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.
Congrats to Wayne Madsen scoring his second century for his adopted Italy.
ReplyDeleteYes, thanks Simon. Shame Wayne couldn't pitch his talents at a higher level than associate, but he remains a fine player!
DeleteLike many supporters, I'm excited by the potential of the squad Mickey has built. I think we could go all the way in the T20. What excites me the most is that we have some serious big hitters, notably Reece, Madsen, Donald, Whiteley, and Came, and plenty of firepower among our other batsmen/all-rounders. And with Amir and Tickner joining our bowling stable, we should cause plenty of trouble for opposing batsmen.
ReplyDeleteIn the 20 years, we've have t20, we've never such a powerful batting line up. bodes very well as a lack of genuine firepower has often been =the thing that lets us down. facet.
DeletePerhaps Derbyshire could secure the services of Tom Hartley for the spinner's spot! With the signing of Nathan Lyon Lancashire don't need him until the harder pitches of mid-summer. A win-win as they say, not least for Brendon McCullum. If only!
ReplyDeleteIf only indeed! Suspect OT pitches might turn as the summer progresses...
DeleteIt's always a good feeling at this time of the year approaching the new season. It's just a shame that it has to start. Only joking !
ReplyDeleteAfter the false euphoria of last season (remember the Guardian picking us as champions) I am just going to watch with my 'interested observer' status. Let's just see.
Thanks as ever to Peakfan for the excellent blog which I'm hoping will always be there as our 'comfort blanket' whatever happens
Thanks very much Silenius, for your kind words and the donation received. Both are very much appreciated!
DeleteI'm interested to note that there are only four left-handed batters in the squad. One of those is Mohammed Amir, so this is largely irrelevant. Add to that Ross Whiteley, who may not play much red-ball cricket, and Mitch Wagstaff, who is unlikely to be in the first XI, at least to begin with. So are we likely to go into the season with Luis Reece as the only genuine left-hander? Ant
ReplyDeleteI am not sure it matters that much at top level. Good bowlers adjust their line and some prefer bowling at lefthanders. There weren't many in Barnett's side, or that of Dean Jones.
DeleteIt's good to see so many optimistic views being expressed. I don't want to disagree but merely to point out that for each of the last three seasons running our top run scorer - Critchley, Masood, Du Plooy - has been lured away by another county. I hope it doesn' t happen again, whoever that batter might be.
ReplyDeleteI guess if depends on how well we do as a team. It's one thing being a big gun in an average side, another being the same in one that delivers silverware!
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