Steff's dilemma

The Derby Telegraph yesterday carried an article referring to the big dilemma facing Steffan Jones.

Derbyshire have put a three-year contract on the table for him, allowing him to play as long as he is able and remain an assistant coach. Meanwhile, Wellington School in Somerset have offered him a role as head of cricket, fitness and conditioning, as well as being an ambassador for the school, a role he would doubtless do well.

Steff will make a decision within the week and it is doubtless a tough one. To be honest, much as he is a vital part of our setup, if I were him I would take the school role. Take a look at the video on the link below and ask yourself - would you turn it down?

http://www.wellington-school.org.uk/

A three-year deal is a fair one and I think Jones could make a very good coach. Yet with the school convenient for family and, one assumes a place for his daughter there at the right time, it is a gilt-edged opportunity for him for as long as he wanted. He is eminently qualified for the role and would be perfect in it.

A no-brainer for me. I'd have to accept it and if Steffan does so I hope everyone wishes a fine man and loyal servant the best and there are no silly accusations of disloyalty.

He fully deserves the opportunity and whatever his decision, I wish him well.

Steffan Jones capped

The club has today announced that Steffan Jones has been capped.

Few can have more richly deserved the award as Jones has become a fans favourite in his two stints with the county. His whole-hearted approach to bowling has seen him effectively keep an end going for the club for most of the season, while on the club site John Morris acknowledges his contribution to the dressing room.

Steffan has also developed as a batsman and has laid genuine claims to all-rounder status with a succession of punishing innings this year. As the award also confers Life Member status on him, it is to be hoped that he is around the club for many years to come.

If he can continue the work that seemed evident last night with Jon Clare and Mark Footitt, his greatest contribution could yet be to come.

The Jones boy is back - for good!

There will be few Derbyshire fans that are not pleased at the news, broken in the Bristol Evening Post today, that Steffan Jones is set to sign a two-year deal with us for 2010-11. No doubt the news will be on the club site in the near future, but as they say on the X Files – the truth is out there!

Furthermore, Jones is signing a contract that gives him additional responsibilities as the bowling and fitness/conditioning coach.

There has been considerable discussion on fans bulletin boards in recent months on whether the lack of a bowling coach was a factor in some erratic bowling, especially in one-day matches. I cannot believe that anyone would deny that our batting last year was substantially improved on recent years in all forms of the game. John Morris and Andy Brown deserve full credit for instilling sound principles into what is essentially a young and relatively inexperienced batting side.

It was interesting listening to Morris commenting on the recent Club Twenty/20 finals day on the art of twenty over batting. Aim for four every ball, if you can’t get four, get a two, if you can’t get two, get a single and rotate the strike. Common sense it may be, but an approach that was lacking in previous seasons. As I wrote the other night, 150 in a 20-over game should be challenging if you bowl properly, which is where Steffan will come in.

Far too often in one-day games our bowlers have been guilty of bowling a length, which is hittable. The successful bowlers in the World T20 showed that you either have to bowl very full or just back of a length to make the batsman’s job much harder. It is very difficult to get under a ball to lever it for six if it is right up in the block hole and Steffan Jones has shown, especially in the latter part of his career, that he is adept at putting the ball in the right places. If he can pass those skills on to younger players he will do a very good job.

Then there is the conditioning role. Our bowlers have suffered a number of injuries in recent seasons. Ton Lungley has had an assortment of niggles, Jon Clare missed a lot of the last campaign and even that most willing of workhorses Graham Wagg missed cricket last year. If they are all fit and firing, I think our seam attack is among the best in Division Two, with only Gloucestershire (Kirby/Lewis/Franklin) of the same quality. We missed Langeveldt last year, but Jones, Groenewald, Lungley, Wagg, Clare and Hunter, backed up by Greg Smith comprises a pretty good line up.

If we assume that Lungley and Groenewald will sign new deals for 2010 (and there’s been nothing to suggest otherwise) and with Atif Sheikh and Ross Whiteley coming through, Derbyshire don’t lack seam bowling options. If Jones can keep them fit and firing we will be more than competitive, especially if a quality spinner can be added to the mix.

Which leaves, of course, Jones the bowler. Nothing in his bowling last season suggested a spent force, as he bowled with heart, energy and considerable skill to revitalise an attack that was struggling with injuries.

