As we approach the end of another domestic county cricket season, there is always a time for reflection, which will come, but also planning for the future, which is the more urgent.
Mickey Arthur is now three years into what he said at the start would be a four-year plan to resurrect the fortunes of Derbyshire County Cricket Club. It is fair to say that at this time he has not done so; equally to say that in many eyes he is lucky to be still in post, ahead of year four.
I cannot think of any other sporting organisations in which the last two seasons would have been tolerated or accepted. In his first season there were reasons to be optimistic, but the subsequent changes in playing personnel have not been positive. I will accept and applaud that Mickey has been a vocal advocate for the county game, but as a coach, like any other of his kind, his currency is in results and they have failed to materialise. Possibly only the cost of paying up the contract keeps him in post.
Of course, there have been high points, easy to mistake for a pivotal moment. The memorable win over Somerset at Taunton this year, that over Nottinghamshire at Derby in the Blast, the four-day win over Glamorgan at Derby, marking the first win at the County Ground almost since I had hair.
But these are counter-balanced by the low points. The frankly awful game against Yorkshire to start the Chesterfield cricket week, when the decision to bat first will still be talked about long after I am gone. The decision to bowl at Hove, then be hit for 150 by lunch and over 600 in total before being bowled out by spin. There are plenty of other options, but I don't want this piece to be unduly negative.
My concern is that recruitment has veered towards short-termism. Mickey may well say otherwise, but it doesn't appear to have been thought out with a long-term goal at the epicentre. David Lloyd seems to have been signed on the back of his triple century against us in 2022, Nye Donald on the back of the astonishing 234 he played - also against us - in 2016. Neither has suggested this year that they offer the level of consistency that a fragile batting lineup requires and the statistics do not lie. The same goes for Samit Patel, only a qualified success in T20 cricket and Ross Whiteley, rightly a county hero a decade past but showing perhaps the effects of the passage of time. The Vitality Blast saw their better efforts, but none has enjoyed a vintage year.
I would dearly love all of them to show their best form next year, but that may require a leap of faith and a turning back of the clock, neither of them especially easy.
Signing two overseas quick bowlers of only moderate reputation was the mistake it always looked like being. I said this at the time, but have had no great pleasure in being proved correct. Arthur's plans changed because of Mohammad Amir and another unnamed overseas quick falling through, but he should have realised that signing two average players, both right arm, neither better than we had, was not the solution. All it has done - indeed all it was likely to do - was block opportunity for Sam Conners and destroy it for Nick Potts. I am old enough to remember when we signed Venkat, ostensibly to help a young Geoff Miller and Bob Swindell, when we also had Fred Swarbrook. Venkat got choice of ends, Miller had to wait his turn and Swindell pretty much disappeared.
Conners has now moved on and Potts may or may not be here next year. Let's not forget one was an England Lion not too long ago, the other looking the real deal for England under-19s. When were they ever going to get regular cricket, with not only two overseas but Pat Brown, Zak Chappell and a raft of seam bowling all-rounders ahead of them?
I can't imagine many know that the Derbyshire Cricket Society have sponsored Potts this season. In terms of balls bowled and appearances made it must be one of the more lucrative sponsorships this year, but I really feel for the lad and his lack of opportunity. Just as I feel for the society and their 'phantom' player.
My other concern is in rumours of potential recruits for next season. Luke Procter has had a good summer for Northamptonshire and is a sound player, but I suspect his name was linked as an option and with the signing of Martin Andersson - and departure of John Sadler at his county - he will stay where he is as club captain, under a new coach.
But Luke Fletcher? Seven wickets at 44 each this season doesn't suggest a player still in his prime and he will be 36 when next year starts. That he has been a good county bowler for many seasons is undeniable, but unless we are looking for sponsorship from Saga next year, surely we cannot genuinely be looking at this? I am hoping this rumour is purely a consequence of the signing of Samit Patel, meaning no disrespect to Fletcher, a fine servant to his county, in saying so. We have to aspire to people with points to prove, like Martin Andersson, who does look like he will be an asset next summer
A far better option than Fletcher would be Toby Pettman, a good bowler at the right age who can still improve and will take wickets at county level. He would be an excellent medium to long-term option. He is also out of contract and seemingly down the pecking order at Trent Bridge.
Overseas recruits? For me, we need to find a reliable batter and a quality spinner. I would like to think, given his experiences in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, that the Head of Cricket can find the latter. The proposed links of franchise sides with this country and The Hundred may open the doors from India, but such bowlers are plentiful on the sub-continent.
It had crossed my mind, as Adam noted the other day, that Derbyshire might be interested in Jack Morley. He looks a young player of potential, but he is contracted to Lancashire for two more seasons and it would need a mutual agreement on his departure to change that. The question is if he is sufficiently advanced in his career to improve Derbyshire and if he is markedly better than Alex Thomson, who seems to be on the periphery these days, despite his excellent start to the season. I do like Morley, but the cause of any spinner, especially in early season, is advanced by ability with a bat and he hasn't suggested that in his time on loan at the club.
I don't think we need another quick bowler from overseas. Chappell, Brown, Moore, hopefully Aitchison, Andersson, Dal and Reece should be enough seamers for red ball needs and 50-over cricket. If we can add Pettman, I would be pretty happy with resources.
But a batter, PLEASE! I have previously suggested a move for Cheteshwar Pujara, released by Sussex, but after more thought, I don't know. He will be 37 next season and can also be filed under the age issue I referred to above.
Far better to scour Australia, New Zealand or South Africa for a reliable player who wants to play here. Look at the successes this year of Bedingham, Handscomb, Hughes, Bancroft, Ackermann, Labuschagne, Ingram...look at our past successes with Kirsten, Wright, Jones, North, Rogers, Di Venuto, Barlow and Guptill.
Players from those countries more easily adjust to English conditions and usually offer outstanding value. It doesn't always work out, of course, as Middlesex found when they engaged Pieter Malan in 2023 and he only averaged 14 as a specialist bat. But in researching the player, talking to the right people, assessing the character as well as the technique, you can come up with a gem, as Durham certainly have with Bedingham. If one batter averages 86, like he has this year, it helps the rest considerably.
Marcus Harris might be one such option, a solid bat of good reputation. So too someone like Tom Latham, or killing two birds with one stone Beau Webster, who followed an excellent Australian winter with a short and successful Gloucestershire stint. A powerful middle order bat who averaged over 50 in each season and takes plenty of wickets with his off spin, what's not to like? Aaron Hardie would be another option, good with bat and ball, a genuine all-format player, like Webster. Then there's Matt Renshaw, who has had three stints with Somerset and has been consistent for a number of years. Maybe even Marques Ackermann, building a good reputation in South Africa, though my preference would be someone with experience in England.
Were it me I would be having a word with Mark Alleyne at Bristol. They have already engaged Cameron Bancroft for next season so will need to choose between Webster and Zafar Gohar, a spinner I have liked for some time. A batting average of 45 and 13 wickets at 28 in a season limited by injury makes Gohar a compelling choice if Gloucestershire opt for Webster (batting average 58 and 16 wickets at 21).
One thing is for sure - we can't afford average, one-dimensional players in T20 unless their specialism is REALLY good. As I have written before, the best of bowlers can only affect four overs in an innings, but find someone who can also score quick runs and you are striking gold. I would be more than happy to split overseas players and find two specifically for T20 if we can, all-round contributors unless they are very, very good at one discipline, like Zaman Khan.
There is a big winter ahead and the effectiveness of the work done will determine if the Arthur era is looked back on with fondness or as a bitter disappointment.
As always, I welcome your thoughts!
