I'm not sure what to make of the current game tonight.
Only 77 ahead with six wickets left, we have a lot of work to do to get our noses back in front on the face of it, although events after tea today suggest that the wicket may be playing up a little. With Surrey losing their last six wickets for 25 and us our first four for 26 something happened. Swing?
Having been in Belfast all day and away from things I'm not sure, but if such conditions continue (and we bowl better than we did in the morning and early afternoon today) there could yet be a twist in the tail. Of course, the weather could yet have a say in proceedings, but a game that looked dead at lunchtime suddenly looks a fair bet to produce a positive result.
Should be a good last day...
Showing posts with label Surrey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Surrey. Show all posts
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Derbyshire v Surrey preview
If the weather allows it, Derbyshire have an opportunity tomorrow to improve a league position that in no way reflects the quality of cricket that they have been playing. Surrey, a side who haven't really got going are the opponents but we cannot afford to underestimate a side with some good players.
The big names are, of course, Mark Ramprakash and Steven Davies, but Chris Adams has been bringing young players through and they have plenty of them. Jason Roy has been in good form, as has skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown. The toss, as it has been so far at the County Ground, is likely to be crucial.
I don't see many changes in the Derbyshire side, unless one of the seamers is rested to allow Steffan Jones or Mark Turner an outing. Martin Guptill will replace Usman Khawaja and make his debut and I think we'll see the following Derbyshire side tomorrow:
Guptill, Madsen, Hughes, Durston, Redfern, Smith, Sutton, Clare, Rafiq, Groenewald, Palladino
Guptill and Madsen promises to be an excellent opening pairing and I look forward to seeing their understanding develop as the season progresses.
A good result in this one will see us into the T20 with a spring in our step. If the weather keeps out of it we'll have every chance.
The big names are, of course, Mark Ramprakash and Steven Davies, but Chris Adams has been bringing young players through and they have plenty of them. Jason Roy has been in good form, as has skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown. The toss, as it has been so far at the County Ground, is likely to be crucial.
I don't see many changes in the Derbyshire side, unless one of the seamers is rested to allow Steffan Jones or Mark Turner an outing. Martin Guptill will replace Usman Khawaja and make his debut and I think we'll see the following Derbyshire side tomorrow:
Guptill, Madsen, Hughes, Durston, Redfern, Smith, Sutton, Clare, Rafiq, Groenewald, Palladino
Guptill and Madsen promises to be an excellent opening pairing and I look forward to seeing their understanding develop as the season progresses.
A good result in this one will see us into the T20 with a spring in our step. If the weather keeps out of it we'll have every chance.
Monday, 12 April 2010
Surrey v Derbyshire day 4
Is there anything better than winning your first game of the season?
Well yes, actually. There's winning it in style, against the supposed best team in the division. There's winning it with your skipper scoring 340 runs for only once out. Oh, and there's winning with all of your winter recruits playing important roles.
I'm not going to get carried away. There'll be days this season where the moaners will be out after a poor display, but this was a highly professional performance by a Derbyshire side, one doing something that they often failed to do last year. We finished a team off when they were on the ropes.
In doing that they were aided by two wickets from an impressive Mark Footitt, with Tim Groenewald opening the door with the huge dismissal of Mark Ramprakash for a duck. Although we kept chipping away, when the last hour started the hosts must have entertained hopes of salvaging a draw.
Which is when, of course, Robin Peterson (pictured) earned his corn, following his first innings 3-87 with even better figures of 3-32 in 20 overs. With Greg Smith bowling both seam and spin, Graham Wagg had a lighter than usual workload and John Morris will reflect on a job well done.
He can also reflect on the contribution of his winter signings, with Lee Goddard batting well and keeping tidily to go with the bowling of Peterson and Footitt. This is a result that has put down a marker and there will be a few sides looking at Derbyshire in a different light now.
Of course, we now need to do it consistently and it will count for little if we don't turn up against Leicestershire at the County Ground later in the week, but winning is a good habit and the boys "done well" today, to quote the football parlance.
Earlier Cap'n Fantastic took his second innings score to an unbeaten 140 and there were good runs from Dan Redfern as Derbyshire pushed for the declaration. If any one thing summed up a fine team display, it was Graham Wagg's selfless hitting (2 sixes, a four and out) that enabled us to do so earlier than might otherwise have been the case. No thought of his average, just doing it for the team. It was good to see.
Last night I wrote that Chris Rogers could be an outside bet of scoring a thousand before the end of May. The Times correspondent also suggested this today, though he included in his tally of those who have done it before, the players who scored a thousand by the end of April. He also suggested the latter feat may not be beyond Chris Rogers, although the fact that Rogers only has six more knocks in April might make that a tad fanciful.
With 340 already, and potentially 12 more innings before the end of May, I would reckon the other landmark is eminently possible. From here, he would only need to average 50 per innings, very much within the compass of an outstanding cricketer. I'm sure he'll not even think about it, certainly not at this stage and will take each innings as it comes.
So, enjoy your evening, my friends. as I know I will. Watch the highlights later on and rejoice in a job well done by our team.
I'll not get carried away, but John Major, Sir Jack Hobbs, Peter May, Jim Laker, Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart - your boys took a hell of a beating!
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Surrey v Derbyshire day 3
There's only one word to describe Chris Rogers recent run of form for Derbyshire.
Extraordinary.
Aside from the fact that he is one run away from being the first Derbyshire batsman EVER - in 140 years - to score a double century and century in a match, Rogers in his last four Championship matches has turned in an astonishing array of scores:
208 v Kent
25 and 112 not out v Middlesex
222 and 42 v Essex
200 and 99 not out v Surrey
That's 908 runs in seven innings...
With Derbyshire 260 ahead going into the final day, the chances are that the first hour tomorrow will see a push for another hundred or so runs in 20 overs, leaving Surrey perhaps 360-380 to win. With the wicket apparently showing signs of variable bounce and a little more turn, that is likely to be something that will interest Robin Peterson. He will have benefited from a long bowl in the first innings, where he took three wickets and bowled with the control we have lacked from a spinner for a long time.
The sensible money is probably still on the draw in this game. I would be astonished if Surrey could be bowled out on their own track inside 75 overs, but one would hope Derbyshire would bowl better than they did in a similar position against Essex in the final game of last season.
I was pleased today to see Mark Footitt take the wicket of Mark Ramprakash, adding it to that of Marcus Trescothick he took in a pre-season friendly. Good scalps both of them and Footitt promises to be a good asset.
So too does Greg Smith, who added four wickets to his 66 runs and may bowl off spin tomorrow if conditions suit, especially bearing in mind how he did so well with it at Uxbridge near the end of the last campaign.
Of course, Rogers heroics shouldn't mask the fact that, Smith apart, the rest of the Derbyshire batting hasn't really fired in this game. On an early season track with substantial movement at times, run scoring can be difficult, but Derbyshire are very much in control of the game at the end of day three. We shouldn't lose from here, but whether we can force a win is another matter altogether.
