I'd like to be the first to wish all Derbyshire fans a happy 2009.
I hope the celebrations are enjoyable for you all and a mere precursor for those that will take place when we bring home some silverware next season.
Optimistic? Maybe, but also realistic. In my opinion, we need to sign a good batsman from somewhere to bat three this year. If not, we need someone to step up to the plate and make the place their own. Dan Birch, Dom Telo, John Sadler and Garry Park will all aim to do just that in April and much will depend on their pre-season work.
I hope (call it my first New Year wish if you will) that Dan Redfern bats four and Wavell five next year, which gives us a solid order, especially with Greg Smith at six. With all rounders Wagg, Clare, Groenewald and wicket keeper Pipe for the lower order, we bat a long way down ON PAPER.
Last year the lower order bailed us out regularly, but the top order has to support Chris Rogers, assuming he's not with the touring Aussies, and there will be key roles for Steve Stubbings and Paul Borrington, who will battle for the other opening slot, though we're unlikely to see the latter until June as he has his finals at University.
My second New Year wish is that our seamers stay fit. If Clare and Wagg do so, Tom Lungley returns to the form of 2007 and Charl Langeveldt keeps going, I'd back that quartet against most sides. Worryingly, Charl could not bat in the Cape Cobras weekend game after he picked up an ankle injury. It was a game that highlighted why Champagne Charl joined Derbyshire as his side were bowled out for just 39... Compared to that, Chris Rogers must seem like Bradman. Hopefully the innings isn't too serious, but if it affords him a rest, then we shouldn't complain.
I'm baffled as to why the Aussies have given Matt Hayden another game against South Africa, after the Proteas hammered them last night. He looked in decent nick in the second innings before being suckered out by good field placing and bowling, but surely with the rubber dead from an Aussie perspective, it was an opportunity to try someone new? While their bowling resources look pretty thin at present, their batting conveyor belt looks full of talent, with Phil Hughes, Michael Klinger and Shaun Marsh all scoring well and worth a shout, even if the likes of Chris Rogers were overlooked. It suggests (good news from our viewpoint) that Hayden is regarded as an essential for the Ashes, when one would expect, irrespective of the result, that Hayden would retire from Test cricket.
I wouldn't be surprised if a number of Aussies, mindful of the jump start it might give them in the event of injuries, were up for some 20/20 in England next summer and Derbyshire simply must have an overseas player this time. Greg Smith and Wavell apart, our 20 over batting last year was shocking and a clean hitting, fast running Aussie, ideally one who can also bowl a few overs, would be a good acquisition. No one seems to know if Chris Rogers will play 20/20 in 2009, but if not a signing is imperative to remain competitive. Like it or not, 20/20 draws the crowds and if those coming in see consistently poor performances every time they are unlikely to transfer their interest to the longer, better forms of the game.
Which brings me neatly to my third and final New Year wish - that we approach one day batting like a 1500 metre race and not a 100 metre dash. Dashing strokes are all well and good, but too often last year we got to ten overs and were something like 50-6 and nowhere to go. If we aim for five singles an over and a four here and there, we'll make scores that will win more games than not. 60-1 off ten is a good springboard and doesn't require manic batting. It's common sense stuff and I would love to see a little more of that applied to our batting next year.
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Derbyshire cricket on ebay
I regularly have a look on ebay to see if anyone is selling Derbyshire memorabilia and have bought some good things in the past.
There's quite a lot on at the moment, but a lot of items seem to be up there in perpetuity. A picture of the 1936 Championship winning side is still selling for £9.99 plus postage and must have been up for around six months now. It would be quite nice to have, but I wouldn't pay that much for it, especially when the same picture has been in several yearbooks and club histories in the past.
There are other team groups there at the same price, with some of them autographed. I may be in a minority of one, but some of the autographs on those of as more recent vintage probably detract from the item...no names of course!
You can buy a Derbyshire County flag (just the thing to get your windows put in round here, I would have thought) or various pictures, signed and otherwise of players from our past. Incredibly, one of William Chatterton, a Wills card from 1896 is available for £74.99 plus postage. Don't think I'll be in for that one somehow, and can't think there'll be many takers, to be fair. I'm sure that must be grounds for divorce...
You could buy club cufflinks, or maybe a pocket watch, perhaps even a teaspoon. Nice items all, but not really to my taste, thanks. Though maybe your tea would taste all the finer with a stir from the Derbyshire teaspoon. And no, its not wooden...
One thing that is evident is that there's no real market at present for the old club yearbooks. There are a number of them out there, but no takers. Perhaps all the genuine collectors have them and there's little doubt that the Holy Grail of yearbooks (1954) would still get its buyers and earns a fair price when it comes up from time to time.
On that very subject, I still feel really disappointed that the club will cease the yearbook from next season. Handing out to members an extended annual report is neither here nor there, and I can't understand why we're chopping it to save £5,000. I know that advertising money is tight in the recession, but this is the club's history being produced and the value of that cannot be measured in financial terms alone. Maybe an edition with less photographs might prove more cost-effective, like the ones produced by Peach and Dawn for many years. As I've written before, the yearbook was at its peak under the late Stan Tacey and people are more likely to buy something that is "a good read" than anything else. There has to be people out there who'd contribute an article without charge? I did it for Stan over the years and got a free copy of the book in exchange. Surely the local contributors could do the same, or am I being optimistic?
