Nayan Doshi has also now been released from the remainder of his contract.
The genial slow left armer has presumably been unimpressed by the departure of his good friend Rikki Clarke and decided that there is greener grass to be had on the other side of the fence. Who knows, destination Edgbaston anyone?
I'm unsure about this one. No one could say that he had been a roaring success this season, although there was his hat trick in the 20/20. He generally bowled with good control but rarely looked like running through sides. Indeed, most of his wickets came when the opposition were "having a go" and eight wickets at 80 runs each in the Championship wasn't the most persuasive argument for retention. He was a nice bloke though and I enjoyed conversations with him this season when he said that he was "loving it" here. Hmmm...
Only in the 20/20 did he perform close to the extended standard but I look around the circuit and wonder who we might sign to replace him. There are precious few slow left armers of any quality around and spinners as a whole are in short supply. The best in the country are Panesar, Croft, Keedy, Udal, Swann, Batty and Rashid and I'm stretching the word "quality" there.
Given that we have Greg Smith and Dan Redfern who can bowl reasonable off spin, plus Jake Needham who has improved this season and has looked penetrative at times, maybe we stick with what we have. Now Graham Wagg is bowling some spin (and took three wickets in the current game with it) perhaps we don't need to look elsewhere. I don't see Danny Vettori becoming a naturalised Englishman and living in derby sometime soon, so maybe we look to pump up that seam attack this winter.
The only possibility would be released Yorkshire leggie Mark Lawson, who has looked a talent on occasion but has been overshadowed by the better all round ability of Adil Rashid. He is at a similar stage of development to Jake Needham, however, so would be far from the finished article.
Life is never dull round these parts, is it?
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Derbyshire v Glamorgan day two
If we are to win this game we'll require a second innings run chase.
Hopefully the Welsh boyos are more amenable to setting a target than the Bears were last week. With Robert Croft leading them to near the 350 mark and then rain eating into the day, there is little that Derbyshire can do than beat the follow on tomorrow and then perhaps declare at 250, maybe 300.
There is every likelihood that there will be more interruptions over the next two days, which will put more pressure on beating Gloucestershire and Leicestershire. Both are results we could achieve, especially now the former have lost Marcus North to Australian training, but we need luck with the weather and don't look like even having three days in which to do it here.
A few words about a couple of players. First Dan Birch, who seems much more composed at the crease these days and who I hope is offered another deal as he is gradually coming to terms with County cricket. Second for Graham "Sobers" Wagg. As a dangerous batsman, clever left arm seamer and brilliant fielder he is a huge asset to the side. Now that he has added slow left arm to his talents he is pretty much indispensable.
Just need to perfect those Chinamen over the winter Waggy!
Hopefully the Welsh boyos are more amenable to setting a target than the Bears were last week. With Robert Croft leading them to near the 350 mark and then rain eating into the day, there is little that Derbyshire can do than beat the follow on tomorrow and then perhaps declare at 250, maybe 300.
There is every likelihood that there will be more interruptions over the next two days, which will put more pressure on beating Gloucestershire and Leicestershire. Both are results we could achieve, especially now the former have lost Marcus North to Australian training, but we need luck with the weather and don't look like even having three days in which to do it here.
A few words about a couple of players. First Dan Birch, who seems much more composed at the crease these days and who I hope is offered another deal as he is gradually coming to terms with County cricket. Second for Graham "Sobers" Wagg. As a dangerous batsman, clever left arm seamer and brilliant fielder he is a huge asset to the side. Now that he has added slow left arm to his talents he is pretty much indispensable.
Just need to perfect those Chinamen over the winter Waggy!
Clarke: the aftermath
Sometime tonight, maybe tomorrow this blog will achieve its 12,000th hit of the season.
Amazing, and about eleven and a half thousand more than Rikki Clarke managed this year...
I'm sorry, I'm feeling unusually caustic this evening and the reason is our erstwhile skipper's parting comment that this had been "a year wasted".
Really? You should try it from our side Rikki. If you'd batted like Boycott, bowled like Langeveldt and still caught everything while captaining the side with the mental alacrity of a Brearley and we'd still been hammered every week I could understand that comment. Put another way, it was quite frankly a waste of money, thats what this year was.
A waste of money by the club, who paid a lot to secure your services and deserved better. A waste of money by the members who have witnessed a man who patently couldn't care less since July and for those who have followed the team around the country and deserved a little more respect over the past few months. All of them are worthy of much more than "it was a year wasted".
I don't deny that in any falling out there are usually faults on both sides. The usual solution is that people sit down and thrash them out, they don't run away into the sunset with their pockets full of swag. As I said last night, Clarke was never going to have fans on his side, as Botham did at Somerset, as Boycott did at Yorkshire as Cork and Barnett did here. The majority of fans are still very much on John Morris' side and can see the progress made on and off the field, even if at times it is not translated to results. Both he and Don Amott have maintained a level of dignity thus far that Clarke could only aspire to, saying only that they won't keep a player who doesn't want to be here.
Which is absolutely right. The bottom line is that if Clarke did as badly next year and results are no better, then people will start to question the coach. I firmly believe that with Morris, Hendrick and Krikken we have a dream team, with Messrs Amott and Sears doing excellent work off the field.
If Rikki Clarke had performed remotely up to his supposed standard we would have done much better this season. For 90% of the time we carried him and I am afraid that with his crass and disrespectful parting comments he has alienated the few people left who felt any degree of sympathy for him.
It is amusing to see he still harbours England ambitions. For what its worth Rikki, so do I, but there'd have to be about 750,000 cricketers in this country unavailable before I get the call. As I posted on the Derby Telegraph site this afternoon, Clarke wasn't in the top three all rounders at Derbyshire. Graham Wagg, Greg Smith and Jon Clare are all much better players and all are model professionals.
I am really, bitterly disappointed by the comments made. In years ahead, I hope he comes to regret them and if his time at Warwickshire doesn't work out, maybe he needs to face the fact that he isn't anywhere near the player that he thinks he is.
Amazing, and about eleven and a half thousand more than Rikki Clarke managed this year...
I'm sorry, I'm feeling unusually caustic this evening and the reason is our erstwhile skipper's parting comment that this had been "a year wasted".
Really? You should try it from our side Rikki. If you'd batted like Boycott, bowled like Langeveldt and still caught everything while captaining the side with the mental alacrity of a Brearley and we'd still been hammered every week I could understand that comment. Put another way, it was quite frankly a waste of money, thats what this year was.
A waste of money by the club, who paid a lot to secure your services and deserved better. A waste of money by the members who have witnessed a man who patently couldn't care less since July and for those who have followed the team around the country and deserved a little more respect over the past few months. All of them are worthy of much more than "it was a year wasted".
I don't deny that in any falling out there are usually faults on both sides. The usual solution is that people sit down and thrash them out, they don't run away into the sunset with their pockets full of swag. As I said last night, Clarke was never going to have fans on his side, as Botham did at Somerset, as Boycott did at Yorkshire as Cork and Barnett did here. The majority of fans are still very much on John Morris' side and can see the progress made on and off the field, even if at times it is not translated to results. Both he and Don Amott have maintained a level of dignity thus far that Clarke could only aspire to, saying only that they won't keep a player who doesn't want to be here.