In closing tonight I'm going to be the first person to make an observation about Chris Rogers, or Captain Fantastic as we should now be calling him. This season's fixtures see seven County Championship matches scheduled to be completed before the end of May - the most in a long time. Given that he currently has 299 runs in two innings, it is not being silly to suggest that Rogers has an outside chance of being only the seventh man in history to score a thousand runs by the end of May.
Tom Hayward did it in 1900, Bradman in 1930 and 1938, Bill Edrich in 1938, Glen Turner in 1973 and Graeme Hick in 1988. Could Rogers score another 700 runs in 12 innings? I don't know, given the vagaries of early season tracks, the thinking money would be against it.
Then again, in his current form I'd be interested in seeing the odds.
And that would be sure to make a stir back home in Australia.
Chris Rogers, the Derbyshire Bradman. Nice ring to it, eh?
Extraordinary.
Aside from the fact that he is one run away from being the first Derbyshire batsman EVER - in 140 years - to score a double century and century in a match, Rogers in his last four Championship matches has turned in an astonishing array of scores:
208 v Kent
25 and 112 not out v Middlesex
222 and 42 v Essex
200 and 99 not out v Surrey
That's 908 runs in seven innings...
With Derbyshire 260 ahead going into the final day, the chances are that the first hour tomorrow will see a push for another hundred or so runs in 20 overs, leaving Surrey perhaps 360-380 to win. With the wicket apparently showing signs of variable bounce and a little more turn, that is likely to be something that will interest Robin Peterson. He will have benefited from a long bowl in the first innings, where he took three wickets and bowled with the control we have lacked from a spinner for a long time.
The sensible money is probably still on the draw in this game. I would be astonished if Surrey could be bowled out on their own track inside 75 overs, but one would hope Derbyshire would bowl better than they did in a similar position against Essex in the final game of last season.
I was pleased today to see Mark Footitt take the wicket of Mark Ramprakash, adding it to that of Marcus Trescothick he took in a pre-season friendly. Good scalps both of them and Footitt promises to be a good asset.
So too does Greg Smith, who added four wickets to his 66 runs and may bowl off spin tomorrow if conditions suit, especially bearing in mind how he did so well with it at Uxbridge near the end of the last campaign.
Of course, Rogers heroics shouldn't mask the fact that, Smith apart, the rest of the Derbyshire batting hasn't really fired in this game. On an early season track with substantial movement at times, run scoring can be difficult, but Derbyshire are very much in control of the game at the end of day three. We shouldn't lose from here, but whether we can force a win is another matter altogether.
In closing tonight I'm going to be the first person to make an observation about Chris Rogers, or Captain Fantastic as we should now be calling him. This season's fixtures see seven County Championship matches scheduled to be completed before the end of May - the most in a long time. Given that he currently has 299 runs in two innings, it is not being silly to suggest that Rogers has an outside chance of being only the seventh man in history to score a thousand runs by the end of May.
Tom Hayward did it in 1900, Bradman in 1930 and 1938, Bill Edrich in 1938, Glen Turner in 1973 and Graeme Hick in 1988. Could Rogers score another 700 runs in 12 innings? I don't know, given the vagaries of early season tracks, the thinking money would be against it.
Then again, in his current form I'd be interested in seeing the odds.
And that would be sure to make a stir back home in Australia.
Chris Rogers, the Derbyshire Bradman. Nice ring to it, eh?
Friday, 9 April 2010
Buck off to a flyer
On my way home tonight I wondered whether it was worth starting a petition to the local MP in Derby, to see if legislation can be introduced that allows all professional cricketers with the initials "CJLR" to ply their trade without question in the UK for the next ten years…
OK, it's a little facetious, but on the evidence of today Chris Rogers is going to make this a season to remember for Derbyshire fans, while making us all wonder how on earth we can replace him in 2011 if the current regulations stay as they are. Top batsmen prepared to commit to a summer in England are getting to be a rare species. Those who will do it AND play well on a regular basis are getting to be endangered…
Chris Rogers has been a great servant to Derbyshire cricket and today made Surrey regret dropping him in the forties by going on to the first century of the domestic season, all compiled in the style that we have come to know and love.
He received good early support from Paul Borrington, before Greg Smith helped to turn a slightly wobbly 134-3 to a more reassuring total of 204-3 at tea. I may have missed an announcement and may be making summat out of nowt, but in the official picture on the club website Don Amott is flanked by Chris Rogers and Greg Smith, suggesting that the latter may be the vice-captain elect. I know that he impressed in Barbados and he has a lot to offer and he might well prove to be an inspired choice.
There's a good report on the first day on Cricinfo at
http://www.cricinfo.com/countycricket2010/content/current/story/455379.html
It is a sound report by a good writer, though I would take exception to his comment that for us to challenge Rogers will need to score 1500 runs plus. Our batting is better than it showed today but I am glad we played the extra batsman. There appears to be more in the wicket than our score might suggest and Robin Peterson will have watched their two spinners bag a brace with interest. If we can push on to 400-450 tomorrow, it gives us something to bowl at. With Goddard, Wagg and Groenewald still to bat there is potential for more runs, while Rogers and Peterson will hope to add to their totals.
Apparently the commentators were moaning that Derbyshire didn't "have a go" in the last session. While the merit of scoring against a tiring attack is clear, two experienced cricketers decided they would stay to fight another day. We're not playing T20 here, and I would back the collective nous of Rogers and Peterson against the casual observer any day.
Highlights of Championship matches can now be seen via all the club web sites, so tune in to ours or theirs when you can.
As a postscript, only Derbyshire's excellent statistician David Baggett would know if any other Derbyshire batsman has been the first to score the initial ton of the Championship season. I think I would be safe to say that none have scored the first double century in the first fixture. If he got there, it would be Rogers' fourth for Derbyshire, a tally matched only by Kim Barnett and exceeded by Peter Kirsten.
That's something to keep an eye on tomorrow. I hope it goes as well as today.
OK, it's a little facetious, but on the evidence of today Chris Rogers is going to make this a season to remember for Derbyshire fans, while making us all wonder how on earth we can replace him in 2011 if the current regulations stay as they are. Top batsmen prepared to commit to a summer in England are getting to be a rare species. Those who will do it AND play well on a regular basis are getting to be endangered…
Chris Rogers has been a great servant to Derbyshire cricket and today made Surrey regret dropping him in the forties by going on to the first century of the domestic season, all compiled in the style that we have come to know and love.
He received good early support from Paul Borrington, before Greg Smith helped to turn a slightly wobbly 134-3 to a more reassuring total of 204-3 at tea. I may have missed an announcement and may be making summat out of nowt, but in the official picture on the club website Don Amott is flanked by Chris Rogers and Greg Smith, suggesting that the latter may be the vice-captain elect. I know that he impressed in Barbados and he has a lot to offer and he might well prove to be an inspired choice.