Back to ebay and the most surprising item is a "Simon Katich" long sleeve shirt, with the explanation:
Front: CAN HE HIT IT?
Back name: KATICH (Or choose your own player)
Back number: 6 (Because he hits so many but please choose squad number if prefered)
Back: YES HE CAN!
Katich was a fine player in his year with us, but I won't look back on his time and think of a huge hitter. However, the back might look a little silly if it read "On occasion, perhaps, but overall he's a steady accumulator who times the ball well and relies on placement more than power"
Methinks Wagg might be the name of choice for many, or maybe Hinds. Presumably those who bought this last year and had "Clarke" on the back also had the wording - "Er...not very often".
Finally, there is, for a piffling £275, a signed bat in a display case signed by "stars" such as Simon Katich, Ant Botha, Graeme Welch, Ian Harvey (OK so far) Boyd Rankin and Phil Weston...
It was all going so well to the brackets. I'm not sure if the performances of Rankin and Weston in Derbyshire colours merit the term "star" and I'm even less sure that I'd pay that sort of money, but hey - if that's your fancy, go for it!
There's quite a lot on at the moment, but a lot of items seem to be up there in perpetuity. A picture of the 1936 Championship winning side is still selling for £9.99 plus postage and must have been up for around six months now. It would be quite nice to have, but I wouldn't pay that much for it, especially when the same picture has been in several yearbooks and club histories in the past.
There are other team groups there at the same price, with some of them autographed. I may be in a minority of one, but some of the autographs on those of as more recent vintage probably detract from the item...no names of course!
You can buy a Derbyshire County flag (just the thing to get your windows put in round here, I would have thought) or various pictures, signed and otherwise of players from our past. Incredibly, one of William Chatterton, a Wills card from 1896 is available for £74.99 plus postage. Don't think I'll be in for that one somehow, and can't think there'll be many takers, to be fair. I'm sure that must be grounds for divorce...
You could buy club cufflinks, or maybe a pocket watch, perhaps even a teaspoon. Nice items all, but not really to my taste, thanks. Though maybe your tea would taste all the finer with a stir from the Derbyshire teaspoon. And no, its not wooden...
One thing that is evident is that there's no real market at present for the old club yearbooks. There are a number of them out there, but no takers. Perhaps all the genuine collectors have them and there's little doubt that the Holy Grail of yearbooks (1954) would still get its buyers and earns a fair price when it comes up from time to time.
On that very subject, I still feel really disappointed that the club will cease the yearbook from next season. Handing out to members an extended annual report is neither here nor there, and I can't understand why we're chopping it to save £5,000. I know that advertising money is tight in the recession, but this is the club's history being produced and the value of that cannot be measured in financial terms alone. Maybe an edition with less photographs might prove more cost-effective, like the ones produced by Peach and Dawn for many years. As I've written before, the yearbook was at its peak under the late Stan Tacey and people are more likely to buy something that is "a good read" than anything else. There has to be people out there who'd contribute an article without charge? I did it for Stan over the years and got a free copy of the book in exchange. Surely the local contributors could do the same, or am I being optimistic?
Back to ebay and the most surprising item is a "Simon Katich" long sleeve shirt, with the explanation:
Front: CAN HE HIT IT?
Back name: KATICH (Or choose your own player)
Back number: 6 (Because he hits so many but please choose squad number if prefered)
Back: YES HE CAN!
Katich was a fine player in his year with us, but I won't look back on his time and think of a huge hitter. However, the back might look a little silly if it read "On occasion, perhaps, but overall he's a steady accumulator who times the ball well and relies on placement more than power"
Methinks Wagg might be the name of choice for many, or maybe Hinds. Presumably those who bought this last year and had "Clarke" on the back also had the wording - "Er...not very often".
Finally, there is, for a piffling £275, a signed bat in a display case signed by "stars" such as Simon Katich, Ant Botha, Graeme Welch, Ian Harvey (OK so far) Boyd Rankin and Phil Weston...
It was all going so well to the brackets. I'm not sure if the performances of Rankin and Weston in Derbyshire colours merit the term "star" and I'm even less sure that I'd pay that sort of money, but hey - if that's your fancy, go for it!
Saturday, 27 December 2008
Done and dusted
So how was it for you?
Christmas, I mean. We'd a great time here up in the frozen north and the traditional turkey and trimmings was followed by the traditional dessert of Christmas Pudding and the even more traditional glass of Andrews later in the evening as the realisation hit that I'd overdone the eating yet again (despite vowing not to).
I'd a lovely clutch of presents including "The Derbyshire Chronicles" by Edward Giles which I'm enjoying becaise he's done his research and isn't just regurgitating the same old stuff. I even got a nice, home made cricket bookmark from my daughter to go with it.
