Anuj Dal

There were times in his nine years on the Derbyshire staff that Anuj Dal looked a very good cricketer indeed. 

Having said that, the announcement that he will leave county cricket to pursue a career outside of the game comes as no real surprise. The rumours of such a move have been around for the last 12-18 months and as an intelligent, thoughtful man, it seemed only a case of the timing being right. 

Nuj the cricketer has been a man of contrasts. At his best, his footwork was quick, his hands equally fast and the strokes all around the wicket. He wasn't a powerful hitter, perhaps why he was never a regular pick in the white ball game, but he could work the ball around and his speed between the wickets was up there with anyone you care to mention. Having said that, few will forget the century he made in a memorable 50- over win at Taunton, when he and Harry Moore turned a losing cause into a remarkable win.

Three of his five first-class centuries came against Worcestershire, against who he averaged 61. In 2022 he was within 43 runs of a thousand for the red ball summer, took 34 wickets at a shade under 30 and looked like the perfect county all rounder. 

Yet there was only one century and four fifties in the four seasons that followed, as he never quite recaptured those heights. The batting average declined, he could look more hesitant at the crease and became more of a 'bits and pieces' player, rather than the integral component of the engine room that he had threatened to be. 

To some extent it was the same with his bowling. There were three five-wicket hauls in 2023 but none since. Yet he remained a bowler who could keep an end tight, perhaps in a similar style to Tony Palladino, without quite the same level of penetration. In a stronger side, perhaps his role would have been even more important, but the fact remains that this hasn't been an especially strong Derbyshire lineup and the need is there for someone who can dominate in at least one of those disciplines. 

Having said that, we will do very well to find a better fielder than Anuj Dal. Perhaps injuries had slowed him down in the last couple of seasons, but before that he was like a whippet over the ground, with safe hands and a good arm. He remained sound and capable of moments of brilliance that could turn a game.

This is going to be a period of change for Derbyshire and it appears likely that the end of next season will see the departure of Wayne Madsen. The loss of two players who have been part of the landscape for a long time will see a different county side, yet this is an inevitable consequence of sport. How the county's top batter and long-time all-rounder are replaced will certainly dictate progress.

At the end of it all, Anuj Dal entertained and I thoroughly enjoyed watching him. I don't doubt the pressures of professional sport and they undoubtedly affected him as they did everyone else. Yet he always played with a smile on his face, always had a word for supporters and gave his all for the cause. 

Many people dream of a career in professional sport. Nuj realised that dream and at times he was centre stage and the star of the show.

I have no doubt he will make an equal success of his future career and I wish him the very best in it. 

All that remains is for me to say thanks, Nuj. 

It really has been a pleasure.