Weekend thoughts

Continuing the good vibes of yesterday's win over Kent, Nye Donald hit an eight-ball 31 for England Lions as they strolled to a win over their Sri Lankan counterparts last night. They chased down a modest target of 118 to win in less than eight overs - a one-sided game following on from the series of the England senior side against Pakistan. 

I hope that there is more of that from Nye when the full series starts - and more, because we all know how destructive he can be in his best form.

But enough of international cricket - there are plenty of places writing about that. I am sure that we all awoke today, happy with the memory of an excellent 4-day win over Kent at Derby. It was another great advert for the red ball game and it remains my favourite form of cricket. Nothing matches the ebb and flow of the long form and while it can happen in shorter formats, there is so much to enjoy in 4-day cricket, as there was in 3-day, when it was played.

It again reinforced that for all of their inconsistency, Derbyshire are not too far from having a good side. They need better luck with injuries and any chance of improved fortunes in 2027 depends on having a full complement of bowlers to work with. We have been remarkably fortunate this year that Ben Aitchison has been able to bowl all summer, but no player can expect that every year. Injuries are a part of professional sport, especially among seam bowlers. I doubt there are many of them play through the season without aches, pains and niggles, because the whole mechanical process of bowling doesn't sit well with how bodies are supposed to move. I somehow doubt that cavemen threw their spears 120 times a day and certainly not off a long run up...

Moving on, I had a look at the averages this morning. Brett Randell, Rory Haydon and Ben all have their wickets under 23 runs each, while Martin Andersson has 21 at 28, as well as a batting average of 45. These are good statistics and each can be proud of their summers. 

For next season, as a bare minimum, Derbyshire need a top overseas bat. I said so in my latest interview with James Sadler of North Derbyshire Radio last night and strengthening the middle order is crucial. At least for next year, any two from three of Reece, Came and Naeem should serve us well at the top, but it depends on who becomes available. There is also the matter of replacing Wayne Madsen, almost certainly for 2028, but if someone came onto the market now then it would make sense to act.

In my lengthy bag of correspondence, I have been asked if I would take back Shan Masood, should he be available. Yes, although at 37 he perhaps isn't now at his prime. He has struggled in the series against England, but that attack is considerably stronger than anything he would face in division two next year. The relegation battle in division one is very tight, but none of the likely sides to drop carries remotely the threat that Durham did this year. 

The other issue, as we have seen with Mohammad Abbas this year, is the Pakistan penchant for short notice tours. Masood is currently their captain and it is important that whoever comes in is available for most of the summer. There may be wholesale changes after this awful tour that they have endured, but I'm sure that those at Derby will be carefully monitoring the situation, as they will be of several other options.

Another player who will doubtless interest counties for 2027 will be Leus du Plooy. He has decided to play for his native South Africa and has left his role at Middlesex. While I'm sure they would have him back as an overseas player, it may be that the debacle regarding the failure to register him to play in that role for the remainder of the summer is a disincentive. They don't seem awfully well organised down there, but I am sure that Leus will not lack suitors for 2027, given his record in the county game. 

Would he consider Derbyshire? Why not, although as we know money talks and the number of proven quality overseas players diminishes by the year. Like Masood, Leus may find himself involved in South Africa tours at full or A level and it prevents his playing in England next year, or for many seasons in the future. 

I am sure that Mickey Arthur and the cricket committee are working already on options for 2027. It must be difficult, because you can make all the plans and then find a later-organised tour throws them into disarray, much as happened with Mohammad Abbas. You can't wait and see, either, because otherwise you are searching in an even more limited marketplace.

Picking up a player who goes under the radar is very satisfying, however. Brett Randell is a case in point and at 31 he perhaps didn't expect another opportunity in county cricket, after a short stint previously at Somerset. Yet opportunity knocked, as Hughie Green used to say and he has snatched that opportunity with both hands. 

I will be honest, I only really knew him from the five wickets in five balls last winter, but he has impressed me, not just with his excellent bowling, but his overall attitude. He dives around in the field, contributes with the bat and looks the kind of bloke you are glad to have on your side. 

The acid test for any overseas player is the simple question - would you have him back? Most certainly, in the case of Brett, the answer is yes. But we must hope for an uninterrupted season of Abbas at his best in 2027. If he showed anything like his form in the Test matches, he should dominate the division.

One thing that has come out of the recent fixtures, however, is that it is unrealistic, given how the county schedule runs at present, to play two specialist spinners on a regular basis.

Historically, spin bowlers came into their own in July and August. The sun shone on used pitches, dried them out and the strength in that sun made the twirlers stride out with a spring in their step, their fingers twitching to get going. It is when they took the bulk of their wickets and earned their contract for the following year.

Dampness is coming back into September pitches and the sun isn't strong enough to dry it out. While it is always preferable to have a spinner in the side, two is a luxury that few can afford, unless one is also handy with the bat. 

If you have someone like Liam Dawson, James Coles or Matt Critchley in your side it is fine, as you know, they will contribute their weight of runs. But even someone as talented as Simon Harmer has only 34 wickets at 34 this year and Rehan Ahmed, oft-cited as Bashir's likely England replacement, has 18 wickets at 40.

Coles has 25 wickets at 29 but averages 35 with the bat, while Dawson has just 7 wickets at 53 and has struggled with the bat for once. Meanwhile Critchley has 19 wickets at 30, but also averages 50 with the bat, which isn't the worst of seasons.

Jack Morley can handle a bat as he has shown, but nor is he by some distance a genuine all-rounder. I am sure that Derbyshire will be hoping Shoaib Bashir retains his England central contract, because otherwise one of them will be sitting on the sidelines a lot. Besides which, the county would need to pick up the cost of his contract, which would certainly affect any ability to improve the squad this winter. 

Anyway, Mohammad Abbas, according to Mickey Arthur, is available for the next game, against Northamptonshire, starting on Tuesday. Logically two spinners WILL play there, because the pitches at Wantage Road always encourage spin. I remember Edwin Smith telling me the story of arriving at Northampton in the 1950s to find what looked like a very unusual green top. On closer inspection it turned out to be grass cuttings, laid on top of the traditional dry, sandy pitch! 

Yuzi Chahal will be waiting for his opportunity this week, as will Calvin Harrison. With Abbas, Morley and Bashir likely to be at 9-11, we must only hope that Ben Aitchison channels his inner Sobers at eight..

It may be that the final game, at Worcester, sees both Abbas and Brett Randell play, alongside Aitchison. While it will be the last game of the summer, that is a mouth-watering prospect...

Anyway, enjoy your weekend. Eight days of cricket to go before the long and pesky winter...hopefully they give us plenty of reasons to be cheerful.

PS in that interview link above, I am on at 23.30.