I've spent a little time, as I'm off till early January, watching the Test from Melbourne and Matt Hayden's time as an Aussie opener seems to be coming to a close. Where that leaves us is a moot point, as Chris Rogers excellent form suggests that he may be next in line for an opening slot. Katich and Rogers, Derbyshire past and present, as opening batsmen would give us all something to be proud of.
Of course, it might also mean that we could be looking elsewhere for an overseas batsman/skipper next year if Rogers played and made a good fist of things. An Ashes tour may then be on the cards and we'd be back to that annual game we know and love, called "Replace the Overseas Pro".
It has happened with monotonous regularity of late, albeit through no fault of the club. They either get injured (Nathan Astle, Jacques Rudolph) or have commitments thrust upon them that they were unaware of (Mahela Jayawardene, Mohammad Yousuf) when they put pen to paper.
If Rogers did get an Ashes place, might an option be Matt Hayden, perhaps doing a similar job to Justin Langer (another we had for a short spell!) at Somerset? At 37 I suspect he'd retire from international cricket, but might just fancy a spell in the county game and one last payday. I've no doubt he wouldn't come cheap, but he's still a fine player, despite his recent Test problems. One only has to look at his average to see that and I'd be thrilled to see him in our colours next season if Buck was elevated to the national side.
His opposition would likely be either Shaun Marsh (son of ex-Aussie opener Geoff) or Phil Hughes, who has scored a lot of runs as an opener for New South Wales this year and is only 21. They may also consider playing Shane Watson as an opener/all rounder to get him in the side, and the Aussies certainly don't lack batting depth.
One that Derbyshire, like other counties, might keep an eye on, is Moises Henriques, a young all rounder, also from New South Wales, who has a Portuguese passport. At 21 he has precocious talent and bowls lively fast medium as well as being an aggressive middle order bat. At this stage I suspect he'll fancy his chances of making the national side as he's been called up for various training camps, but I hope we keep tabs on the youngster as his passport will certainly make him a target for counties in the future if national selection passes him by. Having said that, Jason Krejza was also linked with a county switch, with a Czech father and Polish mother. His recent Test call up knocked that for six, but I think his tendency to bowl a four ball every over might legislate against him unless he can eliminate this flaw in his game.
Anyway, that's it for now. I keep scouring the Internet and cricket sites for any club news and hope that we get something to be excited about in the near future. January is coming fast and then its full steam ahead to another season!
Christmas, I mean. We'd a great time here up in the frozen north and the traditional turkey and trimmings was followed by the traditional dessert of Christmas Pudding and the even more traditional glass of Andrews later in the evening as the realisation hit that I'd overdone the eating yet again (despite vowing not to).
I'd a lovely clutch of presents including "The Derbyshire Chronicles" by Edward Giles which I'm enjoying becaise he's done his research and isn't just regurgitating the same old stuff. I even got a nice, home made cricket bookmark from my daughter to go with it.
I've spent a little time, as I'm off till early January, watching the Test from Melbourne and Matt Hayden's time as an Aussie opener seems to be coming to a close. Where that leaves us is a moot point, as Chris Rogers excellent form suggests that he may be next in line for an opening slot. Katich and Rogers, Derbyshire past and present, as opening batsmen would give us all something to be proud of.
Of course, it might also mean that we could be looking elsewhere for an overseas batsman/skipper next year if Rogers played and made a good fist of things. An Ashes tour may then be on the cards and we'd be back to that annual game we know and love, called "Replace the Overseas Pro".
It has happened with monotonous regularity of late, albeit through no fault of the club. They either get injured (Nathan Astle, Jacques Rudolph) or have commitments thrust upon them that they were unaware of (Mahela Jayawardene, Mohammad Yousuf) when they put pen to paper.
If Rogers did get an Ashes place, might an option be Matt Hayden, perhaps doing a similar job to Justin Langer (another we had for a short spell!) at Somerset? At 37 I suspect he'd retire from international cricket, but might just fancy a spell in the county game and one last payday. I've no doubt he wouldn't come cheap, but he's still a fine player, despite his recent Test problems. One only has to look at his average to see that and I'd be thrilled to see him in our colours next season if Buck was elevated to the national side.
His opposition would likely be either Shaun Marsh (son of ex-Aussie opener Geoff) or Phil Hughes, who has scored a lot of runs as an opener for New South Wales this year and is only 21. They may also consider playing Shane Watson as an opener/all rounder to get him in the side, and the Aussies certainly don't lack batting depth.
One that Derbyshire, like other counties, might keep an eye on, is Moises Henriques, a young all rounder, also from New South Wales, who has a Portuguese passport. At 21 he has precocious talent and bowls lively fast medium as well as being an aggressive middle order bat. At this stage I suspect he'll fancy his chances of making the national side as he's been called up for various training camps, but I hope we keep tabs on the youngster as his passport will certainly make him a target for counties in the future if national selection passes him by. Having said that, Jason Krejza was also linked with a county switch, with a Czech father and Polish mother. His recent Test call up knocked that for six, but I think his tendency to bowl a four ball every over might legislate against him unless he can eliminate this flaw in his game.