There's a good report on the first day on Cricinfo at
http://www.cricinfo.com/countycricket2010/content/current/story/455379.html
It is a sound report by a good writer, though I would take exception to his comment that for us to challenge Rogers will need to score 1500 runs plus. Our batting is better than it showed today but I am glad we played the extra batsman. There appears to be more in the wicket than our score might suggest and Robin Peterson will have watched their two spinners bag a brace with interest. If we can push on to 400-450 tomorrow, it gives us something to bowl at. With Goddard, Wagg and Groenewald still to bat there is potential for more runs, while Rogers and Peterson will hope to add to their totals.
Apparently the commentators were moaning that Derbyshire didn't "have a go" in the last session. While the merit of scoring against a tiring attack is clear, two experienced cricketers decided they would stay to fight another day. We're not playing T20 here, and I would back the collective nous of Rogers and Peterson against the casual observer any day.
Highlights of Championship matches can now be seen via all the club web sites, so tune in to ours or theirs when you can.
As a postscript, only Derbyshire's excellent statistician David Baggett would know if any other Derbyshire batsman has been the first to score the initial ton of the Championship season. I think I would be safe to say that none have scored the first double century in the first fixture. If he got there, it would be Rogers' fourth for Derbyshire, a tally matched only by Kim Barnett and exceeded by Peter Kirsten.
That's something to keep an eye on tomorrow. I hope it goes as well as today.
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Surrey v Derbyshire day 4
It would have been nice if this, my 500th post on the blog, could have been marked by a Derbyshire win.
However, we have to be content with the draw points and I'm pleased that we lasted out the afternoon fairly comfortably to keep very much in contention for promotion.
That we did so was pretty much due to another fine innings from South African Wayne Madsen, who reached a serene second century for the County in an innings that promised much for the future. I listened to the commentary from BBC London (good work guys, you know your stuff and were nicely impartial) and was impressed by the selfless way that Madsen played for the team rather than himself. Having reached 82 by the tea interval, he adopted a "they shall not pass" attitude afterwards and ensured that Derbyshire got through to the points. He now averages 70 after four first class matches and we're very lucky to have landed a young player with such obvious talent.
To be fair, Derbyshire were always unlikely to go for 349 once Chris Rogers had gone first ball, while the loss of Garry Park just before lunch meant someone would have to come up with something extraordinary for a win to be an option. Greg Smith did a good job in the afternoon, but Surrey produced some aggressive bowling and at tea I had reservations about our holding out.
Full marks to Madsen and to Freddie Klokker though. Freddie is a committed cricketer who is maybe just short of top class but is also someone who will battle for anything and everything. In some ways he was a better man for this situation than James Pipe, who might have found it hard to resist having a go at the bowlers as they were digging it in after tea.
At the end of the game, we sit in third place in Division Two, just behind Gloucestershire. Some will see this as an opportunity missed, but I'm quite happy with the result after the final day. Of course, we could really do with beating Leicestershire next and opening up some daylight in the division, but that's a topic for another day.
Well done lads. Good effort.
However, we have to be content with the draw points and I'm pleased that we lasted out the afternoon fairly comfortably to keep very much in contention for promotion.
That we did so was pretty much due to another fine innings from South African Wayne Madsen, who reached a serene second century for the County in an innings that promised much for the future. I listened to the commentary from BBC London (good work guys, you know your stuff and were nicely impartial) and was impressed by the selfless way that Madsen played for the team rather than himself. Having reached 82 by the tea interval, he adopted a "they shall not pass" attitude afterwards and ensured that Derbyshire got through to the points. He now averages 70 after four first class matches and we're very lucky to have landed a young player with such obvious talent.
To be fair, Derbyshire were always unlikely to go for 349 once Chris Rogers had gone first ball, while the loss of Garry Park just before lunch meant someone would have to come up with something extraordinary for a win to be an option. Greg Smith did a good job in the afternoon, but Surrey produced some aggressive bowling and at tea I had reservations about our holding out.
Full marks to Madsen and to Freddie Klokker though. Freddie is a committed cricketer who is maybe just short of top class but is also someone who will battle for anything and everything. In some ways he was a better man for this situation than James Pipe, who might have found it hard to resist having a go at the bowlers as they were digging it in after tea.
At the end of the game, we sit in third place in Division Two, just behind Gloucestershire. Some will see this as an opportunity missed, but I'm quite happy with the result after the final day. Of course, we could really do with beating Leicestershire next and opening up some daylight in the division, but that's a topic for another day.
Well done lads. Good effort.
Friday, 7 August 2009
Surrey v Derbyshire day 2
Sorry about the lateness of the blog tonight, but Mr and Mrs Peakfan have been married for 23 years today. We went for an intimate Chinese meal for...er... four (the kids came too) and had a nice time. Now, after a cracking feed and prawn crackers a-plenty it's time to reflect on the day's cricket.
As the old song goes, what a difference a day makes. Surrey 309-3 overnight, were all out for 362 with man of the moment Tim Groenewald returning his best figures for the County, a superb 6-50 in 24 overs that tell of his accuracy as well as penetration. Groenewald's recent emergence as a bowler of real quality highlights the effectiveness of John Morris' close season recruitment last year. He now has 21 first class wickets at 19 each, as well as averaging a very handy 24 with the bat. He was ably backed by that most willing of work horses, Graham Wagg, a little more expensive than normal but happy to bowl and bowl.
When we lost the early wicket of Wayne Madsen, then Garry Park went for 15, there were thoughts of a real battle, but Chris Rogers, aided by the promoted Greg Smith, took us serenely through to stumps with an unbroken partnership of 122. Rogers batted steadily at the start and I'm always happier to see him do that than go off like a train, when he can sometimes get out playing too loosely. Despite missing the first three Championship matches Rogers is now our top scorer for the season and averages just under 60. Having said that, Greg Smith is also having his best season and batted in the same vein as in the Pro 40 game earlier in the week. Smith could feasibly make his 1,000 runs this year and we really need both to kick on tomorrow, see off the opening bowlers and take us to a good lead.
There are, of course, two ways we could play this one. One is to declare at roughly the Surrey total and aim to win on a last day run chase, an option if the pitch is still good. The alternative is to aim to score maybe 550 tomorrow then get the hosts in again (and more importantly get Ramprakash out again). Whichever option is chosen will be dictated by the first seassion tomorrow, when a steady start could spark an afternoon run spree.
It is important that we do win this. Gloucestershire are well set in their game against Essex and should win tomorrow, while Kent lost to bottom side Middlesex, despite the last wicket heroics of Simon Cook and Amjad Khan. The division is wide open, but make no bones about it, Derbyshire are playing some REALLY good cricket at the moment, some of their best in a long time. When batsmen and bowlers both do their job, there's no limit to where it might take the side.
I don't know about you, but I'm enjoying every minute!