If I was honest, from a career point of view Steffan should never have left Derbyshire. His success in 2006 suggested there was much more to come, but he never became a regular at Taunton, nor could he have enjoyed bowling on the most batsman-friendly tracks in the game. He left for family reasons and I would never criticise anyone for that, but at the end of his career, he will probably be 50-100 wickets short of what he would have achieved at Derby.

Still, that’s history. The Jones boy is back. A fine bowler and a fine man. I remember in his first stint with us sending a question into the club site about how he kept himself fit, as I was at that time struggling with a back injury of my own that stopped me doing so in matches.

He replied in considerable detail on how it was important to have a strong “core” and kindly offered to meet me the next time I was at the Ground to show me some exercises that would help me to strengthen the weakened area and return to bowling.

I never got the chance to take him up on that kind offer but did source local classes on core strengthening that helped immensely.

So thanks for that Steffan and a sincere welcome back to Derby. We’ve missed you, but it’s great to have you back!

Bit baffled...

One or two comments on the blog yesterday I can't agree with.

One said that Groenewald "had a couple of good spells and scored a fifty but didn't set the world alight". Actually, I think he did very well. In first class matches he averaged 20 with the bat, usually coming in at nine or ten, while he was top of the bowling averages with 34 wickets at 27 from only nine matches. He took 12 wickets in one day games and a further 7 in Twenty/20, where he was our second most economical regular bowler. That's a little more than "a couple of good spells" and he can be proud of his efforts.

Similarly, there are calls for John Sadler to be released after averaging 35 from just four one day innings and 71 from four Championship innings. On top of that he averaged 41 in the Twenty/20. OK, those averages were partly the result of a lot of not outs, but the fact is that Sads let no one down in 2009. In one day games he got in with 2-3 overs to go and in the Championship he was in at 483-4 against Kent, 350-4 against Middlesex and 400-4 and 143-4 against Essex. What's a man to do? It smacks of the comment made by the old Yorkshire wicket keeper Arthur Wood, when he came in during England's 903-7 against Australia with the score reading something like 730-5 and said "I allus was a man for a crisis"...

Sads scored a number of centuries for the Seconds and did well in his League appearances too. He could have done no more from his limited appearances in 2009. Yes, I'll agree that next year is a biggie for him, but I think that talk of releasing him after his summer's efforts are unfair.

Steffan Jones? Yes, I'd like to see us sign him too, but he's playing in India with Somerset just now so nothing can be done until he returns as he's still contracted to them. I think we will sign him after his efforts, but patience is the key guys.

Tom Lungley? With eight first class wickets at 49 and none in the one day matches he had a poor year. He took eight wickets in the Twenty/20 but was also our most expensive bowler based on runs conceded per over. I think he has an option for another year which he is yet to sign, but cannot think he'll have many other offers on those figures. He is another with a massive 2010 ahead if he stays, but whether he is here is up in the air at present.

Kent v Derbyshire Day One

There were a number of things worthy of note about day one of the Clash of the Titans today. OK, that's maybe overdoing it, but you get my gist...

First up, Derbyshire ended their innings having posted a competitive score and once again one that didn't look likely in the early afternoon. At 127-5 we were looking down a barrel of a score less than 200 and no batting points. To close with three in an all out score of 303 was a considerable achievement.

Once again Chris Rogers got us off to a flyer, but again got out just after reaching a fine 50. Wayne Madsen failed for once, but everyone does from time to time. Nor did the middle order make much impression, although Dan Redfern promised much in his 29 that contained seven boundaries.

It was again Wavell who held us together. He had four sixes by the time he had reached 40 and played a fine hand with his 74. 233-9 still looked vulnerable, however and we were again indebted to the late order and Jones the bat in particular. Steffan must be the best number 11 we've ever had and with successive fifties now must be looking for all rounder status...

It was again indicative of the fighting spirit instilled in the side by John Morris and Derbyshire would be quite satisfied with their final tally, especially when four wickets went to off spinner James Tredwell and Kent should have to bat last on this track. Jake Needham also did well at the other end, but his may well turn out to be a starring role as the game progresses.

It was interesting to see that Nantie Hayward was left out of the starting line up today. He's not yet hit his straps since his arrival, while Wagg, Jones and Groenewald have bowled consistently in recent matches. I'm sure his time will come, but it was a tough decision and full credit to the coach for making it.

