Good news today about Nye Donald signing a contract extension, which takes him to the end of 2026. That he did pretty well in the T20 last year is a given, but it is also the case that he needs to do much more across all formats. He is a wonderful striker of a cricket ball, probably among the top six that I have seen in Derbyshire colours over 57 summers. Yet there is more to the game than simply hitting a few balls a long way and then retiring to the pavilion.
If Nye can translate quick scores into match-winning ones, our chances of success this year are considerably higher. It's all very well (and hugely enjoyable to watch) to score lightning fast 50s, but it is bigger scores that produce wins and make people sit up to notice you.
I still have no doubt that he is capable of playing franchise cricket around the globe and earning a lot of money, but he needs to do more. Hopefully the confidence of an additional year on his contract will enable him to blossom and show us his true value over the next two years.
The other thing that caught my eye since I last was writing was a revision to the plans for the second team cricket this year. Counties will now participate in the Second Eleven Championship Challenge, with five four-day matches per team, as well as the 20-over competition. They will be broadly allowed flexibility to arrange matches to suit their own needs, because of a perceived decline in the standards.
That is hardly surprising. As things have been, teams have been selected at times from anyone available, with overlaps with the first class games seeing players leave to take part in those senior matches before the second team game finishes.
There seems interest in playing some 3-day matches at that level, because it saves money in hotel bills for an extra night, as well as avoiding some challenges in getting time off work for prospective trialists. At least one county plans to play their red ball cricket in August, allowing academy players who are in education to play during summer holidays.
I think it is a positive move and anything that potentially improves the standard has got to be a step in the right direction.