As the old song goes, what a difference a day makes. Surrey 309-3 overnight, were all out for 362 with man of the moment Tim Groenewald returning his best figures for the County, a superb 6-50 in 24 overs that tell of his accuracy as well as penetration. Groenewald's recent emergence as a bowler of real quality highlights the effectiveness of John Morris' close season recruitment last year. He now has 21 first class wickets at 19 each, as well as averaging a very handy 24 with the bat. He was ably backed by that most willing of work horses, Graham Wagg, a little more expensive than normal but happy to bowl and bowl.
When we lost the early wicket of Wayne Madsen, then Garry Park went for 15, there were thoughts of a real battle, but Chris Rogers, aided by the promoted Greg Smith, took us serenely through to stumps with an unbroken partnership of 122. Rogers batted steadily at the start and I'm always happier to see him do that than go off like a train, when he can sometimes get out playing too loosely. Despite missing the first three Championship matches Rogers is now our top scorer for the season and averages just under 60. Having said that, Greg Smith is also having his best season and batted in the same vein as in the Pro 40 game earlier in the week. Smith could feasibly make his 1,000 runs this year and we really need both to kick on tomorrow, see off the opening bowlers and take us to a good lead.
There are, of course, two ways we could play this one. One is to declare at roughly the Surrey total and aim to win on a last day run chase, an option if the pitch is still good. The alternative is to aim to score maybe 550 tomorrow then get the hosts in again (and more importantly get Ramprakash out again). Whichever option is chosen will be dictated by the first seassion tomorrow, when a steady start could spark an afternoon run spree.
It is important that we do win this. Gloucestershire are well set in their game against Essex and should win tomorrow, while Kent lost to bottom side Middlesex, despite the last wicket heroics of Simon Cook and Amjad Khan. The division is wide open, but make no bones about it, Derbyshire are playing some REALLY good cricket at the moment, some of their best in a long time. When batsmen and bowlers both do their job, there's no limit to where it might take the side.
I don't know about you, but I'm enjoying every minute!
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Surrey v Derbyshire, day 1
On the face of it, with Surrey 308-3 at the end of the first day, this has been a bad day for our boys.
Or was it? On what appears another fine batting track at Croydon's Whitgift School, our best chance of a win could well be in being set a total on the last afternoon that we can chase. It would be surprising if the wicket deteriorated markedly in the next few days and with short boundaries I think we did well to keep the score to manageable proportions.
We also got Ramprakash out for less than a hundred - congratulations to Tim Groenewald for that one - while Nantie Hayward bowled well and deserved his two wickets. We didn't help our cause by putting down three chances before lunch, but we're not needing snookers at this stage.
Graham Wagg had another erratic day, with his radar a little off and his bowling going for four an over, but we used eight bowlers today and that made the batsmen think. Even with ex Test bowlers Pedro Collins, Andre Nel and Chris Schofield in their attack, I wouldn't be unduly concerned at batting and we should, in turn, make a good fist of things.
Our cause was helped today by the news from Canterbury where Kent look like losing to Middlesex tomorrow. Chasing 335 to win, the hosts had slipped to 49-2 by the close and logic suggests that on a "sporting" track they should lose tomorrow. If we can win this one, we'll be right back on their tail with a lot to play for.
Surrey's day ended with the sad news that Mark Butcher has had to retire due to persistent knee problems. Butcher was a good servant to Surrey and England and few will forget his 173 against Australia at Headingley in 2001. He averaged 40 for Surrey through his career, the sign of a pretty good player.
I was pleased to see John Morris' comments after last night's win against Surrey in the Derby Telegraph this morning. He's absolutely right, we were strolling it at one point and there was no need for the big shots that got several players out. If they need further "encouragement", Morris should get Dean Jones along for a masterclass in one day batting. He's still the best worker of a cricket ball I've seen, a master of placing, timing and running. Six an over with Deano at the crease was a breeze - he'd have pushed three twos and taken no chances...
Finally tonight, a draw tonight for the Seconds against Leicestershire, with the precociously talented Chesney Hughes making 79. He's another young man that we will see much more of in coming years (at his height he's hard to miss!) and there is an encouraging array of young talent in the Second XI and the Academy.
Until tomorrow, and hopefully news of an encouraging Derbyshire reply to the Surrey total.
Or was it? On what appears another fine batting track at Croydon's Whitgift School, our best chance of a win could well be in being set a total on the last afternoon that we can chase. It would be surprising if the wicket deteriorated markedly in the next few days and with short boundaries I think we did well to keep the score to manageable proportions.
We also got Ramprakash out for less than a hundred - congratulations to Tim Groenewald for that one - while Nantie Hayward bowled well and deserved his two wickets. We didn't help our cause by putting down three chances before lunch, but we're not needing snookers at this stage.
Graham Wagg had another erratic day, with his radar a little off and his bowling going for four an over, but we used eight bowlers today and that made the batsmen think. Even with ex Test bowlers Pedro Collins, Andre Nel and Chris Schofield in their attack, I wouldn't be unduly concerned at batting and we should, in turn, make a good fist of things.
Our cause was helped today by the news from Canterbury where Kent look like losing to Middlesex tomorrow. Chasing 335 to win, the hosts had slipped to 49-2 by the close and logic suggests that on a "sporting" track they should lose tomorrow. If we can win this one, we'll be right back on their tail with a lot to play for.
Surrey's day ended with the sad news that Mark Butcher has had to retire due to persistent knee problems. Butcher was a good servant to Surrey and England and few will forget his 173 against Australia at Headingley in 2001. He averaged 40 for Surrey through his career, the sign of a pretty good player.
I was pleased to see John Morris' comments after last night's win against Surrey in the Derby Telegraph this morning. He's absolutely right, we were strolling it at one point and there was no need for the big shots that got several players out. If they need further "encouragement", Morris should get Dean Jones along for a masterclass in one day batting. He's still the best worker of a cricket ball I've seen, a master of placing, timing and running. Six an over with Deano at the crease was a breeze - he'd have pushed three twos and taken no chances...
Finally tonight, a draw tonight for the Seconds against Leicestershire, with the precociously talented Chesney Hughes making 79. He's another young man that we will see much more of in coming years (at his height he's hard to miss!) and there is an encouraging array of young talent in the Second XI and the Academy.
Until tomorrow, and hopefully news of an encouraging Derbyshire reply to the Surrey total.
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Surrey v Derbyshire
Pedro Collins and Andre Nel back. And some bloke called Ramprakash...
It will be a different side we face tomorrow, with Nel playing despite undergoing surgery next week for his elbow injury. I'd hoped that Ramps might have sciatica after his mammoth innings against Leicestershire, but it looks like we'll need to get him out twice to win this one, no mean feat.
The Surrey squad is:
Stewart Walters (captain)
Michael Brown
Jonathan Batty
Mark Ramprakash
Usman Afzaal
Chris Murtagh
Chris Jordan
Chris Schofield
Simon King
Andre Nel
Jade Dernbach
Tim Linley
Pedro Collins
With a short boundary and a good track this will be a high scoring game and we will need to be at our best to get a result.