Which is absolutely right. The bottom line is that if Clarke did as badly next year and results are no better, then people will start to question the coach. I firmly believe that with Morris, Hendrick and Krikken we have a dream team, with Messrs Amott and Sears doing excellent work off the field.
If Rikki Clarke had performed remotely up to his supposed standard we would have done much better this season. For 90% of the time we carried him and I am afraid that with his crass and disrespectful parting comments he has alienated the few people left who felt any degree of sympathy for him.
It is amusing to see he still harbours England ambitions. For what its worth Rikki, so do I, but there'd have to be about 750,000 cricketers in this country unavailable before I get the call. As I posted on the Derby Telegraph site this afternoon, Clarke wasn't in the top three all rounders at Derbyshire. Graham Wagg, Greg Smith and Jon Clare are all much better players and all are model professionals.
I am really, bitterly disappointed by the comments made. In years ahead, I hope he comes to regret them and if his time at Warwickshire doesn't work out, maybe he needs to face the fact that he isn't anywhere near the player that he thinks he is.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Wavell verdict
By a 2/3 majority, the Derbyshire fans have voted that Wavell Hinds deserves another year - always assuming the powers that be don't change the rules on Kolpaks of course.
Wavell hasn't pulled up any trees with his batting this season, but with an average of just under 30, coupled with handy wickets at 25 he has justifiable claim to be considered an all rounder. To be brutally honest, a recently departed captain would have loved those figures...
Whether one should expect more from an overseas player is a moot point, but there's worse players than Wavell out there, and unless his salary would be the difference between getting and not getting a top player, my inclination would be to keep him. I actually feel we may see more of his batting another year now that he has acclimatised. Having ceased playing for Jamaica, a rest then some slog and run in India will set him up nicely for another year and I'd be happy to see him back.
Why not vote in this week's poll? Who should be the Derbyshire skipper next season? Some interesting choices for you!
Wavell hasn't pulled up any trees with his batting this season, but with an average of just under 30, coupled with handy wickets at 25 he has justifiable claim to be considered an all rounder. To be brutally honest, a recently departed captain would have loved those figures...
Whether one should expect more from an overseas player is a moot point, but there's worse players than Wavell out there, and unless his salary would be the difference between getting and not getting a top player, my inclination would be to keep him. I actually feel we may see more of his batting another year now that he has acclimatised. Having ceased playing for Jamaica, a rest then some slog and run in India will set him up nicely for another year and I'd be happy to see him back.
Why not vote in this week's poll? Who should be the Derbyshire skipper next season? Some interesting choices for you!
Derbyshire v Glamorgan day 1
Gareth Rees must dream of playing us.
In six innings against us the youngster has three centuries and two fifties. If we could hypnotise the lad and tell him that they were Derbyshire, he'd be a cert for the Ashes side next summer and would put the Aussies to the sword!
He had his luck today but everyone needs that and I'd reckon at 257-8 the game is fairly even. If we can roll them over for 275 tomorrow then make 400-450 we will be in the box seat, but the captain needs more support than he got at Edgbaston. With Robert Croft still there they'll entertain hopes of getting above 300 and we've missed Charl Langeveldt in this game. I suspect the South African may have fancied that track and we would have been batting by now. That should not detract from an outstanding spell by Jon Clare, after a quiet couple of games. 4-16 in 13 overs is impressive in anyone's language and he was well supported by Graham Wagg, while Wavell popped up with another late wicket.
Wave reminds me of Basil d'Oliveira as a bowler. Not too fast, not too dangerous looking, but very good at breaking a partnership and keeping things steady. If he could only capture his best batting form we would be pretty chuffed, but that has so far eluded him. Maybe tomorrow.
Actually, the groundstaff will do well to get prepared for a prompt start after the late storm, but we can ill afford any delays in this game. What looks like a long and useful batting line up REALLY needs to produce the goods to build on what has been a useful day.
In six innings against us the youngster has three centuries and two fifties. If we could hypnotise the lad and tell him that they were Derbyshire, he'd be a cert for the Ashes side next summer and would put the Aussies to the sword!
He had his luck today but everyone needs that and I'd reckon at 257-8 the game is fairly even. If we can roll them over for 275 tomorrow then make 400-450 we will be in the box seat, but the captain needs more support than he got at Edgbaston. With Robert Croft still there they'll entertain hopes of getting above 300 and we've missed Charl Langeveldt in this game. I suspect the South African may have fancied that track and we would have been batting by now. That should not detract from an outstanding spell by Jon Clare, after a quiet couple of games. 4-16 in 13 overs is impressive in anyone's language and he was well supported by Graham Wagg, while Wavell popped up with another late wicket.
Wave reminds me of Basil d'Oliveira as a bowler. Not too fast, not too dangerous looking, but very good at breaking a partnership and keeping things steady. If he could only capture his best batting form we would be pretty chuffed, but that has so far eluded him. Maybe tomorrow.
Actually, the groundstaff will do well to get prepared for a prompt start after the late storm, but we can ill afford any delays in this game. What looks like a long and useful batting line up REALLY needs to produce the goods to build on what has been a useful day.
Rikki leaves
While not the biggest surprise in the world, Rikki Clarke's departure with only a year of his contract gone is quite sad.
He arrived in a blaze of publicity amid promises to turn Derbyshire into a major county and to resurrect his England ambitions as captain. There was a promising pre-season tour and one or two early season innings, but the "England cricketer" within was very well hidden for the most part. Derbyshire fans would have found it easy to accept his failures if he had appeared to try harder, but the nature of his game is that he plays in a languid style that makes the game look easy. This is fine when he's in form, but when he's not, like this season, it makes him a fairly easy target.
There were signs of a useful captain in there but also some strange decisions in the field which one assumes were his. Team selections I could rarely argue with but whether they were his decision or the coach's is debatable. His bowling was what it has always been, variable and annoying. He is capable of bowling an absolute belter that can defeat the best batsman, then follow it with two long hops and a full pitch and he rarely bowled an economical spell, especially as the season progressed.
One assumes that there were "issues" with John Morris and if so that is nothing new for Derbyshire. Where Kim Barnett and Dominic Cork were on a strong footing in such squabbles because of their performances, Clarke was in no position of strength. Geoff Boycott famously polarised Yorkshire fans, but kept a lot on his side with the sheer force of both his personality and his average. Cork and Barnett did likewise, but when you reach September with a batting average of 21 and a bowling one of 38....
Like most fans I wish him well in his move to Little Derbyshire.... sorry, Warwickshire, where he has signed a three-year deal. He now joins Ant Botha and Boyd Rankin at Edgbaston but will have to improve on his last two years if he is to make any impact. He may end up as a talent unfulfilled but if he can't bat on the wickets at Edgbaston he should and probably will call it a day.
So what does it mean for Derbyshire, which is, after all, what I and many of you care about. It means we have a lot more money in the player budget for next year as Clarke was on a large salary and enables us to compete in the market for names rumoured to be available. To Michael Vaughan, supposedly considering a break from Yorkshire, can be added the names of Ed Joyce and Ed Smith, both considering their future at Middlesex. They'll both be targets for Warwickshire of course...
Perhaps John Morris will use the captaincy as a carrot to entice a "big name", hopefully with greater success than last year. I'm not blaming the coach for this as he must have expected a return from Clarke, like we all did. He may equally decide to give the job to Chris Rogers, who has emerged from an OK start to a very fine season.
