a canny short form adversary may need to be tempered down to build pressure in the championship. 

We may not see the considerable talents of Ben Aitchison until perhaps May or June and must hope that he recovers fully from back surgery in the winter. It is a big year for him, the last of his current deal and we must hope that he doesn't need to change his action with a consequential reduction of effectiveness. Similarly with Nick Potts, another in the final year of his contract and needing to prove that he can do at first-class level what he has so far managed through the age groups. County cricket is littered with those who showed early promise then faded away and we must hope that 'one of our own' comes through in the summer ahead.

Spin bowling looks to have less depth, with only Alex Thomson officially on the staff for the four-day game. He did well last year and the arrival of Samit Patel is unlikely to reduce his opportunity, though a rumoured loan spinner might offer required competition. I can't see many games where we play two spinners, though three seam bowling all rounders (Dal, Reece and Lloyd) in the likely first choice side offers a chance for a more varied attack if required.

The batting should take care of itself. As the season ended last year, Luis Reece and Harry Came recreated the halcyon days of Barnett and Bowler up top and it is unlikely that they will be displaced in the four-day game. Whether David Lloyd or Brooke Guest goes in at three will be interesting to see, both capable of fulfilling the requirements of the role. The former, keen to make an impression, will likely want to lead from the front.

The evergreen Wayne Madsen will still be a comforting sight in the middle order, whether at four or five. The winter hasn't suggested his considerable powers are yet on the wane and he will remain one of the safest slips and most sage of counsels for Lloyd. His time at Derbyshire has been memorable and almost as long-standing as this blog. May he continue for a few more summers yet..

Aneurin Donald and Matt Lamb will compete with Ross Whiteley and Mitch Wagstaff for other middle order places. Donald has all the shots but has suffered in the past with a desire to play them too early or too often. He will be a huge asset in the Blast (more on that later in the summer) but can offer real impetus in the four-day game. He also offers quality back up to Guest with the gloves and will undoubtedly entertain. 

Lamb was unlucky last season with injury.  When he could play he still looked in discomfort and it wasn't conducive to his showing his best form. There was sufficient evidence in a fine innings at Chester-le-Street and a match-winning one at Northampton to suggest he has plenty to offer and that middle order battle will be worth a watch. 

Wagstaff made good impressions last year and in other times would have walked into this side. He will have to force entry, however, but his leg spin variant might see opportunity come knocking as the summer progresses. Between times he will need to get runs in the bank at league and second team level and be ready when the time comes.

Meanwhile Whiteley returns, one of the prodigal sons of 2012, with a reputation as a T20 biffer which has subsumed his ability in longer forms. I recall watching Ross in second team cricket years ago, when he looked a talented left arm bowler who could bat a bit. The bowling is less frequently seen these days but it is still a viable option, even if his greater value may well be seen in one-day cricket, where he has one of the best pair of hands on the circuit, besides an ability to hit a long ball that could be vital.

Anuj Dal will remain a key component of the side with bat and ball, a wristy accumulator and steady stock bowler. His emergence in recent seasons has been one of the joys of Derbyshire watching and there is no reason to think it will not continue. As well as being one of the best cover points in the game, he shows constant enjoyment of his lot in life and is an engaging and articulate 'face' of the club off the field.

Brooke Guest will continue his role as an outstanding wicket-keeper/batsman and will keep the field on its toes, while offering stylish runs wherever he bats. Like Dal and Luis Reece, it is a joy to watch players who take such obvious enjoyment in their work and I expect that to continue this summer.

David Lloyd will skipper the side with common sense and expected flair and Mickey Arthur has chosen well in recruiting the former Glamorgan man. Critics will point to his batting average and suggest it should be better, but I have a feeling that his best days lie ahead and his probing medium pace is another string to his bow that I hope he will not be reluctant to utilise.

I haven't mentioned Samit Patel as I see him unlikely to play four-day cricket, unless at Chesterfield in July. Yet his experience will be important and such a reputation will be invaluable for the others in that dressing room. When the Blast commences his nous and skills will be crucial to our prospects.

Forecast?  In March, everyone fancies themselves for a promotion shot, but several have blown that possibility by the middle of May. There is the talent in that dressing room and if people stay fit and the rain clouds stay away, Derbyshire might just surprise people this year. On paper, it is our strongest, most competitive squad for many a year.

Mickey Arthur now has HIS squad. 

What he does with it should be compelling viewing.

Weekend warmer

Well, that was a busy couple of days! I made a few updates to the blog and moved a few things around, then in changing the colour scheme succeeded in totally messing up the format. 

After trying a few options, I am quite happy with the more vibrant blue we now have and hopefully it meets with your approval too! 

The 'donate' button is now amended so it doesn't look as though I'm seeking sponsorship for the blog through that. It isn't compulsory, but any donations, no matter how small, throughout the season are much appreciated.

I managed to get it all sorted this afternoon, just in time to watch a Mohammad Amir masterclass of bowling for Quetta. Sadly, a fragile batting lineup never looked likely to challenge the total set and despite our new strike bowler's excellent 2-20 in his four overs, he was trumped by the excellent Imad Wasim, who had figures of 3 for 12 in his four-over allocation to rip the Quetta batting asunder.

The Derbyshire players are getting put through their paces at the pre-season training camp. I hope that they are enjoying the sun on their backs, because the forecast between now and the end of the month is pretty awful. I would be surprised if there were many grounds fit for cricket before mid-April, even if I am basing that assertion on our own grass, which is something akin to walking on jelly at the moment.

Finally tonight, I realised in getting my laptop out of storage (I usually blog on my phone, but changing layouts is easier on the bigger screen) that the blog is fast closing in on four million views. Thank you so much to everyone who checks in on a regular basis, I really do appreciate your support.