No news about our side as yet, but I'd expect Messrs Wagg, Groenewald and Jones, all rested today, to return alongside Wayne Madsen. We may go with four seamers, with neither Jake Needham or Mark Lawson convincing as spinners of late. With Wagg, Smith, Redfern and Madsen all able to bowl spin, it is less of an issue. If they're all fit, I'd expect to see this side take the field tomorrow:
Chris Rogers
Wayne Madsen
Garry Park
Dan Redfern
Wavell Hinds
Greg Smith
Graham Wagg
Tom Poynton
Tim Groenewald
Steffan Jones
Nantie Hayward
On a different tack, did you see the Kent v Middlesex scores today? If that was Derby, we'd have been docked points already. Mind you, four of those dismissals were run outs, which suggests there was some poor running going on too. Guess there'll be a result now, just hope it goes to Middlesex which, as the man said who went to the library via the vegetable shop, would be a turnip for the books...
It will be a different side we face tomorrow, with Nel playing despite undergoing surgery next week for his elbow injury. I'd hoped that Ramps might have sciatica after his mammoth innings against Leicestershire, but it looks like we'll need to get him out twice to win this one, no mean feat.
The Surrey squad is:
Stewart Walters (captain)
Michael Brown
Jonathan Batty
Mark Ramprakash
Usman Afzaal
Chris Murtagh
Chris Jordan
Chris Schofield
Simon King
Andre Nel
Jade Dernbach
Tim Linley
Pedro Collins
With a short boundary and a good track this will be a high scoring game and we will need to be at our best to get a result.
No news about our side as yet, but I'd expect Messrs Wagg, Groenewald and Jones, all rested today, to return alongside Wayne Madsen. We may go with four seamers, with neither Jake Needham or Mark Lawson convincing as spinners of late. With Wagg, Smith, Redfern and Madsen all able to bowl spin, it is less of an issue. If they're all fit, I'd expect to see this side take the field tomorrow:
Chris Rogers
Wayne Madsen
Garry Park
Dan Redfern
Wavell Hinds
Greg Smith
Graham Wagg
Tom Poynton
Tim Groenewald
Steffan Jones
Nantie Hayward
On a different tack, did you see the Kent v Middlesex scores today? If that was Derby, we'd have been docked points already. Mind you, four of those dismissals were run outs, which suggests there was some poor running going on too. Guess there'll be a result now, just hope it goes to Middlesex which, as the man said who went to the library via the vegetable shop, would be a turnip for the books...
Surrey v Derbyshire Pro 40
Second in the Championship, now second in the Pro 40. We're flying so high we'll be getting nosebleeds next...
An amazing run chase today that set a new club record for a 40-over run chase. Irrespective of small boundaries and a weakened attack, seven an over for 40 overs takes some doing and great credit to all the players for a fine effort.
Cap'n Buck got us off to a flyer but got out before making a deserved 50, but Garry Park and Greg Smith batted so well that it didn't really matter. It was a great effort by two young players and Smith in particular was in sparkling form, making his 77 from just 52 balls.
Wavell Hinds appeared to go to a debatable catch that some thought was a bump ball and the wheels came off a little. I was concerned when I saw the team that we were light on batting and the sight of Tom Lungley coming in at seven did little to assuage my fears.
Yet it was young wicket keeper Tom Poynton who came in to play a very composed foil to John Sadler, the last of the recognised batsmen. Poynton scored two fours in the penultimate over to make the final over a three from six balls scenario, quickly settled by Sads sweeping a six from the first ball to seal the win. Anyone who has batted at the death in a close game will tell you that the temptation to simply slog is strong, but Poynton did very well for a young lad and can be proud of his contribution.
I'm really pleased for Sadler tonight. He's a good professional, has scored heavily in club and Second XI and done all he could have done to get into the side. When he got his chance today he paced it to perfection and sealed a run chase that was very impressive.
Earlier our bowlers took a pasting, with the honourable exception of Nantie Hayward who bowled a great 8 over spell for just 34. Dan Redfern bowled steadily at the death, as did Garry Park, but Tom Lungley and Ian Hunter took serious stick today.
So to the Championship tomorrow. More in the next article on that one, but for now - well done lads!
An amazing run chase today that set a new club record for a 40-over run chase. Irrespective of small boundaries and a weakened attack, seven an over for 40 overs takes some doing and great credit to all the players for a fine effort.
Cap'n Buck got us off to a flyer but got out before making a deserved 50, but Garry Park and Greg Smith batted so well that it didn't really matter. It was a great effort by two young players and Smith in particular was in sparkling form, making his 77 from just 52 balls.
Wavell Hinds appeared to go to a debatable catch that some thought was a bump ball and the wheels came off a little. I was concerned when I saw the team that we were light on batting and the sight of Tom Lungley coming in at seven did little to assuage my fears.
Yet it was young wicket keeper Tom Poynton who came in to play a very composed foil to John Sadler, the last of the recognised batsmen. Poynton scored two fours in the penultimate over to make the final over a three from six balls scenario, quickly settled by Sads sweeping a six from the first ball to seal the win. Anyone who has batted at the death in a close game will tell you that the temptation to simply slog is strong, but Poynton did very well for a young lad and can be proud of his contribution.
I'm really pleased for Sadler tonight. He's a good professional, has scored heavily in club and Second XI and done all he could have done to get into the side. When he got his chance today he paced it to perfection and sealed a run chase that was very impressive.
Earlier our bowlers took a pasting, with the honourable exception of Nantie Hayward who bowled a great 8 over spell for just 34. Dan Redfern bowled steadily at the death, as did Garry Park, but Tom Lungley and Ian Hunter took serious stick today.
So to the Championship tomorrow. More in the next article on that one, but for now - well done lads!
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Surrey v Derbyshire - Pro 40
Let's not forget we're unbeaten in this one too...
OK, two rain-offs helped, but it would be good to get on the pitch and keep the record going tomorrow.
John Morris has named the following 12:
Chris Rogers
Garry Park
Greg Smith
Wavell Hinds
Dan Redfern
John Sadler
Tom Poynton
Tom Lungley
Jake Needham
Ian Hunter
Nantie Hayward
Tim Groenewald
I suspect the top 11 will play and Groenewald will be saved for the Championship game the next day after bowling well at Canterbury. He's now top of the averages with 15 wickets at 23, so has earned a rest. The tail looks long with Poynton at 7, but he needs experience and won't get it in the pavilion. I thought we might have had Park as keeper, a role he filled at Durham, but Poynton got the nod.
The Surrey squad is also a young one and reads:
Stewart Walters (captain)
Michael Brown
Chris Murtagh
Usman Afzaal
Chris Schofield
Matthew Spriegel
Chris Jordan
Gary Wilson
Jade Dernbach
Tim Linley
Stuart Meaker
Laurie Evans
With no Ramprakash in this competition and Nel injured in a freak accident, they don't look especially dangerous but opportunities are there for players to make a name for themselves. Walters has been scoring runs lately, while Afzaal is a fine player. We still have to beat them and although the competition is the poor relation at present, a return to winning ways is essential for Derbyshire to get back into the groove for the Championship game starting on Thursday.