Whatever else, it should make the winter months exciting and we'll be keeping our eyes on the County Ground. Hopefully, you'll keep yours on this blog, where any news will be aired as soon as possible.
He arrived in a blaze of publicity amid promises to turn Derbyshire into a major county and to resurrect his England ambitions as captain. There was a promising pre-season tour and one or two early season innings, but the "England cricketer" within was very well hidden for the most part. Derbyshire fans would have found it easy to accept his failures if he had appeared to try harder, but the nature of his game is that he plays in a languid style that makes the game look easy. This is fine when he's in form, but when he's not, like this season, it makes him a fairly easy target.
There were signs of a useful captain in there but also some strange decisions in the field which one assumes were his. Team selections I could rarely argue with but whether they were his decision or the coach's is debatable. His bowling was what it has always been, variable and annoying. He is capable of bowling an absolute belter that can defeat the best batsman, then follow it with two long hops and a full pitch and he rarely bowled an economical spell, especially as the season progressed.
One assumes that there were "issues" with John Morris and if so that is nothing new for Derbyshire. Where Kim Barnett and Dominic Cork were on a strong footing in such squabbles because of their performances, Clarke was in no position of strength. Geoff Boycott famously polarised Yorkshire fans, but kept a lot on his side with the sheer force of both his personality and his average. Cork and Barnett did likewise, but when you reach September with a batting average of 21 and a bowling one of 38....
Like most fans I wish him well in his move to Little Derbyshire.... sorry, Warwickshire, where he has signed a three-year deal. He now joins Ant Botha and Boyd Rankin at Edgbaston but will have to improve on his last two years if he is to make any impact. He may end up as a talent unfulfilled but if he can't bat on the wickets at Edgbaston he should and probably will call it a day.
So what does it mean for Derbyshire, which is, after all, what I and many of you care about. It means we have a lot more money in the player budget for next year as Clarke was on a large salary and enables us to compete in the market for names rumoured to be available. To Michael Vaughan, supposedly considering a break from Yorkshire, can be added the names of Ed Joyce and Ed Smith, both considering their future at Middlesex. They'll both be targets for Warwickshire of course...
Perhaps John Morris will use the captaincy as a carrot to entice a "big name", hopefully with greater success than last year. I'm not blaming the coach for this as he must have expected a return from Clarke, like we all did. He may equally decide to give the job to Chris Rogers, who has emerged from an OK start to a very fine season.
Whatever else, it should make the winter months exciting and we'll be keeping our eyes on the County Ground. Hopefully, you'll keep yours on this blog, where any news will be aired as soon as possible.
Monday, 1 September 2008
Derbyshire v Glamorgan preview
John Morris says that his team are going for the win in an all or nothing attempt against Glamorgan, starting tomorrow at the County Ground.
I hope so, because they have done well to enter September still in the frame. They will need to keep a wary eye on the weather but one would hope that if we got four days a home win would follow. Realistically, the side may need to approach this as a 3-day fixture and push for the win points.
There's little news of the Derbyshire side. All we know is - nothing really. It would appear from the BBC site that Dan Birch has not yet recovered from injury so that may earn a reprieve for Rikki Clarke. Whether he deserves it is questionable as his batting form has been shocking and he's done little bowling of late.
The brave decision - almost too brave - would be to replace Clarke with the fit again Tom Lungley, who bowls so well at Derby. I was about to type that this would weaken the batting, but on recent form I'm not so sure. It would certainly improve the bowling resources and would be a bold signal of intent. While the same site says that both Tom New and James Pipe are in the Derbyshire squad, I have a feeling that Pipe will be back in the side. We should be grateful for the thoroughly professional job that Tom New did in Pipe's absence, and the lad let no one down.
My best guess at tomorrow's team would be:
Chris Rogers (captain)
Paul Borrington
Dan Redfern
Wavell Hinds
Greg Smith
James Pipe
Jon Clare
Graham Wagg
Tom Lungley
Charl Langeveldt
Nayan Doshi
Four good seamers and Wavell's wobblers to back them up, with spin from Doshi, Smith and Redfern. I think that Pipe is a place too high at six in that side, but there are precious few options for Morris. John Sadler might make a few, but Dom Telo has struggled in both XIs this season and isn't really an option.
As for the morning news about Clarke, I'm not sure what I think. Last winter I was really pleased when the news of his signing broke and I looked forward to the season and how he would do. In 40 years of watching the county, the only player who came close to the disappointment afforded by Clarke was Lawrence Rowe. The West Indian never made a century for us, but he played some beautiful cameos and at least finished the season with an average of 38. Rikki would give a lot for that right now and has patently not delivered. Added to the fact that he is probably the highest earner on the staff (with the possible exception of Chris Rogers) then we are entitled to feel short changed.
A fit, in form and fully motivated Clarke would have been a huge asset to this side. I know he has had house moves and babies to contend with, but there should have been some signs of form in his play and there have been precious few. I am sure that John Morris knows what will happen at the end of the season and could well appreciate having the extra financial "clout" freed up by cancelling Clarke's contract. It is interesting to see the name of Michael Vaughan banded about in the press as looking for a fresh challenge and while he is linked with Warwickshire (who isn't) the ex-England skipper would be an intriguing possibility.
Back to tomorrow's game and Glamorgan are missing the hugely talented England Under 19 bowler James Harris. Our regular bete noir Robert Croft is in the side, however and he must be looking forward to tomorrow as he always takes our wickets. Cynics may say that its because they have no one else, but what we mustn't do is take this for granted. I've played and seen enough cricket to know that it will turn you over if you do. Their listed squad is:
GP Rees
RN Grant
DL Hemp
MJ Powell
JWM Dalrymple
TL Maynard
MA Wallace
AG Wharf
RDB Croft
JN Gillespie
DA Cosker
AJ Shantry
DS Harrison
I would expect them to leave out Cosker, the left arm spinner and one of the seamers, either Shantry or Harrison. That would leave an attack of ex-Aussie Test bowler Gillespie, Wharf, Shantry/Harrison with Croft and Dalrymple for spin. They have a side with batsmen who can fire (remember Rees in the first game?) with Tom Maynard earning good reviews and Wallace an able wicket-keeper batsman.
Derbyshire should have the beating of them, however. A 10.30am start might make for early moisture and movement and that would be to the liking of our seam attack. We wouldn't fancy chasing a fourth innings total against Mr Croft, however, so this is set for a good game.
Come on lads!
I hope so, because they have done well to enter September still in the frame. They will need to keep a wary eye on the weather but one would hope that if we got four days a home win would follow. Realistically, the side may need to approach this as a 3-day fixture and push for the win points.
There's little news of the Derbyshire side. All we know is - nothing really. It would appear from the BBC site that Dan Birch has not yet recovered from injury so that may earn a reprieve for Rikki Clarke. Whether he deserves it is questionable as his batting form has been shocking and he's done little bowling of late.
The brave decision - almost too brave - would be to replace Clarke with the fit again Tom Lungley, who bowls so well at Derby. I was about to type that this would weaken the batting, but on recent form I'm not so sure. It would certainly improve the bowling resources and would be a bold signal of intent. While the same site says that both Tom New and James Pipe are in the Derbyshire squad, I have a feeling that Pipe will be back in the side. We should be grateful for the thoroughly professional job that Tom New did in Pipe's absence, and the lad let no one down.