Anyway, that's it for now. I keep scouring the Internet and cricket sites for any club news and hope that we get something to be excited about in the near future. January is coming fast and then its full steam ahead to another season!
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
One final piece...
I noted with interest earlier today a piece in which Rikki Clarke, erstwhile of this parish, claimed he is on a diet to aid his return to the big time of English cricket...
Sigh. Been there, heard it, bought the T shirt and put it through the washing machine on too high a wash, thereby wrecking it.
The nearest Rikki will get to the England team is when the Bears play a friendly against them next season. I will realise we are really down among the dead men if tricky Rikki ever makes the national side again. Should he do so ahead of the far more worthy Graham Wagg it will be an outright disgrace.
I can only assume that he got the idea after hearing Derbyshire fans refer to him as a "waist" of space...
I'll get me coat!
Sigh. Been there, heard it, bought the T shirt and put it through the washing machine on too high a wash, thereby wrecking it.
The nearest Rikki will get to the England team is when the Bears play a friendly against them next season. I will realise we are really down among the dead men if tricky Rikki ever makes the national side again. Should he do so ahead of the far more worthy Graham Wagg it will be an outright disgrace.
I can only assume that he got the idea after hearing Derbyshire fans refer to him as a "waist" of space...
I'll get me coat!
Happy Christmas!
Well, I started this blog back in April and if you'd have told me then that I'd have reached 20,000 hits by Christmas I'd have laughed.
I'm absolutely thrilled to have reached this milestone and it encourages me to continue, as do the many kind words expressed by people in e mails over the past few months.
I really appreciate your comments, either on the blog or to my e mail address at peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk
I hope you all have a great Christmas and look forward to renewing our acquaintance in the very near future.
Cheers!
I'm absolutely thrilled to have reached this milestone and it encourages me to continue, as do the many kind words expressed by people in e mails over the past few months.
I really appreciate your comments, either on the blog or to my e mail address at peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk
I hope you all have a great Christmas and look forward to renewing our acquaintance in the very near future.
Cheers!
Mike Hendrick - an appreciation
If, as one might rightly expect, we have seen the last of Mike Hendrick as a man of Derbyshire cricket, we owe him a debt of gratitude.
Many might say he was the last great Derbyshire-born seamer in a line that goes right back to the nineteenth century. You all know the names and while there have been fine seamers since, they've been imports, rather than county born and bred.
There was always a degree of reassurance in watching Hendo take the new ball. There was confidence that it would not be wasted and he was always probing on that spot that was always called the "Derbyshire length". Too far up to cut, too short to drive, too difficult for a great many batsmen. John Arlott, he of the apposite phrase, called it a "grudging length" which sums it up quite nicely. On those rare occasions that Hendo got hit, you knew that we were in big trouble. His run up was economical and his action a textbook and classical sideways on, with the body action generating movement and lift that took many by surprise
I recall a game against Yorkshire at Queens Park back in the 1970s when Hendrick was bowling from the Pavilion end and looked as if he had the ball on a string, ready to jerk away from the bat as the unsuspecting Yorkshireman played forward. The wicket appeared to be unplayable to all except one man, Geoffrey Boycott. In a two-hour masterclass of batting before stumps, the great Boycs played them all with the middle of his bat and looked the class act that he was.
Unlike many of his predecessors, Hendrick earned England call ups and ended up with thirty caps. Some might say that he was lucky to play in an age where there was less competition and cynics said that his regular length was aimed at containing, rather than getting top players out. Be that as it may, he was good enough to take 87 Test match wickets at 25 each and that average was better than those achieved by Messrs Larwood, Snow, Botham or Gough. What George Pope and Les Jackson may have done with similar opportunity is a matter of conjecture, but Hendrick's record stands up to scrutiny and allows him to take his place in the Derbyshire pantheon. I can still recall the feeling of pride when England won in Australia with a side that featured Hendrick, Geoff Miller and Bob Taylor.
770 first class wickets for the County at 20. Not bad is it? Nearly 300 one day wickets at 19. For the younger readers, think Charl Langeveldt. Maybe a little slower, possibly even more outrageous in the lift and movement. His best first class performance was 8-45, while his best one day bowling was a "mere" 6-7...
He was a very fine slip fielder, unusually so for a seam bowler, most of whom spend their fielding time ruminating in the outfield at third man or long leg. He also had a fine throwing arm and a number of players took him on and regretted it soon afterwards. As a batsman he was entertaining and worth a watch. Again, think Langeveldt - if it was in his arc, it went a long way, although often straight up in the air. If he got his range, the area between mid on and mid wicket could look out for a brief bombardment, though with a highest acore of 46 we always knew it was only a matter of time...
We were disappointed when he left us, a victim of that rare Derbyshire problem of dressing room discord - and devastated when his final years were spent across the border at Trent Bridge, where he was only a qualified success after a number of injuries.