OK, two rain-offs helped, but it would be good to get on the pitch and keep the record going tomorrow.
John Morris has named the following 12:
Chris Rogers
Garry Park
Greg Smith
Wavell Hinds
Dan Redfern
John Sadler
Tom Poynton
Tom Lungley
Jake Needham
Ian Hunter
Nantie Hayward
Tim Groenewald
I suspect the top 11 will play and Groenewald will be saved for the Championship game the next day after bowling well at Canterbury. He's now top of the averages with 15 wickets at 23, so has earned a rest. The tail looks long with Poynton at 7, but he needs experience and won't get it in the pavilion. I thought we might have had Park as keeper, a role he filled at Durham, but Poynton got the nod.
The Surrey squad is also a young one and reads:
Stewart Walters (captain)
Michael Brown
Chris Murtagh
Usman Afzaal
Chris Schofield
Matthew Spriegel
Chris Jordan
Gary Wilson
Jade Dernbach
Tim Linley
Stuart Meaker
Laurie Evans
With no Ramprakash in this competition and Nel injured in a freak accident, they don't look especially dangerous but opportunities are there for players to make a name for themselves. Walters has been scoring runs lately, while Afzaal is a fine player. We still have to beat them and although the competition is the poor relation at present, a return to winning ways is essential for Derbyshire to get back into the groove for the Championship game starting on Thursday.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Done and dusted - Derbyshire v Surrey day 4
A nice and steady five wicket win before lunch for Derbyshire today, ultimately by five wickets with two sessions to play.
They lost three wickets in doing so, but apart from Chris Schofield getting a little turn from a dry track there were few alarms along the way. Steve Stubbings marathon knock ensured they got near the finishing line and then another composed knock from Greg Smith took them across it after a flurry of boundaries. The latter would be my choice of man of the match, in the face of a lot of opposition. You really can't argue with 94 not out and 27 not out, together with 3-18 and 1-35.
It was a fine effort and after two games the table makes nice reading - Derbyshire top!
There's a long way to go and a lot of cricket to play, but hey, we're top and in the words of the late, great James Brown...
I feel good.
They lost three wickets in doing so, but apart from Chris Schofield getting a little turn from a dry track there were few alarms along the way. Steve Stubbings marathon knock ensured they got near the finishing line and then another composed knock from Greg Smith took them across it after a flurry of boundaries. The latter would be my choice of man of the match, in the face of a lot of opposition. You really can't argue with 94 not out and 27 not out, together with 3-18 and 1-35.
It was a fine effort and after two games the table makes nice reading - Derbyshire top!
There's a long way to go and a lot of cricket to play, but hey, we're top and in the words of the late, great James Brown...
I feel good.
Friday, 24 April 2009
Derbyshire v Surrey day 3
All things being equal - and mainly as long as the weather stays fair tomorrow - Derbyshire should complete an emphatic win over Surrey sometime tomorrow morning.
That they should do so is down to a thoroughly professional performance in which most of the side have played their part. Heading the roll of honour on day three is undoubtedly Garry Park (pictured), who showed what a discerning bunch of people visit this blog by returning an excellent all round performance. A maiden 50 for the county followed on from Park's first three wickets for us. Amazingly, before today he had taken only two first class wickets at 166 runs each, yet today's 3-25 has brought his bowling average dropping faster than the exchange rate.
It is also encouraging that he has tempered his natural game and dropped anchor as an opener with Steve Stubbings. Realistically he should drop down to three when Chris Rogers arrives and take the place of Stuart Law. The Australian's returns have been modest since he joined the county but he seems to make a major contribution in the field, as you might expect from a man of his experience. He said at the start of the season that it was not just about his runs but what he can impart to other players. On the basis of the first couple of games he must be having an influence on things, although credit is also due to John Morris and Andrew Brown for their winter work with the squad. I did hear a report today that suggested that Law may have suffered a broken finger in today's action, although that has yet to be confirmed, at least on the club web site. If so, it would be a blow to the county in the continued absence of Chris Rogers. Should Law have to miss Sunday's game against Glamorgan, Dom Telo, Dan Birch and John Sadler will battle to replace him.
Ian Hunter continued his excellent early season form with more wickets today and Greg Smith picked up another wicket. Jon Clare did well in picking up the crucial wicket of Usman Afzaal who was going like a train early on, while Graham Wagg, although less spectacular than in the first innings, picked up another to complete a fine match after his valuable innings. Check out the Surrey TV coverage for the slow, floating ball with which Clare completely flummoxed Afzaal. Great stuff!
So 218 to win and, be honest, apart from Chris Rogers who in this side would you want to bat for your life? The scene was set for Stubbo and with Garry Park he gave us a crucial start. Losing early wickets chasing a modest total can set alarm bells ringing, but despite losing both Park and Law before the close, Derbyshire are well set at 145-2, needing just 73 tomorrow to seal an impressive win. There's not even been a need for Wavell and Dan to turn their arms over...
Those fans of sufficient vintage (like me) will have seen enough collapses over the years to take nothing for granted, but there is a growing feeling that John Morris is assembling a good side here. They're not world-beaters, there'll be some losses before the year is out and there's further improvement necessary, but I'm feeling quite enthused by Derbyshire cricket at the moment.
Mention should also be made of the work being done with the bowlers by Phil de Freitas. On the club site the other night Graham Wagg paid tribute to the work he has done with him. On the basis of the bowling in these first games, Daffy could be a major factor for the county in his consultancy capacity.
Let's finish it tomorrow lads - well done!
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Derbyshire v Surrey day 2
What a difference a day makes.
After yesterday's fun and frolics when there was almost a committee meeting to debate installing a revolving door on the pavilion to speed up the incoming batsmen, today was almost wholly in the batsman's favour.
Maybe the pivotal moment of an absorbing game was the wicket taken by Garry Park, his first for the county, when he removed Surrey centurion Scott Newman with one that he edged through to James Pipe.
Up until that point I had visions of men around the county wondering how they were going to excuse themselves from that promised shopping trip on Saturday, safe in the knowledge that the game would be finished by then.
Last night I hoped we would edge to 200. To exceed 250 was astonishing and full marks to Greg Smith, Graham Wagg and Ian Hunter for their efforts in ensuring we got a big lead.
Hunter in particular showed nigh unprecedented levels of talent with the bat as he almost reached his first 50 for the county. He matched Smith stroke for stroke, yet as they found batting increasingly easy there was a feeling that the visitors could do likewise.
So it proved, with Scott Newman, who looked a future Test player when he burst on the scene a few years back, batting sedately until he was settled then unleashing a range of strokes to accelerate towards his century.
70 runs on then with two days to go. Who knows what will happen from here? Tomorrow we need to remove danger man Afzaal early then dig out Batty and the tail. Schofield is another to show adhesive qualities and at this stage I would guess we will be chasing 200-250 in the final innings. With a little cloud cover it could be less, but the wicket seems to be getting easier all the time and Surrey's spinners are not exactly Laker and Lock...
