There isn't much news to report on. Martin Andersson seems to be settling in well at the club, according to a video on the club site, but that's not a surprise as it has always been very welcoming, with good people in and around it.
Caleb Jewell still finds himself outside the first choice eleven for Hobart Hurricanes and the way they are currently playing he seems unlikely to get back in, anytime soon. Mitch Owen is giving them some flying starts, with Matthew Wade at the other end. With West Indian Shai Hope, Ben McDermott and Tim David in the middle order they have plenty of power, while Nikhil Chaudhary reminds me very much of Anuj Dal when he bats.
It is far from ideal that Jewell will not have been playing much top level cricket before coming to Derbyshire. Nor that he has been in poor form in that he has played.
There has been some good cricket played in the Big Bash. I haven't seen all of it, but Australia has some fine young talent, alongside some that is evergreen.
Cooper Connolly of Perth Scorchers remains the best young player I have seen, while Spencer Johnson bowls some serious pace for Brisbane Heat. Will Sutherland is also an excellent all-rounder, likely pursued by a few counties. Turning the clock back, Lockie Ferguson is still bowling rockets for Sydney Thunder, the toe-crushing yorkers we enjoyed for Derbyshire still very much in evidence.
Moving on, I had the pleasure of a chat with county legend Edwin Smith last week, on his 91st birthday. He is now the oldest former player for Derbyshire, as well as the only living man to take over a thousand wickets in our colours. He has had his health issues in recent months, which hopefully are behind him.
I don't often comment on international cricket, but I have a few observations on the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, between Australia and India.
For all of the talent their players possess, India will never be the number one Test nation until their players are allowed to experience cricket on overseas pitches. It's all very well hanging on to the supposed supremacy of the IPL, but flat track bullies don't translate well, when they are playing in different conditions.
Nor will they prosper again until their side is picked on talent rather than reputation. Virat Kohli has been in woeful form in the past two years, mainly because he is vulnerable outside off stump. Has he got lazy with his footwork, playing on these flat pitches, or have his eyes gone? Either way, he does not justify a place in the side and it is not healthy to have someone in any eleven who is living on past glories.
Finally, they cannot keep using Jasprit Bumrah as shock and stock bowler. It was no surprise to me when he hobbled off in the final match of the series and now looks likely to miss a fair bit of cricket. He is a generational talent, but your main strike bowler cannot bowl more overs than almost anyone else and he needs support.
As for the Aussies, their struggle to find a partner for Usman Khawaja (learned his trade in Derbyshire...😉) continues. Sam Konstas is another talented lad, but perhaps needs to tone it down a little until his achievements match his confidence. There is a fine line between confidence and cocky and it is one that is best not crossed too early..
That's all for now. After the turn of the year, the domestic cricket season will be upon us before we know it.
That has to be a good thing, right?