My best guess at tomorrow's team would be:
Chris Rogers (captain)
Paul Borrington
Dan Redfern
Wavell Hinds
Greg Smith
James Pipe
Jon Clare
Graham Wagg
Tom Lungley
Charl Langeveldt
Nayan Doshi
Four good seamers and Wavell's wobblers to back them up, with spin from Doshi, Smith and Redfern. I think that Pipe is a place too high at six in that side, but there are precious few options for Morris. John Sadler might make a few, but Dom Telo has struggled in both XIs this season and isn't really an option.
As for the morning news about Clarke, I'm not sure what I think. Last winter I was really pleased when the news of his signing broke and I looked forward to the season and how he would do. In 40 years of watching the county, the only player who came close to the disappointment afforded by Clarke was Lawrence Rowe. The West Indian never made a century for us, but he played some beautiful cameos and at least finished the season with an average of 38. Rikki would give a lot for that right now and has patently not delivered. Added to the fact that he is probably the highest earner on the staff (with the possible exception of Chris Rogers) then we are entitled to feel short changed.
A fit, in form and fully motivated Clarke would have been a huge asset to this side. I know he has had house moves and babies to contend with, but there should have been some signs of form in his play and there have been precious few. I am sure that John Morris knows what will happen at the end of the season and could well appreciate having the extra financial "clout" freed up by cancelling Clarke's contract. It is interesting to see the name of Michael Vaughan banded about in the press as looking for a fresh challenge and while he is linked with Warwickshire (who isn't) the ex-England skipper would be an intriguing possibility.
Back to tomorrow's game and Glamorgan are missing the hugely talented England Under 19 bowler James Harris. Our regular bete noir Robert Croft is in the side, however and he must be looking forward to tomorrow as he always takes our wickets. Cynics may say that its because they have no one else, but what we mustn't do is take this for granted. I've played and seen enough cricket to know that it will turn you over if you do. Their listed squad is:
GP Rees
RN Grant
DL Hemp
MJ Powell
JWM Dalrymple
TL Maynard
MA Wallace
AG Wharf
RDB Croft
JN Gillespie
DA Cosker
AJ Shantry
DS Harrison
I would expect them to leave out Cosker, the left arm spinner and one of the seamers, either Shantry or Harrison. That would leave an attack of ex-Aussie Test bowler Gillespie, Wharf, Shantry/Harrison with Croft and Dalrymple for spin. They have a side with batsmen who can fire (remember Rees in the first game?) with Tom Maynard earning good reviews and Wallace an able wicket-keeper batsman.
Derbyshire should have the beating of them, however. A 10.30am start might make for early moisture and movement and that would be to the liking of our seam attack. We wouldn't fancy chasing a fourth innings total against Mr Croft, however, so this is set for a good game.
Come on lads!
Rikki to go?
Apologies for the lack of a blog yesterday - bit busy on the domestic front!
Anyway, here's a very interesting link you may not have seen from the Birmingham Post, which suggests that Rikki Clarke could have his contract cancelled by mutual consent at season end.
http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/cricket-news/2008/08/31/warwickshire-draw-again-as-search-for-new-players-goes-on-65233-21643757/
How true it is I don't know, but I can only hope the author's journalism is better than his statistics - Rogers recorded the highest score ever by a Derbyshire batsman? Hmmm...
More tonight as we look ahead to the next importand game.
Anyway, here's a very interesting link you may not have seen from the Birmingham Post, which suggests that Rikki Clarke could have his contract cancelled by mutual consent at season end.
http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/cricket-news/2008/08/31/warwickshire-draw-again-as-search-for-new-players-goes-on-65233-21643757/
How true it is I don't know, but I can only hope the author's journalism is better than his statistics - Rogers recorded the highest score ever by a Derbyshire batsman? Hmmm...
More tonight as we look ahead to the next importand game.
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Warwickshire v Derbyshire
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....
I saw photos of the "crowd" at Edgbaston on the In Morris We Trust board the other day and its little wonder that county cricket is losing crowds with matches like this.
Trott got a big hundred, Rogers would probably never have got out if people had stayed with him and that's all you can say really. A bore draw, a snore draw.
You can't really blame Maddy for batting all day and making nothing of the game, but you feel sorry for people who paid good money to watch that rubbish. Slightly more exciting than a game of chess and that's all you could say for it.
I take no pleasure in predicting that the tail staying with him might be Rogers biggest barrier to breaking the club batting record, nor in anticipating that the Bears would then bat all day once we were out. Buck has to be content with now being third place on the club's all time biggest innings list and in having played the second highest innings for the county in over a century. He is also the second highest run scorer in the country and seems to have thrived on the responsibiity of the captaincy, in direct contrast to his predecessor, Rikki Clarke.
So its Glamorgan at Derby on Tuesday and we really need to win that and at least one of our other two games against Gloucestershire and Leicestershire to be in with a chance of promotion. I hope that Worcester thrash Warwickshire in the match between the two as the latter have been shockingly negative in this game. Northamptonshire and Essex are both still in the chase too, so this may well go down to the wire. My main hope is that the weather stays fair and it can be decided on talent and results rather than by forecasts.
I saw photos of the "crowd" at Edgbaston on the In Morris We Trust board the other day and its little wonder that county cricket is losing crowds with matches like this.
Trott got a big hundred, Rogers would probably never have got out if people had stayed with him and that's all you can say really. A bore draw, a snore draw.
You can't really blame Maddy for batting all day and making nothing of the game, but you feel sorry for people who paid good money to watch that rubbish. Slightly more exciting than a game of chess and that's all you could say for it.
I take no pleasure in predicting that the tail staying with him might be Rogers biggest barrier to breaking the club batting record, nor in anticipating that the Bears would then bat all day once we were out. Buck has to be content with now being third place on the club's all time biggest innings list and in having played the second highest innings for the county in over a century. He is also the second highest run scorer in the country and seems to have thrived on the responsibiity of the captaincy, in direct contrast to his predecessor, Rikki Clarke.
So its Glamorgan at Derby on Tuesday and we really need to win that and at least one of our other two games against Gloucestershire and Leicestershire to be in with a chance of promotion. I hope that Worcester thrash Warwickshire in the match between the two as the latter have been shockingly negative in this game. Northamptonshire and Essex are both still in the chase too, so this may well go down to the wire. My main hope is that the weather stays fair and it can be decided on talent and results rather than by forecasts.
Big day
But to be fair it could all end in anti-climax.
I can't see anything in this final day apart from Chris Rogers attempt on the club batting record and it would be a real shame if he were denied a fair crack at it by running out of partners.
Waggy is a good batsman and closing in on the mini-double (500 runs, 50 wickets) but he is vulnerable early and that would just leave Charl Langeveldt and Nayan Doshi to keep Rogers company, neither of whom one would have total confidence in. The South African can hit a ball but with that style the bowlers always have a chance and Doshi, while a cricketer of some merit, is not a batsman I'd put my mortgage on.
There's a comment on 606 saying that Rogers is a "flat track bully" which is patently unfair. Very few batsmen make big scores consistently on tracks favouring bowlers and it could be argued that Rogers has made 60's and 70's this year when the conditions favoured them and which were possibly of greater merit. I cannot think of any batting record that has been set on an awkward track and the trick is to cash in when the conditions are in your favour.