He subsequently spent a short while as an umpire, before coaching both Scotland and Ireland prior to his return to Derbyshire. Hendo was pleasant company, very funny with a beer in his hand and an appreciative audience. Those of long memory will remember with fondness the Radio Derby recordings of he and Geoff Miller as old Derbyshire miners discussing Derbyshire's glorious past. "Gladstone and Jackson" were favourites, "Cliff Gladstone used to baaarl big benders". Then there was "that Eric Bartlett from South Africa" who got Derbyshire really fit. So fit, as Hendrick once said "if someone hits our bowling into the next county we'll be the fastest team around to fetch it back".
I remember a few convivial chats with him about the state of Scottish cricket. Like many up here, he became frustrated by the imbalance between Edinburgh and Glasgow (many feel that Edinburgh players have a much better chance of national selection and Glasgow players need to be twice as good to get a rub of the green). Maybe this was a reminder of the difficulties encountered by northern players in England selection. The ridiculous way that average county bowlers like JJ Warr gained England selection ahead of Les Jackson over the years still rankles, while one can go back to the likes of "Topsy" Wass of Nottinghamshire, apparently overlooked because his table manners were poor.
He didn't leave Scottish cricket on the best of terms and the amicability of the Derbyshire departure may be something we will hear in due course. Whatever else, Mike Hendrick can hold his head high in Derbyshire cricket circles. As they say in all the best places, he owes us nowt.
Monday, 22 December 2008
Hendrick leaves
So Mike Hendrick has left Derbyshire, as various rumours doing the rounds had been suggesting for a few weeks now.
According to the club site, John Morris is "restructuring" the bowling coaching. That could mean any number of things, from a new man coming in to a current player taking on additional responsibilities. I can't think that Morris and Andrew Brown would be taking on those responsibilities as neither were bowlers in their playing days.
It wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility for someone like Charl Langeveldt, highly respected (revered even) as a bowler to take on coaching as an "extra", but more realistically a new man could come in.
No doubt Graeme Welch would be a fans favourite, but whether he would leave Essex, where he is doing a fine job, for a position at Derby is a moot point. My gut feeling is that Pop would come back to the county, but only for the top position and that is entirely understandable. I'm not sure whether replacing Hendrick with anyone is technically a restructure. Where I come from, that's called a replacement...
It's not clear at this stage whether there has been a fall out between the two, or whether Morris feels we're needing something from the bowling coach that Hendrick couldn't give. I don't know whether Hendo is a better coach than Morris, but there is little doubt on the evidence of last season that all departments of the game next season need to be stepped up a level. While the bowlers at times seemed incapable of bowling to a line and length, especially in the one day games, our batsmen still seem to panic to an alarming degree.
If we get only one improvement from the side next year, I hope it is that we can be more professional in our run chases. Even following a game on teletext, it became obvious that the fall of Rogers and Hinds was accompanied by mental alarm bells, klaxons and a collective gnashing of teeth. If we could just appreciate that seven an over from the last ten is only one a ball and an occasional boundary, we'll go a long way to becoming a decent side.
And the bottom line is that if players at this level can't work into gaps for singles pretty much most of the time, they're really not first class players.
Like the rest of you, I'll be watching the next developments in this "restructure" with a great deal of interest.
According to the club site, John Morris is "restructuring" the bowling coaching. That could mean any number of things, from a new man coming in to a current player taking on additional responsibilities. I can't think that Morris and Andrew Brown would be taking on those responsibilities as neither were bowlers in their playing days.
It wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility for someone like Charl Langeveldt, highly respected (revered even) as a bowler to take on coaching as an "extra", but more realistically a new man could come in.
No doubt Graeme Welch would be a fans favourite, but whether he would leave Essex, where he is doing a fine job, for a position at Derby is a moot point. My gut feeling is that Pop would come back to the county, but only for the top position and that is entirely understandable. I'm not sure whether replacing Hendrick with anyone is technically a restructure. Where I come from, that's called a replacement...
It's not clear at this stage whether there has been a fall out between the two, or whether Morris feels we're needing something from the bowling coach that Hendrick couldn't give. I don't know whether Hendo is a better coach than Morris, but there is little doubt on the evidence of last season that all departments of the game next season need to be stepped up a level. While the bowlers at times seemed incapable of bowling to a line and length, especially in the one day games, our batsmen still seem to panic to an alarming degree.
If we get only one improvement from the side next year, I hope it is that we can be more professional in our run chases. Even following a game on teletext, it became obvious that the fall of Rogers and Hinds was accompanied by mental alarm bells, klaxons and a collective gnashing of teeth. If we could just appreciate that seven an over from the last ten is only one a ball and an occasional boundary, we'll go a long way to becoming a decent side.
And the bottom line is that if players at this level can't work into gaps for singles pretty much most of the time, they're really not first class players.
Like the rest of you, I'll be watching the next developments in this "restructure" with a great deal of interest.
Friday, 19 December 2008
All I want for Christmas is...
This afternoon my daughter, with an appropriate sigh, told me that "a week today it will be all over".
Yes, it will be Boxing Night (or should that be Boxing Day Night, which sounds a bit like a floodlit match?)The turkey will have been eaten, the presents unwrapped and the Christmas TV will be as poor as ever...