I still think we can and should win this game, but much will revolve around the fitness of Graham Wagg and Andre Nel for their respective sides. Both have spent time off the field in this game and their bowling over the next couple of days could be a factor in deciding the winner of this contest. With Saturday's forecast less favourable, Derbyshire will hope for early inroads tomorrow. The second new ball is not too far away either and we could yet be celebrating at the end of this game.
Finally, a word of recognition for Greg Smith. In these first two matches he has produced innings that hinted of a more controlled and composed batsman. He has always had talent and perhaps this is the year that this bursts into full flower. With his steady seam as another string to his bow and brilliant fielding thrown in, maybe Smith could be as valid a contender for England recognition in the future as Graham Wagg.
Big effort tomorrow lads. Let's do it!
After yesterday's fun and frolics when there was almost a committee meeting to debate installing a revolving door on the pavilion to speed up the incoming batsmen, today was almost wholly in the batsman's favour.
Maybe the pivotal moment of an absorbing game was the wicket taken by Garry Park, his first for the county, when he removed Surrey centurion Scott Newman with one that he edged through to James Pipe.
Up until that point I had visions of men around the county wondering how they were going to excuse themselves from that promised shopping trip on Saturday, safe in the knowledge that the game would be finished by then.
Last night I hoped we would edge to 200. To exceed 250 was astonishing and full marks to Greg Smith, Graham Wagg and Ian Hunter for their efforts in ensuring we got a big lead.
Hunter in particular showed nigh unprecedented levels of talent with the bat as he almost reached his first 50 for the county. He matched Smith stroke for stroke, yet as they found batting increasingly easy there was a feeling that the visitors could do likewise.
So it proved, with Scott Newman, who looked a future Test player when he burst on the scene a few years back, batting sedately until he was settled then unleashing a range of strokes to accelerate towards his century.
70 runs on then with two days to go. Who knows what will happen from here? Tomorrow we need to remove danger man Afzaal early then dig out Batty and the tail. Schofield is another to show adhesive qualities and at this stage I would guess we will be chasing 200-250 in the final innings. With a little cloud cover it could be less, but the wicket seems to be getting easier all the time and Surrey's spinners are not exactly Laker and Lock...
I still think we can and should win this game, but much will revolve around the fitness of Graham Wagg and Andre Nel for their respective sides. Both have spent time off the field in this game and their bowling over the next couple of days could be a factor in deciding the winner of this contest. With Saturday's forecast less favourable, Derbyshire will hope for early inroads tomorrow. The second new ball is not too far away either and we could yet be celebrating at the end of this game.
Finally, a word of recognition for Greg Smith. In these first two matches he has produced innings that hinted of a more controlled and composed batsman. He has always had talent and perhaps this is the year that this bursts into full flower. With his steady seam as another string to his bow and brilliant fielding thrown in, maybe Smith could be as valid a contender for England recognition in the future as Graham Wagg.
Big effort tomorrow lads. Let's do it!
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Bring me sunshine - Derbyshire v Surrey day 1
Hands up all those who thought, at 88-7 chasing Surrey's 131, that Derbyshire would end the day with an already priceless lead of 21 runs with those same three wickets intact?
Well I didn't, and that Derbyshire have grabbed an albeit slender initiative in this game is down to our very own double act to rival Eric and Ernie, namely Waggy and Smudge.
Between them they took 9 wickets in the Surrey innings, then followed it with a partnership of 64 that could be of huge significance, especially if they could extend it tomorrow morning and take Derbyshire close to the 200 mark.
I understand that pitch inspector Jack Birkenshaw, formerly of Leicestershire and Yorkshire, was in attendance for part of the day but it appears that the reason for the fall of wickets was the extravagant movement that all the bowlers were able to get with the ball. Division 2 bowlers are using a different type of ball this season in a trial (see the Telegraph link to the left for Ian Hunter's comments on it) and it would appear that the batsmen's dominance of recent seasons may be getting challenged. Compare our game with that going on between Essex and Gloucestershire and you'll see what I mean.
The down side is, of course, that games are unlikely to last the course and anyone hoping to catch the denouement of this game on their day off on Saturday may as well offer their loved one a shopping trip instead and build up brownie points for Sunday. Unless the conditions change, the thinking money is on this being all over before tea on Friday, possibly even earlier.
Last night I wrote that Surrey's top order looked fragile and they were blown apart by Graham Wagg. Nice con trick by Coach Morris in suggesting he was unlikely to play and one in the eye for the England selectors who omitted him from the Lions side to play the West Indies at Derby. What a chance they missed to have a local hero involved and boost the crowd, although Wagg's hip cannot be fully back to par and he left the field mid-afternoon.
Greg Smith added to the bowlers celebrating career bests with 3-18 and the early signs are good that he is coming to terms with the demands of county cricket as an all rounder, following on from a good game at Chelmsford. He's always been able to swing the ball and it could be an idea to let him open with Wagg in the second innings.
Derbyshire's innings also struggled and they were three down in no time, although Andre Nel's departure with an injury helped. Pedro Collins had his radar locked on and bowled well, but Redfern and Hinds clawed Derbyshire back into the game before a flurry of wickets left us chasing the game.
That late stand that came close to doubling the score (and how valuable would it be if it did tomorrow) and did so in a way that was encouraging and refreshing. If we could somehow get a lead of 50 tomorrow, then bowl well the second time around, we'll have a shout of our first win of the season.
Well I didn't, and that Derbyshire have grabbed an albeit slender initiative in this game is down to our very own double act to rival Eric and Ernie, namely Waggy and Smudge.
Between them they took 9 wickets in the Surrey innings, then followed it with a partnership of 64 that could be of huge significance, especially if they could extend it tomorrow morning and take Derbyshire close to the 200 mark.
I understand that pitch inspector Jack Birkenshaw, formerly of Leicestershire and Yorkshire, was in attendance for part of the day but it appears that the reason for the fall of wickets was the extravagant movement that all the bowlers were able to get with the ball. Division 2 bowlers are using a different type of ball this season in a trial (see the Telegraph link to the left for Ian Hunter's comments on it) and it would appear that the batsmen's dominance of recent seasons may be getting challenged. Compare our game with that going on between Essex and Gloucestershire and you'll see what I mean.
The down side is, of course, that games are unlikely to last the course and anyone hoping to catch the denouement of this game on their day off on Saturday may as well offer their loved one a shopping trip instead and build up brownie points for Sunday. Unless the conditions change, the thinking money is on this being all over before tea on Friday, possibly even earlier.
Last night I wrote that Surrey's top order looked fragile and they were blown apart by Graham Wagg. Nice con trick by Coach Morris in suggesting he was unlikely to play and one in the eye for the England selectors who omitted him from the Lions side to play the West Indies at Derby. What a chance they missed to have a local hero involved and boost the crowd, although Wagg's hip cannot be fully back to par and he left the field mid-afternoon.
