It hasn't been forthcoming. We have since learned that as well as the expected absence of Muhammad Abbas for Pakistan's England tour, he has been selected for their tour of Bangladesh. Nor have we seen any sign of Pat Brown at this stage of proceedings, though they may be keeping him for the Blast after winter surgery.
Today comes the news that after missing the 2025 season through injury, Harry Moore will now miss the whole of 2026, with a stress fracture in his back. I understand that this is a fresh injury, not a new problem with the same one that kept him out of last season
It is very sad news for both the player, who will be 19 this week, as well as for the club. When he burst onto the scene, Harry looked a very special player, an excellent new ball bowler and a young man who showed every possibility of developing into a genuine all-rounder. It was very easy to get carried away with his potential.
He still has it. This doesn't end his career, but I remember writing a couple of seasons back that the length of his back - he is 6'7 after all - could become a problem when he progressed from social and age group cricket to being a full-time professional. I have no pleasure at all in being proved correct, but there is a big difference in bowling ten overs across two or three spells, compared to 15-20 in a day.
Harry will have excellent care and treatment with a view to getting him ready for 2027. There is a long road ahead of him, but he doesn't need to look too far for people who can advise on similar injuries during the course of their career. Perhaps a small modification of his action may be required, I don't know, but Chris Wright, the bowling coach has been there, so too Ben Aitchison. Both came through it, perhaps the stronger, certainly more aware of the demands of the first- class game.
They need to take time with him. At the start of next season he will still only be 20. Plenty of very good players hadn't even started their career at that stage and it might be that we just need to be patient and wait for Harry's body to fully develop and his physique be ready for the demands of first-class cricket. I hope that he is ready and willing to take that time himself and do the requisite work to give himself the very best chance.
I also wrote at the start of the summer of Derbyshire's excellent depth in seam bowling. Well, we have also lost - temporarily at least - the services of Luis Reece as a bowler, so the numbers are dwindling and the workload on those remaining is set to increase.
Again, turning it around, it offers opportunity. Rory Haydon looks increasingly like the expected beneficiary, while Nick Potts will also hope for a chance to impress in the final year of his current deal. There will be a few eyes on the second team too, where Matt Stewart's ability to take wickets will be carefully watched.
All that remains is to wish Harry the very best in his recovery. It is a setback in his career.
But it is NOT the end of it, by a long chalk.
Awful, awful news.
ReplyDeleteIn the clubs 156 year history it’s been more than a coincidence that the majority of Derbyshire’s best bowlers have come from a mining background it doesn’t take a genius to work out why. A trivia question for you Mr Peakview can you name the last Derbyshire miner to play for Derbyshire? A clue is that he went on to play for England but not while he was with Derbyshire
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePaul Taylor was an apprentice electrician at Donisthorpe Colliery
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that. I knew he was a trainee sparky, but didn't know it was in the mines. Interesting
DeleteHe’s from Linton in South Derbyshire the only reason he was born in Ashby is because it’s the nearest hospital, he was in my sisters year at Pringle School Swadlincote
DeleteVery sad for Harry. He has to look after his health for his lifetime, not just for the next 15 years of his cricket career. If that means giving up on his dreams of being a county and possibly international class fast bowler, then so be it.
ReplyDeleteI suspect he very possibly has the talent to become a batsman who can bowl some medium pace, if that is what he has to do.
I was looking forward to him having a good run in the white ball season, especially the One Day Cup where I thought/still think we have a good chance, given the strength in depth of our second 11 and that at the moment we only stand to lose Nye Donald to the Hundred.
Wishing Harry all the best and that he is getting the best support and advice.
Agreed David, focus on batting is an option as would be a focus on the white ball game if the demands of bowling in first class cricket prove too much.
DeleteMany an injury ravaged quick has been able to maintain a career in the t20 game if talented enough which I've no doubt Moore is, though missing two key years of development is far from ideal.
Bad news for Harry, at least ruling him out for the season prevents any temptation to try to recover too quickly.
ReplyDeleteHe will need to take it easy before he starts bowling again. Martin
Don't think he was quite as tall, but If my memory serves me correct it was a similar injury which curtailed former Derbyshire and West Indies quick Ian Bishop's career.
ReplyDeleteMark, from Buxton
Gutted for him. I was really hoping this would be his proper breakthrough season. Poor lad.
ReplyDeleteThis, coming only days after Mohammad Abbas's call-up to the test side (which, given that it's likely to be replicated for Pakistan's tours later in the summer, mean that he'll probably miss eight of the remaining eleven Championship games after this week), and only shortly after news of Reece's injury, must surely have a conisderable impact on selection if the club is at all serious about promotion.
ReplyDeleteThese were probably the three bowlers most likely to take Championship wickets this year. Regardless of his current injury status, I'm far from convinced that Brown should be in the CC side anyway. That leaves Aitchison, Chappell (who I think is fairly overrated as a red-ball bowler), Haydon and Potts to fill three seam-bowling spots. It also leaves the team VERY susceptible to further injuries or loss of form until Reece is fit to bowl again.
I would have thought that looking for another overseas should be seriously considered now. Yes, there are few decent options for the rest of the first block, but a polite inquiry to Asitha Fernando or Dane Paterson (or possibly Cameron Gannon or Liam Hatcher, given the Sheffield Shield seasons they've just had) might not go amiss. Even if that doesn't come off, there should be more options for the block of games at the end of the season.
The other thing is that surely Dal has to stay in the playing XI until Reece can bowl again--even if that means a batter, probably Montgomery, getting the rough end of the stick when Madsen comes back.
Dave
It depends if there's money, Dave. They spent a lot over the winter and there may not be additional resources.
DeleteI would be surprised if they omitted Montgomery, but I guess there's a question of how fit, or unfit Luis is. He spent quite a bit of time off the field in the previous game. I'm not sure how sustainable that is. While he made a century in the first match, perhaps he gives way to Wayne, assuming that he is fit? We should find out, or have an idea, tomorrow
Hugely disappointing news for the lad, big setback but hopefully not the end.
ReplyDeleteThe championship season seems to be over before it's really even begun. The stark reality is that I can see no chance of us finishing above Durham or Lancashire, unless they suffer key injuries, international call ups or anything else that might disrupt them. I can see us winning two or three games, but sustaining a promotion push seems highly unlikely.
Guess we should be used to disappointment by now!