Have a lovely weekend. I look forward to catching up with everyone in the very near future!

Spinner coming in on loan?

There was an interesting article from The Cricketer today, albeit behind a paywall, written by Nick Friend.

Although primarily a piece on David Lloyd, it said: 

'The Cricketer understands that a spinner is likely to join on a loan deal, though that player is not believed to be Shoaib Bashir.'

Hmm...so who?

I tossed a few names around with a friend today and perhaps the most likely - this is only a guess - would be Jack Morley of Lancashire.

He broke through into the red rose county's first team last season, where he did pretty well. Yet his chances of playing first team cricket this year would appear to be very limited, with Nathan Lyon signed as an overseas player for the season and England winter star Tom Hartley also looking for game time. 

Morley will be 23 in June and I believe his contract at Lancashire is up at the end of the season. The chance for him to work with Samit Patel would be an exciting one, while Derbyshire have good links with his county. Our former wicket keeper Karl Krikken is performance manager there and we have already seen Luis Reece, Brooke Guest and Ben Aitchison make the move south to good effect.

Mickey Arthur is on record as saying he likes a slow left arm bowler and from a logistical perspective, it would make sense for the young man. More so, for example, than a move for Amar Virdi at Surrey. Dom Bess would be another option, presumably down the pecking order at Yorkshire after the signing of Dan Moriarty, but he would be a like for like with Alex Thomson, which wouldn't make a lot of sense, after the latter signed a new two-year deal at the end of last season.

I daresay we will know who it is soon enough. How much cricket either Thomson or AN Other might get is a moot point, especially in the early weeks when seam is normally king. But with Patel unlikely to play four day cricket, having an additional option would be handy, while later in the year, having two spinning specialists would be much appreciated, further adding to the competition for places that Arthur wants at the club.

Thoughts? Anyone else potentially in the frame?

At this stage we know nothing about timescales, but it would seem strange to take a spinner on loan for the first few weeks of the summer only. 

Perhaps a season-long loan would work very nicely for all parties...

Weekend warmer

There have been some really good matches in the PSL this weekend, with matches going down to the very last ball.

They highlighted, in fact, that teams are rarely out of games if they keep wickets in hand for a final run chase. 

Today I enjoyed, once again, control of Mohammad Amir on a good batting pitch in one game, while in the other Imad Wasim, who I have mentioned several times over the winter, hit a six and four from the last two deliveries to win a game for his side from nowhere.

Illustrating that 20 over cricket is not a lot of fun for bowlers, Shaheen Afridi was blasted over square by Mohammad Wasim Jr from the last ball, when the batter went right back on to his stumps to allow himself the leverage against a very good bowler. The margins for error are very small and sometimes there doesn't even need to be a mistake for the ball to disappear to distant parts.

The PSL remains my favourite overseas competition, even if the commentary at times can be somewhat manic. Dominic Cork still shines like a beacon with his informed comments and humour, but the cricket has been of such a high standard that it speaks for itself.

Anyway, in a quiet week for Derbyshire cricket, we are another one closer to the domestic season. The players will soon be on their way overseas for the preseason camp, then it will be back for the friendlies.

Walking round our village today, with a fleece underneath a long padded jacket, a warm hat and gloves on while walking the dogs, it seemed hard to believe the action is only two weeks away..

The season approaches!

Having made it through the frozen wastes of winter, we are now at that heady time of year when we can say the cricket starts later this month!

There are interviews a-plenty around the web and it has been interesting piecing together what still needs to happen from those interviews.

It would appear that Blair Tickner has been signed primarily for 4 day cricket, with Mohammad Amir likely to play up to five of those matches, but primarily being signed for the Vitality Blast. A spinner keeps being mentioned and I still feel it is likely we will see a spin bowling all rounder come in for the latter competition.

Why? Because Mickey Arthur mentioned having a strong top eight in the likely Derbyshire side. If Samit Patel is at eight, then nine, ten, jack look like being Chappell, Brown and Amir. That is fine, but would then leave the fifth bowler between Lloyd, Reece and Whiteley. I could see David Lloyd doing a Stephen Mullaney job for us, but more likely is a spinner who can bat.

I still think Imad Wasim a likely target, but Dave below the last piece noted a few other decent options that are out there. We know he won't be playing for Pakistan and I am sure several counties are looking at him, if his global T20 commitments don't rule him out of the equation altogether.

There was a scare for Tickner in the game just finished for Central Districts, when he had to retire from the game after being struck on the head while batting. He should be okay after a week's rest though and his compensation is having made a career-highest score.

More worrying for Leicestershire fans is the latest concussion sustained by Will Pucovski, one of their overseas choices for this season. It was pretty horrific to watch and is the 12th time the young Australian bat has sustained such an injury. One wonders how long he can continue to put himself through that, with Harvey Hosein a local reference for how it can affect a player.

Pucovski has referenced challenges that he has faced with his mental health since the first blow at the age of 16 and I worry for his future in perhaps ten or twenty years time. I am not sure I would take the risk of signing him, regardless of his undoubted ability. Short balls are on obvious challenge for him and he will keep getting them. The one today wasn't that short, but he ducked into it, taking his eye off it completely.

Fingers crossed he is okay.

Finally, returning to Derbyshire, two pre-season matches have been announced. We will host the South Asian Cricket Academy in a three-day fixture, starting on Tuesday 26 March, before facing Leeds/Bradford UCCE at The County Ground from Sunday 31 March to Tuesday 2 April.

Twenty-three days! Admission to the ground will be possible for both fixtures, although the warmth of one's living room and the announcement of a stream for both games might make it more preferable viewing on this occasion..

More from me soon.