Greg Smith added to the bowlers celebrating career bests with 3-18 and the early signs are good that he is coming to terms with the demands of county cricket as an all rounder, following on from a good game at Chelmsford. He's always been able to swing the ball and it could be an idea to let him open with Wagg in the second innings.
Derbyshire's innings also struggled and they were three down in no time, although Andre Nel's departure with an injury helped. Pedro Collins had his radar locked on and bowled well, but Redfern and Hinds clawed Derbyshire back into the game before a flurry of wickets left us chasing the game.
That late stand that came close to doubling the score (and how valuable would it be if it did tomorrow) and did so in a way that was encouraging and refreshing. If we could somehow get a lead of 50 tomorrow, then bowl well the second time around, we'll have a shout of our first win of the season.
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Derbyshire v Surrey Preview
If the sun hasn't got his head gear on yet, he must surely have it in a nice safe place for tomorrow.
Yep, County cricket, the game of the Gods, returns to the County Ground tomorrow and Derbyshire can kick start their season with a first win in this game, even without skipper Chris Rogers or star seamer Charl Langeveldt.
The frustrating thing is that Charl is sat in his native South Africa and cannot get a game for Kolkata Knightriders, who should surely feature David Hasselhoff in their star studded line-up...
The fact is that young Aussie Moises Henriques, an all rounder of potential is getting a place in place of Langeveldt. The fact is he's not yet strong enough in either discipline to displace Charl in my humble opinion and his four overs for 32 today were not in the same ballpark as the South African.
Nevertheless they won, but when your first three are Brendan McCullum, Chris Gayle and Brad Hodge, with Ganguly to follow you'd fancy your chances. Gayle is a much improved player in the last couple of years and has married a little more common sense to his extravagant stroke play.
Back to Derbyshire and we're also likely to be without Graham Wagg, despite his presence in the squad. They'll presumably make a late decision on his fitness, but its a big gamble to go into a four day game with one of your seamers nursing a hip injury.
The Derbyshire squad is:
Steve Stubbings
Garry Park
Stuart Law
Dan Redfern
Wavell Hinds
Greg Smith
James Pipe (captain)
Graham Wagg
Jonathan Clare
Tom Lungley
Jake Needham
Ian Hunter
Mark Lawson
John Morris said that the pitch was dry this morning which would suggest increasing turn as the game goes on. Assuming Wavell Hinds is fit and Wagg isn't, the coach has to choose between Jake Needham and Mark Lawson for the spinning berth. Alternatively he may opt to play both, which could leave Tom Lungley the odd man out after expensive spells at Chelmsford. This would still leave us with Hunter, Clare, Smith and Park to bowl seam with Wavell available if his calf strain is up to it. With Redfern and Smith's off spin in reserve we still have bowling options and that's without Stuart Law, a man with almost 200 career wickets, turning his arm over...
Surrey have big name absentees with Mark Ramprakash banned and Mark Butcher injured. The game sees Chris Adams return to the County Ground in charge of this squad:
Michael Brown (captain)
Laurie Evans
Scott Newman
Matthew Spriegel
Usman Afzaal
Jonathan Batty
James Benning
Chris Jordan
Chris Schofield
Andre Nel
Pedro Collins
Jade Dernbach
Alex Tudor
There's inexperience at the top of the order, although Newman is a fair player and Afzaal is capable of good scores. John Morris tried to bring him to Derbyshire and I hope that after this game he realises he made the wrong decision in going down south. Batty is also a steady batsman and Jordan an all-rounder of promise, but I think Derbyshire are capable of beating them if the weather stays fine.
While Andre Nel is another of the game's great competitors and West Indian Pedro Collins can bowl a good spell, the visitors attack doesn't fill me with fear. Dernbach gets wickets but bowls his share of bad balls and Tudor must be on the last leg of a long and largely unfulfilled County career.
While such comments could come back to haunt me, I'm confident that a revitalised Derbyshire can win this game and cement a confident start to the 2009 season.
Let's do it boys!
Yep, County cricket, the game of the Gods, returns to the County Ground tomorrow and Derbyshire can kick start their season with a first win in this game, even without skipper Chris Rogers or star seamer Charl Langeveldt.
The frustrating thing is that Charl is sat in his native South Africa and cannot get a game for Kolkata Knightriders, who should surely feature David Hasselhoff in their star studded line-up...
The fact is that young Aussie Moises Henriques, an all rounder of potential is getting a place in place of Langeveldt. The fact is he's not yet strong enough in either discipline to displace Charl in my humble opinion and his four overs for 32 today were not in the same ballpark as the South African.
Nevertheless they won, but when your first three are Brendan McCullum, Chris Gayle and Brad Hodge, with Ganguly to follow you'd fancy your chances. Gayle is a much improved player in the last couple of years and has married a little more common sense to his extravagant stroke play.
Back to Derbyshire and we're also likely to be without Graham Wagg, despite his presence in the squad. They'll presumably make a late decision on his fitness, but its a big gamble to go into a four day game with one of your seamers nursing a hip injury.
The Derbyshire squad is:
Steve Stubbings
Garry Park
Stuart Law
Dan Redfern
Wavell Hinds
Greg Smith
James Pipe (captain)
Graham Wagg
Jonathan Clare
Tom Lungley
Jake Needham
Ian Hunter
Mark Lawson
John Morris said that the pitch was dry this morning which would suggest increasing turn as the game goes on. Assuming Wavell Hinds is fit and Wagg isn't, the coach has to choose between Jake Needham and Mark Lawson for the spinning berth. Alternatively he may opt to play both, which could leave Tom Lungley the odd man out after expensive spells at Chelmsford. This would still leave us with Hunter, Clare, Smith and Park to bowl seam with Wavell available if his calf strain is up to it. With Redfern and Smith's off spin in reserve we still have bowling options and that's without Stuart Law, a man with almost 200 career wickets, turning his arm over...
Surrey have big name absentees with Mark Ramprakash banned and Mark Butcher injured. The game sees Chris Adams return to the County Ground in charge of this squad:
Michael Brown (captain)
Laurie Evans
Scott Newman
Matthew Spriegel
Usman Afzaal
Jonathan Batty
James Benning
Chris Jordan
Chris Schofield
Andre Nel
Pedro Collins
Jade Dernbach
Alex Tudor
There's inexperience at the top of the order, although Newman is a fair player and Afzaal is capable of good scores. John Morris tried to bring him to Derbyshire and I hope that after this game he realises he made the wrong decision in going down south. Batty is also a steady batsman and Jordan an all-rounder of promise, but I think Derbyshire are capable of beating them if the weather stays fine.
While Andre Nel is another of the game's great competitors and West Indian Pedro Collins can bowl a good spell, the visitors attack doesn't fill me with fear. Dernbach gets wickets but bowls his share of bad balls and Tudor must be on the last leg of a long and largely unfulfilled County career.
While such comments could come back to haunt me, I'm confident that a revitalised Derbyshire can win this game and cement a confident start to the 2009 season.
Let's do it boys!
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