"Drink at the well". That was the advice to a fledgling batsman from his senior colleague many years ago when he suggested he might get out having made his century. There are plenty of times when form is a desert and runs hard to come by so batsmen should capitalise on the opportunities afforded by the occasional docile track to boost their average. To be brutally honest, yesterday's track has been the same for the batsmen of both sides but only two have cashed in and a batsman should be applauded for having the technique and concentration, not to mention stamina, to do so.
Rogers is seventh on the all time top scorer list this morning with the following above him:
Stan Worthington 238 not out v Sussex 1937
Chris Adams 239 v Hampshire 1996
Kim Barnett - 239 not out v Leicestershire 1988
Peter Bowler 241 not out v Hampshire 1992
Pat Vaulkhard 264 v Nottinghamshire 1946
George Davidson 274 v Lancashire 1896
Curious to think that, resuming on 237 Rogers needs only one boundary to leapfrog from seventh to joint third.
Interestingly Pat Vaulkhard's challenge for the record was the only time in over 120 innings that he ever passed the century mark, being only an occasional school holiday player. Drink at the well, indeed. He was a highly entertaining, front of the wicket batsman, as were all of the above, although Peter Bowler was more a steady accumulator.
I always hoped the record would go in the early 1980's when Peter Kirsten was in his prime and runs flowed from his bat. Six times he passed the double century mark, three of them unbeaten. Had we been playing four and not three day cricket at the time, I'm convinced Kirsten would have set a record that would never have been broken at Chesterfield in 1978 against Glamorgan. The required declaration stopped him in his tracks when the bowling was disappearing to all parts and another hour or so would have taken him past 300, let alone the Davidson record. He finished 206 not out but on days like that Kirsten's bat must have looked like a barn door to bowlers.
Kirsten didn't so much drink at the well as guzzle it dry. I really hope that Chris Rogers does the same today.
I can't see anything in this final day apart from Chris Rogers attempt on the club batting record and it would be a real shame if he were denied a fair crack at it by running out of partners.
Waggy is a good batsman and closing in on the mini-double (500 runs, 50 wickets) but he is vulnerable early and that would just leave Charl Langeveldt and Nayan Doshi to keep Rogers company, neither of whom one would have total confidence in. The South African can hit a ball but with that style the bowlers always have a chance and Doshi, while a cricketer of some merit, is not a batsman I'd put my mortgage on.
There's a comment on 606 saying that Rogers is a "flat track bully" which is patently unfair. Very few batsmen make big scores consistently on tracks favouring bowlers and it could be argued that Rogers has made 60's and 70's this year when the conditions favoured them and which were possibly of greater merit. I cannot think of any batting record that has been set on an awkward track and the trick is to cash in when the conditions are in your favour.
"Drink at the well". That was the advice to a fledgling batsman from his senior colleague many years ago when he suggested he might get out having made his century. There are plenty of times when form is a desert and runs hard to come by so batsmen should capitalise on the opportunities afforded by the occasional docile track to boost their average. To be brutally honest, yesterday's track has been the same for the batsmen of both sides but only two have cashed in and a batsman should be applauded for having the technique and concentration, not to mention stamina, to do so.
Rogers is seventh on the all time top scorer list this morning with the following above him:
Stan Worthington 238 not out v Sussex 1937
Chris Adams 239 v Hampshire 1996
Kim Barnett - 239 not out v Leicestershire 1988
Peter Bowler 241 not out v Hampshire 1992
Pat Vaulkhard 264 v Nottinghamshire 1946
George Davidson 274 v Lancashire 1896
Curious to think that, resuming on 237 Rogers needs only one boundary to leapfrog from seventh to joint third.
Interestingly Pat Vaulkhard's challenge for the record was the only time in over 120 innings that he ever passed the century mark, being only an occasional school holiday player. Drink at the well, indeed. He was a highly entertaining, front of the wicket batsman, as were all of the above, although Peter Bowler was more a steady accumulator.
I always hoped the record would go in the early 1980's when Peter Kirsten was in his prime and runs flowed from his bat. Six times he passed the double century mark, three of them unbeaten. Had we been playing four and not three day cricket at the time, I'm convinced Kirsten would have set a record that would never have been broken at Chesterfield in 1978 against Glamorgan. The required declaration stopped him in his tracks when the bowling was disappearing to all parts and another hour or so would have taken him past 300, let alone the Davidson record. He finished 206 not out but on days like that Kirsten's bat must have looked like a barn door to bowlers.
Kirsten didn't so much drink at the well as guzzle it dry. I really hope that Chris Rogers does the same today.
Friday, 29 August 2008
Statistical manna
So the opening partnership today between Chris Rogers and Paul Borrington was the highest in this year's County Championship. Given the fragility of our batting at times this year, there's a degree of irony in there, n'est ce pas?
Full credit to the pair and it must aid Bozza's development to watch a player like Rogers at close quarters.
Meanwhile, the six that Rogers hit in today's mammoth innings was curiously the first that he has scored in the Championship this season. Now there's a real goodie for the statisticians - who was the last batsman to score a thousand Championship runs before hitting his first six? I may be wrong but I can't think that has happened too often in the history of the game.
Anyone any ideas?
Full credit to the pair and it must aid Bozza's development to watch a player like Rogers at close quarters.
Meanwhile, the six that Rogers hit in today's mammoth innings was curiously the first that he has scored in the Championship this season. Now there's a real goodie for the statisticians - who was the last batsman to score a thousand Championship runs before hitting his first six? I may be wrong but I can't think that has happened too often in the history of the game.
Anyone any ideas?
Buck's chance to prove me a mystic!
Could tomorrow see this moribund track provide a little bit of cricket history?
With Chris Rogers unbeaten on 237 at stumps and Derbyshire just 14 runs behind, one could be forgiven for thinking a declaration will come overnight, followed by a Warwickshire thrash and a Derbyshire run chase.
Yeah, and I'm actually Brad Pitt and my wife's Angelina Jolie (actually she's even nicer!)
It isn't going to happen that way and so realism should take over. With Warwickshire's stance throughout this game being "what we have, we hold" there will be no last day declaration, unless you count Derbyshire being left 290 from 20 0vers as a declaration. They are ahead of us in the promotion stakes and intend to stay that way. Who can blame them? If the roles were reversed, I doubt John Morris would tempt our opposition with 5 an over for 50 overs.
All of which means that Chris Rogers could tomorrow attempt to break the longest standing individual batting record in County cricket. That's George Davidson's 274 at Old Trafford against Lancashire in 1896, which has been threatened on a number of occasions over the years, but not yet beaten.
The most likely once seemed to be Stan Worthington, who got to 238 and had to retire with cramp, but Kim Barnett, Michael di Venuto and others have all threatened it in recent years, only to get out early the next day.
I'm actually feeling quite good about this one, as in my post of July 8 "Buck Rogers and a quest for centuries" I wrote:
Rogers has a deserved reputation for big scores. A triple century while playing for Northants, a double century against his countrymen for Leicestershire and a piffling 279 for Western Australia in a Pura Cup match. Even allowing for lapses of concentration and the odd good ball, we should now look to him to replicate that for us through July, August and September.