I'm hoping to get a cricket book this year, assuming that my wife has picked up on the hints I've been dropping. Edward Giles book on the Club's two Championship successes that I've fancied for a while. If it matches John Shawcroft's admirable book on the 1936 side I'll be very happy, as you felt you were playing alongside the team in Mr Shawcroft's book. Time will tell, but if not I'm sure I can pick a copy up soon.
What will our players be getting this year? Or, put another way, what would you wish our players might get?
For starters, Steve Stubbings and Paul Borrington might enjoy a little puppy each. That way, they can practice a few strokes that might enliven proceedings in the season ahead.
Dom Telo might enjoy Take That's comeback album, Beautiful World. That single "Patience" might be useful listening as the diminutive South African prepares for a very important second season and stand him in good stead at the crease.
A Sat Nav or two may be in order for our bowlers as they lost the radar too frequently for my liking last year. Bowling better lines might be a good idea in 2009
That classic novel by Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" would be a good read for Jon Clare. After a memorable 2008, there will be many eyes on him this year to see if he can improve still further, or if he experiences that difficult second season.
How about a Wii Fit for Charl Langeveldt? Because if we keep him fit, there's a good chance of a better season this year.
An industrial sized bale of cotton wool would be my choice for Graham Wagg, so we can wrap him in it and ensure his fitness through a long and arduous season. Given Waggy's propensity for hard work, captaincy in the field should be a doddle this year. Let him bowl six overs of seam, give some else a few then bring him back to bowl slow left arm until the second new ball. Sorted!
Tom Lungley should probably not bother with crackers this year, as he pulled enough over the course of the season to last for some time. Unless you can buy crackers that have new knees in them...
For Chris Rogers, I'd suggest a false beard and moustache. That way he can bat at both ends and probably ensure that we do a lot better than might otherwise be the case.
Not too sure of a gift for John Morris, but maybe three wise men might call with whatever he gets to remind him that he HAS to sort that position for the coming season. Far too often last year we went from a good start to two down in no time at all and this key role needs attention.
For John Sadler a DVD of The Good Old Days might do nicely, reminding him of how he batted so well for Leicestershire. Sads is a fair player and could come again, but early season runs would get the critics off his back.
Finally, Wavell Hinds might actually fancy another three sweaters for April, when the conditions will be as far removed from Jamaica as they could possibly be.
I hope that everyone has a good Christmas and gets whatever they want. Like me, you'd probably take an extra present sometime next summer in the form of some silverware, but for now, have a great time and I'll be back on here soon!
PS As its the season to be jolly, I also hope that Rikki Clarke has a good Christmas. Mind you, if his festive season is anything like his batting last year, my guess is that he'll wake up on Boxing Day having missed it...
Yes, it will be Boxing Night (or should that be Boxing Day Night, which sounds a bit like a floodlit match?)The turkey will have been eaten, the presents unwrapped and the Christmas TV will be as poor as ever...
I'm hoping to get a cricket book this year, assuming that my wife has picked up on the hints I've been dropping. Edward Giles book on the Club's two Championship successes that I've fancied for a while. If it matches John Shawcroft's admirable book on the 1936 side I'll be very happy, as you felt you were playing alongside the team in Mr Shawcroft's book. Time will tell, but if not I'm sure I can pick a copy up soon.
What will our players be getting this year? Or, put another way, what would you wish our players might get?
For starters, Steve Stubbings and Paul Borrington might enjoy a little puppy each. That way, they can practice a few strokes that might enliven proceedings in the season ahead.
Dom Telo might enjoy Take That's comeback album, Beautiful World. That single "Patience" might be useful listening as the diminutive South African prepares for a very important second season and stand him in good stead at the crease.
A Sat Nav or two may be in order for our bowlers as they lost the radar too frequently for my liking last year. Bowling better lines might be a good idea in 2009
That classic novel by Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" would be a good read for Jon Clare. After a memorable 2008, there will be many eyes on him this year to see if he can improve still further, or if he experiences that difficult second season.
How about a Wii Fit for Charl Langeveldt? Because if we keep him fit, there's a good chance of a better season this year.
An industrial sized bale of cotton wool would be my choice for Graham Wagg, so we can wrap him in it and ensure his fitness through a long and arduous season. Given Waggy's propensity for hard work, captaincy in the field should be a doddle this year. Let him bowl six overs of seam, give some else a few then bring him back to bowl slow left arm until the second new ball. Sorted!
Tom Lungley should probably not bother with crackers this year, as he pulled enough over the course of the season to last for some time. Unless you can buy crackers that have new knees in them...
For Chris Rogers, I'd suggest a false beard and moustache. That way he can bat at both ends and probably ensure that we do a lot better than might otherwise be the case.
Not too sure of a gift for John Morris, but maybe three wise men might call with whatever he gets to remind him that he HAS to sort that position for the coming season. Far too often last year we went from a good start to two down in no time at all and this key role needs attention.
For John Sadler a DVD of The Good Old Days might do nicely, reminding him of how he batted so well for Leicestershire. Sads is a fair player and could come again, but early season runs would get the critics off his back.
