Caleb Jewell signs as overseas player for 2025

It is no secret, because I have written it often enough, that I hoped Derbyshire and Mickey Arthur would recruit two big name overseas players for 2025.  For me, it represents the best chance of success, two top players carrying out the instructions of the coach and being technically and mentally equipped to do so. 

There is always another option, however and while many supporters will not have heard of Caleb Jewell, I have noted his career and a series of impressive scores with considerable interest. He is a left-hander - which is always handy - and can strike the ball with considerable power when he gets in. 

Being from Tasmania, there are certain similarities to Michael Di Venuto and Travis Birt in how he approaches the game. Strong in defence, as you have to be to open the batting, but powerful in attack and willing to throw the 'kitchen sink' at the ball when it is there to be hit. 

This will be his first experience of county cricket and thinking back to last year, Mickey Arthur said he would ideally like a couple of players who saw Derbyshire as home and came back year after year. Perhaps that might be how it works out in this instance.

It isn't his first taste of England, however, nor of Derby. He had two successful seasons as a popular and respected professional at Doncaster Town Cricket Club, while he played for Australia under-19s at Derby in 2015, making 80 in a losing cause. In 2023 he played innings of 66, 78 and 131 for Australia A against New Zealand, so he appears to be very much on the radar of their national selectors.

His coach for Tasmania, Jeff Vaughan, is effusive in his praise for the opener:

"He could play for Australia in all formats of the game, I'm certain of that," he said. "I think he's a wonderfully skilled player. He's incredibly well disciplined. He's a great trainer. He's a good human being. He's a smart cricketer. He's brave and has a great skill set."

At 27 Jewell is approaching his cricket prime and while his averages are not spectacular, they are sufficiently good and most recently improving  to suggest he can play and crucially come to terms with English pitches. It will be a learning curve, because it is for anyone coming from overseas. But I do like the idea of signing an Australian, because I love the mentality and approach that they bring to the game. 

There are plenty of videos on YouTube that clearly illustrate the ability of our new man and the fact that we have him for all formats and the entire summer is very much a plus. It might take him a little time to get going and he wouldn't be the first in that respect. I well recall Chris Wilkins taking several weeks to show his best form and plenty of others since then. 

But like Wilkins, John Wright, Peter Kirsten and Martin Guptill, Jewell could quite easily use English cricket as his finishing school. If you look through Australian averages, you might be surprised at  how many have come here and scored more heavily than back home. Peter Handscomb is one, Daniel Hughes another, probably fair to say Michael Di Venuto was the same. 

It wouldn't necessarily have been the way I would have gone BUT I am prepared to give Mickey Arthur credit for probably being inventive with his budget. Bigger name players cost more and the savings have likely been ploughed into domestic recruitment, which was badly needed.

Jewell is powerful and would give us a strong T20 top order of himself, Nye Donald, Martin Andersson and Wayne Madsen, with David Lloyd at five. In the four day game I would expect him to open with Harry Came and have Luis Reece drop down, especially if we are to continue to utilise his bowling.

Jewell and Andersson are sound recruits, the right age, for white and red ball and I will hold up my hand to accept that. The key now, with them and with the rest of a pretty good squad is to find a way to create an environment in which they can flourish. They need to enjoy their cricket, be able to play without fear but with a modicum of common sense and hit the ground running come next season.

You cannot change the events of 2024, but they have to be learned from. Hopefully, that will be the case. If the gamble - which to some extent it is - fails, then there should be only one decision at the end of this summer. A change of direction is needed.

Anyway, welcome to Derbyshire, Caleb. We look forward to watching you in 2025. 

Here's a clip of him in action