I'll go on record now, and risk looking silly later, by saying that Rogers COULD be the man to break George Davidson's long-standing highest individual score for the county, currently standing at 274.
I'll go on record now, and risk looking silly later, by saying that Rogers COULD be the man to break George Davidson's long-standing highest individual score for the county, currently standing at 274.
Last night I also wrote that I thought he could get enough to become one of the top scorers in the country today. At close of play, only Stephen Moore has scored more than Rogers this season and he has 61 more. If Waggy, Charl and Nayan can stay with him tomorrow, Rogers will deservedly enter the record books and could become the top scorer in the country.
If I ran the poll on whether he should stay next season again I suspect the result would be massively different than the 50/50 vote that transpired. With an average of 58 at present he has surely convinced the doubters and with four centuries and seven 50s in 24 innings can be said to have had a very fine season - hopefully with more to follow.
Conversely, in a batting display of solidity, led by Paul Borrington, Wavell Hinds and Tom New, ex-skipper Rikki Clarke only lasted two balls and must surely now be rested. Or dropped, or however you want to put it, but the poor bloke is having a nightmare. One of the Birmingham newspapers yesterday suggested that the Bears may be in for him at the end of season, despite him being under contract. While a player of unquestionable talent, he has massively underperformed this season and while part of me thinks he has to get better next year, the other thinks that the substantial contract that he must be on could be spent in better ways. All will be revealed in time, I'm sure.
So, let's celebrate a job well done tonight and hope that Chris Rogers manages a feat tomorrow that many will have lived and died hoping to see. We'll not be celebrating a win tomorrow, that is for sure, but a new record would send them on to the next game in good heart.
Thursday, 28 August 2008
For what its worth...
On the day that Chris Rogers passed his 1,000 for the season, Michael di Venuto completed a pair for Durham at Basingstoke on what appears a poor track.
Diva now has 793 runs at 39 for Durham while Rogers averages just over 49 for us.
I know they're in division one and we're in division two, but...
Diva now has 793 runs at 39 for Durham while Rogers averages just over 49 for us.
I know they're in division one and we're in division two, but...
Warwickshire v Derbyshire
If four day cricket and two divisions has given County cricket a shot in the arm, the game at Edgbaston must have had a placebo administered because at the end of day two it is hard to see where a positive result can possibly come from.
Having crawled to 476-9 from over 145 overs of batting, Derbyshire responded with a more fluent (but there were close fields set) 83-0 in reply from 22 overs by the close. Only Ian Salisbury showed anything like aggression for the Bears, although Ian Trott showed admirable powers of concentration in making 181 in just over six hours of batting.
Here is the problem with a lot of county cricket, with soporific tracks emasculating even the most penetrative of bowlers (Langeveldt) who bowled 26 overs in taking 2-59. He needs one more to reach 50 for the season but must be seriously pleased not to have to bowl on this every other game. It must be the same feeling encountered by Stef Jones in moving to Taunton, a lot more work than the tracks he had at his disposal in Derby.
Our first target tomorrow will be the 327 to avoid the follow on so there's 244 more required after the positive start made by Buck Rogers and Bozza. It gladdens my heart to see two youngsters of the age and ability of Borrington and Redfern in the Derbyshire side and is testimony to the work being done in the Academy and Seconds.
The problem is that I fail to see how we can win this game. If we batted brilliantly tomorrow and made 120 a session, we'd close at 440 or thereabouts, still behind. On what we have seen so far the home side are keen to avoid defeat here so are unlikely to set anything attainable for us in the last innings. So unless we collapse in spectacular fashion (it has been known) the last day is likely to be as exciting as a rave featuring the music of Perry Como and Val Doonican.
It would suit Warwickshire, but with their next two matches being against Worcestershire and Essex (the latter without Kaneria who is now out for the season) they may yet have reason to regret the negativity that has been a feature of their tactics in this game. essex are now back in the race after thrashing a pitiful Leicestershire side today. How did that shower beat us in the Pro 40?
Finally, congratulations to Chris Rogers in becoming the latest to pass 1,000 runs for the season. He is currently seventh leading scorer of the season and nine more runs tomorrow will leave only Marcus Trescothick, HD Ackerman, Jacques Rudolph and Stephen Moore ahead of him. Another 76 will see him pass the excellent Rudolph and if batting conditions stay as they are he has every chance of doing that.
Well played Chris!
Having crawled to 476-9 from over 145 overs of batting, Derbyshire responded with a more fluent (but there were close fields set) 83-0 in reply from 22 overs by the close. Only Ian Salisbury showed anything like aggression for the Bears, although Ian Trott showed admirable powers of concentration in making 181 in just over six hours of batting.
Here is the problem with a lot of county cricket, with soporific tracks emasculating even the most penetrative of bowlers (Langeveldt) who bowled 26 overs in taking 2-59. He needs one more to reach 50 for the season but must be seriously pleased not to have to bowl on this every other game. It must be the same feeling encountered by Stef Jones in moving to Taunton, a lot more work than the tracks he had at his disposal in Derby.
Our first target tomorrow will be the 327 to avoid the follow on so there's 244 more required after the positive start made by Buck Rogers and Bozza. It gladdens my heart to see two youngsters of the age and ability of Borrington and Redfern in the Derbyshire side and is testimony to the work being done in the Academy and Seconds.
The problem is that I fail to see how we can win this game. If we batted brilliantly tomorrow and made 120 a session, we'd close at 440 or thereabouts, still behind. On what we have seen so far the home side are keen to avoid defeat here so are unlikely to set anything attainable for us in the last innings. So unless we collapse in spectacular fashion (it has been known) the last day is likely to be as exciting as a rave featuring the music of Perry Como and Val Doonican.
It would suit Warwickshire, but with their next two matches being against Worcestershire and Essex (the latter without Kaneria who is now out for the season) they may yet have reason to regret the negativity that has been a feature of their tactics in this game. essex are now back in the race after thrashing a pitiful Leicestershire side today. How did that shower beat us in the Pro 40?
Finally, congratulations to Chris Rogers in becoming the latest to pass 1,000 runs for the season. He is currently seventh leading scorer of the season and nine more runs tomorrow will leave only Marcus Trescothick, HD Ackerman, Jacques Rudolph and Stephen Moore ahead of him. Another 76 will see him pass the excellent Rudolph and if batting conditions stay as they are he has every chance of doing that.
Well played Chris!
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Sky Sports
Don't know if anyone caught Sky Sports News this morning but when I saw it around 6.15am (yes, I am an early riser) they were showing a feature on the 100th anniversary of the birth of the "greatest batsman ever" - Donald Bradman.
The usual stuff, the "three cheers" footage from his last Test match and the reference to that average of 99.94 (yes, thought I, but he never got a hundred against Derbyshire).
Then they went on to announce the hundredth anniversary of the last appearance of WG Grace in 1908. The grainy footage of Grace walking out to the middle and then the familiar footage of Grace batting (jerkily, but that would be the film) in the nets.
Familiar... but not. Even at that time of day I noticed something was not quite right. Grace was shown as a left hander as they had the film the wrong way round! Yes, I was sober and not that tired...
I did send them an e mail but they maybe disregarded it for all I know. Anyone see it on a later bulletin and notice if it was the right way?