Finally, Wavell Hinds might actually fancy another three sweaters for April, when the conditions will be as far removed from Jamaica as they could possibly be.
I hope that everyone has a good Christmas and gets whatever they want. Like me, you'd probably take an extra present sometime next summer in the form of some silverware, but for now, have a great time and I'll be back on here soon!
PS As its the season to be jolly, I also hope that Rikki Clarke has a good Christmas. Mind you, if his festive season is anything like his batting last year, my guess is that he'll wake up on Boxing Day having missed it...
Fixtures are out
On the face of it, we should do much better next season.
In the Championship, we play the side who I'd see as the strongest in the division (Essex) first, then Surrey and Glamorgan. With Middlesex, Leicester, Northants, Kent and Gloucester in the division, I feel we could do quite well. Kent must also fancy their chances of bouncing back, with a strong batting line-up, but they'll miss their bowling spearhead Arafat who has returned to Sussex.
It is a strange old Championship season though. Three matches in April, then nothing until June. From a purely selfish viewpoint, no home game of any kind at the height of the holiday season when we normally head down there. From the 24th July to August 19th there's not a game at home, which is pretty strange.
I don't expect much from the T20 for two reasons. One, because we're in a strong group, with Durham, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Notts and Leicestershire, and two because - well, we're rubbish at the short game.
The FP Trophy perhaps offers the best hope of one-day success, with Essex, Northants, Glamorgan and Lancashire in the group this year. No Scotland, so bang goes my home game, but the others are sides we could feasibly beat (Essex as long as we get Bopara early).
Its too early just now to do any serious analysis of the season and opposition. How we will fare depends on improvements made by players over the close season and who else we sign.
Who knows, if Morris can pick up Sehwag or Yuvraj for the 20/20, we might even look a side in the shortest form of the game...sorry, that last bit must have been a dream!
In the Championship, we play the side who I'd see as the strongest in the division (Essex) first, then Surrey and Glamorgan. With Middlesex, Leicester, Northants, Kent and Gloucester in the division, I feel we could do quite well. Kent must also fancy their chances of bouncing back, with a strong batting line-up, but they'll miss their bowling spearhead Arafat who has returned to Sussex.
It is a strange old Championship season though. Three matches in April, then nothing until June. From a purely selfish viewpoint, no home game of any kind at the height of the holiday season when we normally head down there. From the 24th July to August 19th there's not a game at home, which is pretty strange.
I don't expect much from the T20 for two reasons. One, because we're in a strong group, with Durham, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Notts and Leicestershire, and two because - well, we're rubbish at the short game.
The FP Trophy perhaps offers the best hope of one-day success, with Essex, Northants, Glamorgan and Lancashire in the group this year. No Scotland, so bang goes my home game, but the others are sides we could feasibly beat (Essex as long as we get Bopara early).
Its too early just now to do any serious analysis of the season and opposition. How we will fare depends on improvements made by players over the close season and who else we sign.
Who knows, if Morris can pick up Sehwag or Yuvraj for the 20/20, we might even look a side in the shortest form of the game...sorry, that last bit must have been a dream!
Friday, 12 December 2008
So, no change there then...
Friday night, mid-December, wind blowing and the rain pouring down. Makes you think of the cricket...
In Australia at present, Chris Rogers averages just under 90 in 4-day games for Victoria, and just over 50 in the short form (that Western Australia thought he couldn't play). Hands up if you'd take those averages from Captain Buck next year?
The only slight concern is that if he carries on in such a rich vein of form and Messrs Hayden and Katich have trouble with the Saffer quicks, our skipper could feasibly get a Test recall and then end up on the plane to England wearing the baggy green. I know that Shaun Marsh is a good player and in the frame, but the Aussies generally reward a player in form with a place in the team, not necessarily bothering about the age of the individual.
Added to the fact that Chris has a proven track record in England and a lot of experience and its not too hard to see how he could be unavailable to us in 2009. I'm not sure where this would leave us, except somewhere up a creek and without a paddle. He is a huge part of our batting and looking at the current staff I can't see where there's an obvious 1,000 runs next year. Plenty of guys who may step up to the plate, lots of potential, but none that you'd put your next mortgage payment on to do so.
I think we need Rogers in there and also a number three batsman to be genuine contenders next year. We have Stubbings and Borrington, but neither are fluent players and if Rogers went early the scoreboard operator would be taking it easy for a while.
Dom Telo could emerge from last season's trauma but has a lot to prove. John Sadler has the ability, but again, needs a good start to redeem himself. Greg Smith is a number six for me, while Wavell will enjoy five, away from the moving ball, especially early season. Dan Redfern is a four, so....
Not sure where that leaves us. Could Garry Park get a chance at three? He's batted there for Durham and certainly their second string and one assumes that he's not come here to play second team cricket for a lesser team. It's an interesting one, that's for sure.
Meanwhile in South Africa, Charl Langeveldt has 23 wickets at 22 and still looks a class quick bowler. One only hopes he gets through the winter unscathed and is able to spearhead our attack in 2009.