Groenewald struck a telling blow with the last ball of the day after three expensive overs, when he tempted Denly into fishing outside his off stump and edging to the safe hands of Chris Rogers at slip. Kent closed at 49-1 and tomorrow is set to be a fascinating day's cricket. Early wickets are crucial for Derbyshire as the hosts will resume with in-form skipper Rob Key accompanied by overseas star Martin Van Jaarsveld. Get through that pair quickly and we're ahead in a very even game. If we don't. there's a lot of leather chasing in prospect.

Gloucestershire v Derbyshire day 3

I've never been the sort of bloke who takes anything for granted, but logic suggests that if the promised weather materialises tomorrow, Derbyshire should wrap up a seriously impressive victory over Gloucestershire sometime before tea.

It could, of course, be considerably sooner, but while the formidable Alex Gidman is still at the crease, Derbyshire will know they have work to do. James Franklin will also sell his wicket dearly, but with the hosts still requiring 337 to win and only six wickets left, most punters would fancy a flutter on Derbyshire, if they could get odds to make it worthwhile.

That we have done so well in this game owes a lot to a fine team effort, but honourable mention today has to go to Wayne Madsen, who set a new benchmark for Derbyshire debutants by hitting a magnificent unbeaten 170. He was dropped on two or three occasions, but that should not detract from a wonderful effort from the South African.If he hasn't earned himself a contract after that knock I would quite frankly be astonished. He may be unable to play in all of our matches for the remainder of this year due to his contract at Unsworth in the Central Lancashire League, but perhaps the club could supply a replacement professional to them to allow Madsen to get more experience of English conditions.

We should not get carried away of course. He would appear to be a player of great potential, but he's not Bradman. There will be days ahead when he fails, just the same as any other player, but he has shown himself to be someone who can bat for a long time while keeping the scoreboard moving. Gold dust, quite frankly.

Today he was well supported by Wavell Hinds and Greg Smith, who both played cameos at a pace that enabled Derbyshire to declare in mid afternoon. With the weather as it is, Chris Rogers had to allow stoppage time in his calculation for bowling them out, as well as the fact that a good batting side couldn't do as badly a second time.

When Spearman and Ali posted 70 for the first wicket there might even have been a thought that Gloucestershire could make a go of it, but once again the Jones boy came up with the goods by removing both. Jones of Derbyshire seems a different beast than Jones of Somerset and the thought of Hayward and Jones opening the bowling is quite exciting. Having said that, Tim Groenewald produced an excellent spell of his own, which included the big wicket of Marshall, clean bowled for a duck to complete a miserable match in which he was run out in the first innings and dropped several catches. When Groenwald also dismissed the dangerous Taylor cheaply, Gloucestershire were facing a second successive defeat.

John Morris in the Derby Telegraph this morning mentioned the great impact that Steffan Jones has had on the dressing room. I wrote last night that I would be keen to sign him for next season and I can't think many would disagree. He's a player that fans love - Mr 100%, usually fit, extremely approachable and with a lot of talent. There'll be few better seamers on the market this winter and I don't think he'd need a lot of convincing.

This has so far been a highly impressive performance by Derbyshire. They have batted sensibly, bowled well and held their catches. If you do that in most matches you will win a lot of them. If tomorrow sees the expected Derbyshire win, we will have reached the halfway point of the season unbeaten in the Championship and top of the table.

The moans and complaints of the 20/20 campaign are a long way away just now. Morris' signings - Rogers, Park, Madsen, Hinds, Jones, Groenewald - are all producing the goods, while Hayward took wickets on one good leg in the last match. It augurs well. There's a lot of cricket still to be played this season, and two matches against Kent will be crucial in determining the end of season placings, but with a number of players in good form - add Smith, Redfern and Pipe to the above - there's no reason why Derbyshire should not have a major role to play in the final shake up.

Great, isn't it?

From tomorrow's Times

"I'll do anything to keep playing first-class cricket,” the 35-year-old (Steffan Jones) said. “I think I've got a couple of years still in me. Somerset have told me that they're very unlikely to extend my contract as they want tall, fast bowlers at Taunton. I loved my year at Derby in 2006 and never wanted to leave.” Derbyshire wanted to keep him but his wife wanted to return home to Somerset owing to family bereavements and the fact she was expecting their first child.

