Good news on the fitness front

Whoever turns out to be the elite cricket performance director at Derbyshire CCC next summer - and we should probably know about that for the New Year, if not for Christmas - they will be considerably assisted  by the news from the fitness suites at the County Ground.

First Jonathan Clare professes to be well on the way to full fitness and ready to resume his role as a wicket-taking bowler and dangerous batsman in the lower middle-order. Then Chesney Hughes announces that he is several weeks ahead in his return to fitness and has had a few hits in the nets.

It is heartening news. Neither was anywhere close to full fitness last summer, something that put us on the back foot. While Hughes was able to bat, any shoulder problem was sure to affect him to some extent and it stopped him from bowling at all. I don't think it made any real difference to the four-day game, where his bowling is used sparingly, but in one-day cricket his left-arm spin is a handy weapon and often slows the scoring rate or takes valuable wickets. I'm sure Wayne Madsen would have enjoyed having it at his disposal in the T20, at the very least.

As for Jon Clare, it was patently obvious that fitness was elusive last year. On the occasions that I saw him, his bowling was not even close to 75% of full pace, which is hardly surprising if his back hurt each time he bowled. At his best he is capable of being around the 85-90mph mark, which makes facing him a challenge, even before he starts nipping it around. Injuries notwithstanding, he took wickets in his sporadic appearances but couldn't bowl any lengthy spells, meaning that picking him as a third seamer was a risky venture.

At his best, Clare will come on after the early inroads made by Tony Palladino and Tim Groenewald and keep up the pressure. He will also score good runs at seven (he says he fancies batting six, but I'm not so sure at this stage) and has the ability to see a bad ball early and launch a counter-attack. As a good fielder anywhere, he is, in short, an all-round cricketer of considerable talent.

At a time when the national side looks set to be in transition, Clare has the greatest of incentives to get fit and get his career back on track. He has only to look to the example of Ben Stokes to see what is possible and the best years of his career should lie ahead of him.

If Wes Durston can return to the punishing form of 2012 and Scott Elstone can make the most of a second opportunity in the first-class game, we have four players of genuine, all-round talent to compete for places in the different competitions. While Elstone is better-known as a batsman, his displays for Dunstall and for the Second Eleven have suggested that his off-spin could be useful too. He's obviously aware of this, having highlighted the fact that he is working hard on his bowling in a recent interview.

With the addition of another batsman, I think our squad is well-equipped for 2014. Much will depend on the coaching set-up and we'll doubtless hear the news on that in the next few days.

Life is never dull at Derbyshire, that's for sure.

Northamptonshire v Derbyshire day 1

Fantastic effort by Derbyshire today to get to 321-8 at the end of the first day. To be honest, when I went out at lunchtime with the score a pitiful 39-5, I doubted we would make 150. As 'Anon' says below the previous post, never presume anything with Derbyshire, certainly not this side. Two games running now we have returned 'from the dead' and the last couple of sessions must have been disheartening for the home side, after effectively having us on the ropes.

There was early movement of course and they would have fancied their chances of quick wickets as we would had Luke Sutton won the toss, but the top order were mown down in the first ninety minutes. In the course of that time Wayne Madsen registered his third duck in four championship innings, a rare bad trot for the opener.

The recovery was started by Luke Sutton and Ross Whiteley (pictured), but when the skipper departed it was completed by Whiteley and Jon Clare, another remarkable performance by two young players. Clare eventually departed for 82, but Whiteley went on to a sparkling maiden century with sixteen fours and a six before being lbw to Vaas. There was still time before the close for Tim Groenewald and Tony Palladino to add 41 runs and take us to a healthy-looking total at the end, way in excess of what looked likely earlier in the day.

The fight back again illustrated the spirit in this side. Some may point to another top order failure, but there were difficult early conditions to contend with. I prefer to focus on the positives, that once again a team ethic has seen us end the day in a healthy position. I don't expect the Northamptonshire batting to enjoy tomorrow against a predominantly seam Derbyshire attack.