The usual stuff, the "three cheers" footage from his last Test match and the reference to that average of 99.94 (yes, thought I, but he never got a hundred against Derbyshire).
Then they went on to announce the hundredth anniversary of the last appearance of WG Grace in 1908. The grainy footage of Grace walking out to the middle and then the familiar footage of Grace batting (jerkily, but that would be the film) in the nets.
Familiar... but not. Even at that time of day I noticed something was not quite right. Grace was shown as a left hander as they had the film the wrong way round! Yes, I was sober and not that tired...
I did send them an e mail but they maybe disregarded it for all I know. Anyone see it on a later bulletin and notice if it was the right way?
Warwickshire v Derbyshire day 1
At the end of a slightly anti-climactic day one I'd reckon that honours are pretty much even at Edgbaston. While the home side will be pleased to have made 209 runs with only three wickets down in a truncated day, I'd reckon that we'll be pleased to have kept the run rate to under three an over while bagging three good wickets, including talismanic skipper Darren Maddy.
I'm pleased to have correctly called Morris' final eleven last night and they all bowled steadily. No wickets for Charl, but Waggy, Clare and Wavell all took one while Nayan Doshi bowled a very accurate spell of slow left arm.
The thing is things can quickly change. Langeveldt is often more effective on a second day with an older ball with the reverse swing going and after Tim Ambrose, due in next, they have the two spinners and then the three seamers. Without being cruel, if the Cricinfo batting order is correct, Martin and Woakes must be poor batsmen if Boyd Rankin (a surprise inclusion) is at nine. Two quick wickets tomorrow morning, with 209-3 becoming 230-5 and they could struggle to top 300.
Conversely we must keep our discipline and not let them get away. Trott and Troughton are both good players and if they get away we could be chasing leather till teatime and a first innings of 450. We have a comfortingly long batting order here, with Clare and Wagg at eight and nine but we know how fragile that early order can be and must hope that from here onwards they fire on all cylinders.
Tomorrow, tomorrow - its only a day away!
I'm pleased to have correctly called Morris' final eleven last night and they all bowled steadily. No wickets for Charl, but Waggy, Clare and Wavell all took one while Nayan Doshi bowled a very accurate spell of slow left arm.
The thing is things can quickly change. Langeveldt is often more effective on a second day with an older ball with the reverse swing going and after Tim Ambrose, due in next, they have the two spinners and then the three seamers. Without being cruel, if the Cricinfo batting order is correct, Martin and Woakes must be poor batsmen if Boyd Rankin (a surprise inclusion) is at nine. Two quick wickets tomorrow morning, with 209-3 becoming 230-5 and they could struggle to top 300.
Conversely we must keep our discipline and not let them get away. Trott and Troughton are both good players and if they get away we could be chasing leather till teatime and a first innings of 450. We have a comfortingly long batting order here, with Clare and Wagg at eight and nine but we know how fragile that early order can be and must hope that from here onwards they fire on all cylinders.
Tomorrow, tomorrow - its only a day away!
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Milestone ahoy!
In the Warwickshire game that starts tomorrow, Charl Langeveldt needs three wickets to reach 50 for the season, while skipper Chris Rogers needs just 20 runs to reach his 1,000 runs. Only six players have so far beaten him to the landmark and we're still not sure if he's done enough to warrant keeping next season. Crikey we're hard taskmasters in Derbyshire!
Meanwhile only five bowlers have exceeded Charl's tally of 47 and he could yet end the season as the top wicket-taker in the country. Here's hoping that knee injury holds out.
Meanwhile only five bowlers have exceeded Charl's tally of 47 and he could yet end the season as the top wicket-taker in the country. Here's hoping that knee injury holds out.
Poll
Well, two-thirds of those who voted thought that we should cease being Scorpions and change our name to something more appropriate for next season's one day cricket.
Given it's one day cricket only, maybe the Derbyshire Dum-Dums has something, while Derbyshire Devastated might save the journos a little time in their thought process. I'd love to think we'd be Derbyshire Dynamite, but that's one for the future and a lot better form than shown this year.
So to this week's poll. Has Wavell Hinds done enough as a Kolpak to warrant another deal next year? A batting average of 29 and a bowling one of 24 as I write in the Championship, solid if not spectacular. Is he worth another year or could we get a better young British player in, or give a chance to an Academy youngster? Register your vote in the next seven days.
Of course, I'd love Wavell to score 180 tomorrow and make the decision as easy as a poll to see whether we should keep Charl Langeveldt. Thankfully the South African maestro signed for two years, but any poll asking that question of Champagne Charl would only need one option - and it wouldn't be no...
Given it's one day cricket only, maybe the Derbyshire Dum-Dums has something, while Derbyshire Devastated might save the journos a little time in their thought process. I'd love to think we'd be Derbyshire Dynamite, but that's one for the future and a lot better form than shown this year.
So to this week's poll. Has Wavell Hinds done enough as a Kolpak to warrant another deal next year? A batting average of 29 and a bowling one of 24 as I write in the Championship, solid if not spectacular. Is he worth another year or could we get a better young British player in, or give a chance to an Academy youngster? Register your vote in the next seven days.
Of course, I'd love Wavell to score 180 tomorrow and make the decision as easy as a poll to see whether we should keep Charl Langeveldt. Thankfully the South African maestro signed for two years, but any poll asking that question of Champagne Charl would only need one option - and it wouldn't be no...
Warwickshire v Derbyshire preview
This time tomorrow we'll either be rubbing our hands with excitement or kicking the cat (makes mental note, must go and buy a cat tomorrow, just in case...)
With overcast conditions the toss will be vital tomorrow and we would love to win it. Derbyshire have announced a 13 man squad that is as follows:
Chris Rogers (captain)
Paul Borrington
Wavell Hinds
Greg Smith
Dan Redfern
John Sadler
Rikki Clarke
Tom New
Jon Clare
Graham Wagg
Ian Hunter
Charl Langeveldt
Nayan Doshi
So the Leicestershire Mercury was telling porkies when it said that New was playing his last game for us last night. The Nottinghamshire-born player has done very well for us and is in solid batting form. The key selection is Rikki Clarke - is he fit to bowl more than a few overs and is he in good enough form with the bat? If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then he should be in the side, though fans would question his batting form even if we don't know the state of his ankle. One assumes that we would need a front line spinner and that Nayan Doshi will play against the side that courted him last season before signing Ant Botha so that would mean that Ian Hunter misses out. The final place would thus be between John Sadler and Clarke as a batsman and given that neither have been in the form of their life, that's a tricky one. My gut feeling would be to stick with the ex-skipper, but hey - what do I know?
We'd then have an attack of 47-wicket Charl Langeveldt, Graham Wagg, Jon Clare, Wavell Hinds, Nayan Doshi and a bit of Clarke, Smith and Redfern (the latter a useful off-spinner). Plenty of options and importantly a lengthy batting side. Getting those last two places right will be very, very important for John Morris.
The hosts have a strong looking side out and their 12 reads:
Darren Maddy (captain)
Ian Westwood
Jonathan Trott
James Troughton
Tim Ambrose
Tony Frost
Ant Botha
Ian Salisbury
Neil Carter
Chris Woakes
Chris Martin
James Anyon
Ambrose, Frost, Troughton and Trott all average in excess of 50 for the home side though only two of them have exceeded 500 runs. Youngster Woakes has had a good season but their bowling doesn't look excessively dangerous - here's hoping I don't have to regret those words! The Warwickshire fans on 606 are not very happy and are talking about wholesale changes for next season, so if we were to win this one there'll be much wailing and gnashing of teeth down Birmingham way.