Go on John. Let's get him back. We love the guy and he loves us!

Gloucestershire v Derbyshire Day 2

If you happen to be down Cheltenham way this evening and happen to see a bloke with a very wide grin on his face, there's a fair chance that it will be the Derbyshire coach John Morris, after a day in which his side have put themselves in a commanding position against the side currently top of Division 2 of the County Championship.

More than that, Morris has seen his two new signings, Steffan Jones and Wayne Madsen perform superbly on the second day as the county closed 288 runs ahead with two days to go. It was total vindication for Morris as Jones turned back the clock to 2006 and ended with the splendid figures of 4-44 in 18 overs. He was well supported by the other seamers, with Tim Groenewald and Greg Smith each taking two wickets and Graham Wagg one. Jones' dismissal of danger man Alex Gidman was the start of a middle order collapse from which the hosts never recovered, although Derbyshire were helped when Kiwi danger man Hamish Marshall, a century maker at Chesterfield a few weeks back, decided to take on Garry Park - arguably the best cover point in the country - and lost.

With a first innings lead of 162 Derbyshire could have enforced the follow on but with Graham Wagg off the field with cramp and the bowlers having had a long stint Chris Rogers opted to bat again. He may have had a few regrets when he went early, caught behind off the bowling of New Zealander James Franklin and when Garry Park followed with the score 28-2 the game could have gone either way.

At that point came what must have been a lovely passage of play as debutant Madsen and Dan Redfern put together a fine partnership of 89 to take the game away from Gloucestershire. Madsen started slowly against the testing attack of Lewis, Franklin and Kirby, but opened up as he became acclimatised and reached his fifty with three fours in an over from slow left armer Vikram Banerjee. A feature of the passage of play seemed to be the regular rotation of strike - left hand, right hand - by two young players who have a great deal to offer Derbyshire cricket.

In this morning's Derby Telegraph, Mark Eklid said that Madsen was "surprisingly" preferred to Steve Stubbings. I would disagree and suggest that the South African's stunning form in League and Second XI cricket was thoroughly deserving of an opportunity. No one likes Steve Stubbings better than I do, but for Derbyshire to progress as a side we need to gradually phase out the "decent" county pros and bring in highly talented, better quality and younger players.

While one swallow does not make a summer, Madsen has done enough in this innings to suggest a player of genuine talent. He'll face easier attacks on better tracks than this one and I wouldn't be surprised if John Morris isn't looking out his fountain pen for Madsen to put pen to paper on a two-year deal at this stage - if he hasn't already.

Likewise with Jones. He is in the final year of a three-year deal at Somerset and although 35, is an extremely fit bowler who could go on for another 3-4 years. It may well be that Morris considers him as a bowling option for next season, especially in the light of Tom Lungley's ongoing fitness battles and recent transgressions.

All in all, this is a great evening to be a Derbyshire fan. I'm not taking anything for granted, but if we can get 400-450 of a lead by mid afternoon tomorrow then get them in again, by the end of the week we could feasibly be top of the league. Only a slightly dodgy weather forecast (sunshine and heavy thundery showers for the next two days) prevents unbridled optimism.

Well done Derbyshire - especially Steffan Jones and Wayne Madsen - and well done John Morris!

Derbyshire set for Wayne's World

If you read this week's earlier posts, you'll see that I have been suggesting a move for South African batsman/all rounder Wayne Madsen (pictured), who has been starring for the Second Eleven this season and performing with distinction as captain and professional for Unsworth Cricket Club in the Central Lancashire League.

So I am delighted to be able to say this morning that Madsen will make his debut for the county tomorrow at Cheltenham, replacing Steve Stubbings in the batting line up.

In his appearances for the Second Eleven this season, the South African, who plays for Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Dolphins in South Africa, has registered scores of 69 not out, 0 not out, 135, 83, 29, 60 and 2 not out. In addition, he averages 87 as captain and professional at Unsworth, as well as taking 38 wickets at an average of ten each with his off spin. At 25 he looks a great prospect and is able to play County cricket on the same terms as Michael di Venuto, holding an Italian passport.