In closing I'm pleased to say that my predictive powers are still intact. Back in September 2009, in an article 'Go Young Guns' I wrote:

"Ross Whiteley got little opportunity last night but I think he's a lad who has much to offer. Sometimes his radar goes a little but his left arm seam/swing can trouble batsmen when he is in the groove. He is also a very clean hitting batsman and I could see him developing into a good all rounder with greater opportunities. With Jon Clare to come again after the travails of the season, we have less to worry about than many counties for next season and the tighter visa regulations."


I am thrilled for both young men, one having put serious injury behind him to rekindle his original potential, while the other has shown everyone how good he can be, with the first of what I am sure will be many centuries for the county.

Well done lads!


 

"

Park the popular choice

It's quite apt that Garry Park chose today to register an excellent all-round contribution, as 72% of those voting rated him the best of our winter recruits.

Both Tim Groenewald and Mark Lawson may well have opportunities in the months ahead, but Park has taken his with both hands and looks a very good acquisition. As a batsman he has shown he can stick it out as well as playing the expansive shots, while he is rated the best cover point in the country.

Add that to the fact that he was Durham's reserve wicket keeper and, as we all know, can bowl a mean medium pace, we look like we've a real renaissance man in the South African born player. I look forward to seeing his progress through this season and beyond.

Now for this week's poll and it's one for the officianado! The cricket world is gradually realising that we have terrific all rounders at Derby. Graham Wagg, Jon Clare, Greg Smith, Garry Park - that's not even mentioning the talents of Dan Redfern, Tim Groenewald and Wavell Hinds!

So who do you thin is the best prospect. We've not seen enough of Groenewald's talents thus far, while Redfern is a fine young batsman who can bowl a little spin. Wavell is also a useful, rather than genuine bowler. But who, from the rest, is the best all round prospect.

Can't wait to see how this one pans out...

Northamptonshire v Derbyshire day 3

Another good day for the boys and especially Jon Clare, who is having the sort of game that is normally experienced in comics...

After his first century for the club yesterday, Clare took 5 wickets today to complete a memorable double and leave us on top in the game.

However, the amount of time lost to weather suggests that a result will be hard to force tomorrow, especially with further showers forecast tomorrow. If a result occurs, it almost certainly will be contrived. Perhaps the captains will agree tonight for the home side to declare and Derbyshire to set a target sometime after lunch tomorrow. It is hard to see how a result can come about otherwise as the wicket is simply too good for batting and a massive improvement on previous years here. Its funny what happens when you no longer have a decent spinner...

In other news today, after securing the services of Greg Smith, John Morris has now sealed a first professional contract for Danny Redfern. I've seen the youngster on several occasions now and never been less than thoroughly impressed. He is organised, compact, very fluent off his legs and a fantastic prospect. Personally I would like to see him given opportunities with Paul Borrington next season and to play alongside better players like Wavell Hinds, who appears to be a man keen to work with youngsters and pass on his experience. We have signed him for the next two years and I hope we see him for many years in Derbyshire colours.

Finally, news that a young 17 year old fast bowler, Atif Sheikh, has been called up for England Under 17s to play New Zealand. A new name on me, but full credit to the youngster and to the coaches at the club who have helped him to get to this standard. I don't know about everyone else, but all these talented youngsters have got me very enthusiastic about the medium term future of the club.

See you tomorrow!

PS Only a handful of players have previously taken five wickets as well as scoring a century in a match for Derbyshire.

George Davidson did it twice, Harry Bagshaw and Harry Storer once each, Sam Cadman three times. Those fine all rounders Garnett Lee, Les Townsend and George Pope also did it pre-WW2, but it has only been done on four occasions since then.

The first was by Kim Barnett in 1991, then Ant Botha in 2004 and "Pop" Welch in 2005.
Now Jon Clare. He should be a very proud lad tonight.