Kiwi seamer Chris Martin hasn't pulled up many trees for the Bears, and their biggest danger still looks Neil Carter, who although past his prime has the knack of bowling wicket-taking spells. They may well decide on one of the spinners for the final place but could play both as they can both bat and Anyon may miss out with the skipper Maddy and Trott bowling their seamers as extra bowlers.
It is all set for a battle royal. We could really do with the big name players standing up and playing the innings they have all threatened in this one. After the destruction of Middlesex, another win here could set the momentum for a successful end of season promotion push.
C'mon boys - make us proud to be Derbyshire fans!
With overcast conditions the toss will be vital tomorrow and we would love to win it. Derbyshire have announced a 13 man squad that is as follows:
Chris Rogers (captain)
Paul Borrington
Wavell Hinds
Greg Smith
Dan Redfern
John Sadler
Rikki Clarke
Tom New
Jon Clare
Graham Wagg
Ian Hunter
Charl Langeveldt
Nayan Doshi
So the Leicestershire Mercury was telling porkies when it said that New was playing his last game for us last night. The Nottinghamshire-born player has done very well for us and is in solid batting form. The key selection is Rikki Clarke - is he fit to bowl more than a few overs and is he in good enough form with the bat? If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then he should be in the side, though fans would question his batting form even if we don't know the state of his ankle. One assumes that we would need a front line spinner and that Nayan Doshi will play against the side that courted him last season before signing Ant Botha so that would mean that Ian Hunter misses out. The final place would thus be between John Sadler and Clarke as a batsman and given that neither have been in the form of their life, that's a tricky one. My gut feeling would be to stick with the ex-skipper, but hey - what do I know?
We'd then have an attack of 47-wicket Charl Langeveldt, Graham Wagg, Jon Clare, Wavell Hinds, Nayan Doshi and a bit of Clarke, Smith and Redfern (the latter a useful off-spinner). Plenty of options and importantly a lengthy batting side. Getting those last two places right will be very, very important for John Morris.
The hosts have a strong looking side out and their 12 reads:
Darren Maddy (captain)
Ian Westwood
Jonathan Trott
James Troughton
Tim Ambrose
Tony Frost
Ant Botha
Ian Salisbury
Neil Carter
Chris Woakes
Chris Martin
James Anyon
Ambrose, Frost, Troughton and Trott all average in excess of 50 for the home side though only two of them have exceeded 500 runs. Youngster Woakes has had a good season but their bowling doesn't look excessively dangerous - here's hoping I don't have to regret those words! The Warwickshire fans on 606 are not very happy and are talking about wholesale changes for next season, so if we were to win this one there'll be much wailing and gnashing of teeth down Birmingham way.
Kiwi seamer Chris Martin hasn't pulled up many trees for the Bears, and their biggest danger still looks Neil Carter, who although past his prime has the knack of bowling wicket-taking spells. They may well decide on one of the spinners for the final place but could play both as they can both bat and Anyon may miss out with the skipper Maddy and Trott bowling their seamers as extra bowlers.
It is all set for a battle royal. We could really do with the big name players standing up and playing the innings they have all threatened in this one. After the destruction of Middlesex, another win here could set the momentum for a successful end of season promotion push.
C'mon boys - make us proud to be Derbyshire fans!
Monday, 25 August 2008
Leicestershire v Derbyshire Pro 40
Aaargh!!
That top order batting again shows its frailties and despite the best efforts of the Leicestershire old boys (Messrs Rogers, Sadler and New), we lost in an exciting finish by six runs.
There were some strange things in the game and the choice of bowlers at the end of the Leicestershire innings seemed odd, with Wavell Hinds given the last overs from one end while Jon Clare, Graham Wagg and Ian Hunter all bowled less than their allocation. Maybe its me, but if I was batting against our attack at the end of an innings, I'd fancy a go at Wave's dibbly-dobbly seam more than the others. Perhaps the others may have got the treatment too and Hunter did take the other end, but they scored around 35 from the last four overs which turned the game.
I said last night that Greg Smith is not an opener and it was proven again tonight. He is a talented middle order batsman, but there's a big difference between batting one and batting four. You don't see Pietersen, Kallis, Symonds and Hussey opening the batting and they're all better than Smith. Why not let New open? He usually did for Leicester and was left high and dry at the end of the innings today with our fans doubtless wondering what might have been.
Sadly Rikki Clarke again fell for nought and yet another first baller. The only Derbyshire player of any talent that had anywhere near such a torrid first season was Charlie Lee back in the 1950s. He came from Yorkshire and had a dreadful first year, before blossoming into a solid county pro and eventual club captain. Rikki must be longing for the end of the season and a reassessment of things. As a batsman he has failed badly, as a bowler he has too great a tendency to bowl "four" balls and thus as an all rounder he has fallen well short of expectations. Only as a slip, where he has held brilliant catches, has he performed and no one can hold down a place for that alone.
So despite his only scoring 13 tonight, Dan Redfern must be in for Wednesday as Rikki is so out of form. At least one senses Dan will sell his wicket dearly, which Rikki seems incapable of doing at present.
I'll be glad when the Pro 40 is finished. We really are poor at one day cricket.
That top order batting again shows its frailties and despite the best efforts of the Leicestershire old boys (Messrs Rogers, Sadler and New), we lost in an exciting finish by six runs.
There were some strange things in the game and the choice of bowlers at the end of the Leicestershire innings seemed odd, with Wavell Hinds given the last overs from one end while Jon Clare, Graham Wagg and Ian Hunter all bowled less than their allocation. Maybe its me, but if I was batting against our attack at the end of an innings, I'd fancy a go at Wave's dibbly-dobbly seam more than the others. Perhaps the others may have got the treatment too and Hunter did take the other end, but they scored around 35 from the last four overs which turned the game.
I said last night that Greg Smith is not an opener and it was proven again tonight. He is a talented middle order batsman, but there's a big difference between batting one and batting four. You don't see Pietersen, Kallis, Symonds and Hussey opening the batting and they're all better than Smith. Why not let New open? He usually did for Leicester and was left high and dry at the end of the innings today with our fans doubtless wondering what might have been.
Sadly Rikki Clarke again fell for nought and yet another first baller. The only Derbyshire player of any talent that had anywhere near such a torrid first season was Charlie Lee back in the 1950s. He came from Yorkshire and had a dreadful first year, before blossoming into a solid county pro and eventual club captain. Rikki must be longing for the end of the season and a reassessment of things. As a batsman he has failed badly, as a bowler he has too great a tendency to bowl "four" balls and thus as an all rounder he has fallen well short of expectations. Only as a slip, where he has held brilliant catches, has he performed and no one can hold down a place for that alone.
So despite his only scoring 13 tonight, Dan Redfern must be in for Wednesday as Rikki is so out of form. At least one senses Dan will sell his wicket dearly, which Rikki seems incapable of doing at present.
I'll be glad when the Pro 40 is finished. We really are poor at one day cricket.
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