I applaud John Morris' speed in signing the talented South African in the face of interest from other counties but would urge a word of caution in anyone expecting him to translate the above figures into an immediate return at County level. Madsen averages 35 in South Africa and we should see his signing as a medium to long term one. It is unrealistic to expect him to drop straight into the County game and produce statistics like those above as the jump in level is substantial. Nonetheless, the South African is obviously a player of talent and one would hope that if he impresses a contract for 2010 will follow.

As for tomorrow's side, Nantie Hayward is injured, Tom Lungley suspended and Ian Hunter rested, although Steffan Jones is likely to make his debut for the second time (can you make two debuts?) I would expect the side to line up along these lines:

Chris Rogers (captain)
Garry Park
Wayne Madsen
Dan Redfern
Wavell Hinds
Greg Smith
James Pipe
Graham Wagg
Jon Clare
Jake Needham
Steffan Jones

There's a youthful look to that side, with only four of the side older than mid-twenties. Long gone are the days when we signed old lags from other counties and showed all the alacrity of an arthritic greyhound in the field.

As for Gloucestershire, they bring ex-Yorkshire spinner Richard Dawson into their squad, which suggests they expect the track to turn as the game goes on. With Needham, Smith, Redfern, Wagg and now Madsen all spinners or capable of bowling spin in the Derbyshire side, we shouldn't be found wanting if that happens. The hosts 12 is:

C.Spearman
Kadeer Ali
H.Marshall
A.Gidman (capt)
C.Taylor
J.Franklin
S.Snell (wkt)
R.Dawson
V.Banerjee
J.Lewis
S.Kirby
A.Ireland

It will be a good match and I just hope that the weather allows it to unfold properly. Gloucestershire have a strong batting line up with ex-Kiwis Spearman and Marshall fine players and Gidman a regular thorn in Derbyshire sides over the years. Meanwhile their opening attack of Lewis and Kirby is as good as any in the country, with James Franklin, the New Zealand all-rounder giving good support.

The game will be a good test for Derbyshire and we should not forget, in the face of the usual grumblers, that the side have almost reached the halfway point of the season (this match marks the halfway mark) as the ONLY unbeaten side in the County Championship Second Division. It would be a good game for Chris Rogers to produce the really big score we have been waiting for and for Wavell to continue his excellent form. If the others can continue to work and make us a hard side to beat, we have no reason to be frightened of anyone.

And if Steffan Jones makes a prodigal return and Wayne Madsen an encouraging debut, I hope that there's a few people prepared to eat a little humble pie. It would have been very easy for John Morris to sit back and say "this is what we have". Instead, he has gone out and strengthened the side for what should be a very interesting second half of the season.

Dull day but here comes the Jones boy...

Today's play at Northampton on the face of it was of the somewhat pointless variety that would have had the advocates of more 20/20 saying "I told you so".

Last night I suggested that there might have been a morning of declaration bowling followed by a run chase, but a closer look at the Division Two table reveals the reason for the somewhat turgid final day.

Only twelve points separate Derbyshire in second from Northamptonshire in seventh place. The game against Gloucestershire that starts on Sunday is huge, with the home side currently eight points clear of us at the top. Why should Derbyshire risk defeat in a close league, especially after most of the first day was lost to rain?

As it was, James Pipe had a good knock and the County managed to make 500 before a token declaration. The biggest problem now is getting people fit and with question marks over the fitness of Graham Wagg and Nantie Hayward, John Morris has moved quickly to sign old boy Steffan Jones (pictured)on what is initially a month's loan.

A few weeks back I suggested that Jones must have regretted his move to Somerset as he has never really settled or won a regular place on a batsman's wicket. The 80-plus wickets that he took for us in 2006 must seem a distant memory after pounding up and down the Taunton tracks with little return, but what we will all remember Jones for is a man of unquenchable enthusiasm and effort. Whether bowling at 11 o'clock or 5.30pm, Jones ran in at great pace and with no little skill. His addition to the bowling ranks is more than useful as we enter a key part of the season and I'm sure that most people will applaud the move.

Once again it speaks volumes for John Morris' contacts book. With Tom Lungley suspended and Jon Clare feeling his way back from a shoulder injury, the seam bowling ranks were, if not exactly like Mother Hubbard's on a bad day, starting to look like she'd not done a big shop for some time...

Anyway, tomorrow I'll do a preview of the Gloucestershire game at the picturesque Cheltenham College Ground, but for now, adios amigos.