Potts has signed a one-year deal and will need to show improved returns and crucially fitness next season, when he will be 23 years old. He looked a real talent in his teens, but seems to have gone off the boil a little. He only played one match last season, taking just one wicket in the nine overs he bowled.
Yet injury and the recovery of confidence after it can take its toll. Cricket literature is awash with stories of bowlers who had career setbacks and needed to regain the confidence in their bodies before they started bowling well again. It is likely so with Nick and I hope the coaching team can help him discover his best form in the coming months. There is a player in there, for sure.
Wagstaff is a couple of years younger and has signed a 2-year deal. It will be interesting to see how his career develops. At the moment it isn't clear if he is a batter who bowls or a bowler who bats. Logically, having spent most of his career to now opening the batting, that will be where his future lies.
Yet we have signed an overseas opening bat for next year and with Reece and Came ahead of him, game time as an opener might not be easy. Better perhaps might be in continuing to develop his leg spin, which appears to have good possibilities, when he could also offer the potential of good runs down the order - or at the top, if required. A leg-spinning all rounder of talent is a mighty fine asset to any team.
Game time could be a challenge next year, but a lot of contracts are coming to an end at the end of the summer. Mitch has a chance to stake a claim for a position that may become vacant in either the batting or bowling ranks, or as another talented all rounder.
A lot of work lies ahead of both of them. But it is good to see the county persevere with a couple of lads who have come through their own system. It would have been easy to write them off - which we have done prematurely with others in the past - and look elsewhere.
It would be good to think a Derbyshire side in five years time contains more of our own products.
The work to get there starts now.
Congratulations to both.
Surprised to see Potts be offered a contract - he only played 1 game last season, and wasn't injured entirely - he made a lot of squads, and he often was expensive in 2023. Wagstaff is a good deal not least given his all-round capabilities. His bowling has only come on since Scarborough in 2023 so needs to be given more time to develop.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased that they have both been given contracts. Both will have to perform well in the seconds in the CC to stake a place in the first team.
ReplyDeleteI will probably never know if the rumoured 2 year deal offered by Yorkshire for Wagstaff was true, but I wonder if a 1 year offer became 2? Anyway, I thought he bowled well in white ball this year.
ReplyDeletePotts is a willing cricketer, but needs to bring his economy down and stay clear of injuries. Kris
I know he did well against them at Scarborough last year, but I cannot think they would have offered 2 years, on the back of minimal experience.
DeleteI would put that one down to someone claiming to know something and wanting willing ears to listen...
PS such stories usually start from agents or families, to stir up supposed interest!
DeleteHere’s hoping that both come good and that they get the opportunity to play, notwithstanding that they need to earn their place in the team. However, I still feel that we’re a reliable batter short for next season.
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