If Langeveldt, Wagg, Clare and Lungley all stay fit, I'd expect that attack to carry us to a Championship promotion slot. With plenty of all-rounders, runs should come throughout the order, but ultimate success will be very much dependent on who bats three and how well they do.
Enough for now. Maybe we'll hear news of a signing next week. Now that would be a nice Christmas present!
In Australia at present, Chris Rogers averages just under 90 in 4-day games for Victoria, and just over 50 in the short form (that Western Australia thought he couldn't play). Hands up if you'd take those averages from Captain Buck next year?
The only slight concern is that if he carries on in such a rich vein of form and Messrs Hayden and Katich have trouble with the Saffer quicks, our skipper could feasibly get a Test recall and then end up on the plane to England wearing the baggy green. I know that Shaun Marsh is a good player and in the frame, but the Aussies generally reward a player in form with a place in the team, not necessarily bothering about the age of the individual.
Added to the fact that Chris has a proven track record in England and a lot of experience and its not too hard to see how he could be unavailable to us in 2009. I'm not sure where this would leave us, except somewhere up a creek and without a paddle. He is a huge part of our batting and looking at the current staff I can't see where there's an obvious 1,000 runs next year. Plenty of guys who may step up to the plate, lots of potential, but none that you'd put your next mortgage payment on to do so.
I think we need Rogers in there and also a number three batsman to be genuine contenders next year. We have Stubbings and Borrington, but neither are fluent players and if Rogers went early the scoreboard operator would be taking it easy for a while.
Dom Telo could emerge from last season's trauma but has a lot to prove. John Sadler has the ability, but again, needs a good start to redeem himself. Greg Smith is a number six for me, while Wavell will enjoy five, away from the moving ball, especially early season. Dan Redfern is a four, so....
Not sure where that leaves us. Could Garry Park get a chance at three? He's batted there for Durham and certainly their second string and one assumes that he's not come here to play second team cricket for a lesser team. It's an interesting one, that's for sure.
Meanwhile in South Africa, Charl Langeveldt has 23 wickets at 22 and still looks a class quick bowler. One only hopes he gets through the winter unscathed and is able to spearhead our attack in 2009.
If Langeveldt, Wagg, Clare and Lungley all stay fit, I'd expect that attack to carry us to a Championship promotion slot. With plenty of all-rounders, runs should come throughout the order, but ultimate success will be very much dependent on who bats three and how well they do.
Enough for now. Maybe we'll hear news of a signing next week. Now that would be a nice Christmas present!
Monday, 8 December 2008
Hello, again, hello...
Neil Diamond fans might recognise that line and its pretty apposite as I'm at last back in the land of internet full functionality with the replacement of my laptop by Acer.
Thank goodness for warranties, that's what I say. Had I not been covered, the repairs would have cost a few hundred pounds, especially when it turned out that the motherboard was the problem. Anyway, they've now given me a terrific new model (thanks guys) and I'm back with you all.
To be fair, I've not missed much. The club site has the news of three players and partners at the opening of a beauty salon (!) and a few winter talks by players and visiting celebrities.
The fixtures should be out soon and we can see who we'll be playing - or should that be thrashing - in the coming summer.
I've had a few e mails, which have been replied to by the family Wii console. Its a superb piece of kit but not much fun for typing letter by letter. Anyway, there's little news of new players at present and we all await a "big" signing. Whether that is for the season, or for someone to replace Chris Rogers for the 20/20 I don't know.
Someone on 606 suggests that Mike Hendrick has left Derbyshire, though how much truth there is in that rumour is anyone's guess. Its only been aired there and may well just be a typical story that does the rounds. We're used to them at Derby.
Thanks to Matt of Littleover for the link to a cracking article on Charl Langeveldt that appeared recently in the Saffer press. It is well worth a look and I link to it below. Thanks for that one Matt! Anyone else who comes across something that may be of interest to fans, please let me know and I'll broadcast it here and of course, credit the person concerned.
Rumours also suggest (thanks Tim) that Stuart Law is seeking 180K a year for next season. Again, you pay your money you takes your choice on the truth in this one, but I'm also looking for that sort of money and, like Stuart, am unlikely to get it. He has been a great player but his last season suggests the talent is on the wane and that's outside our compass. With Lance Klusener supposedly set for Glamorgan, there's no sign of the name player as yet.
Until the next time - sooner, rather than later!
Langeveldt article:
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=17&art_id=vn20081121070618762C603045
Thank goodness for warranties, that's what I say. Had I not been covered, the repairs would have cost a few hundred pounds, especially when it turned out that the motherboard was the problem. Anyway, they've now given me a terrific new model (thanks guys) and I'm back with you all.
To be fair, I've not missed much. The club site has the news of three players and partners at the opening of a beauty salon (!) and a few winter talks by players and visiting celebrities.
The fixtures should be out soon and we can see who we'll be playing - or should that be thrashing - in the coming summer.
I've had a few e mails, which have been replied to by the family Wii console. Its a superb piece of kit but not much fun for typing letter by letter. Anyway, there's little news of new players at present and we all await a "big" signing. Whether that is for the season, or for someone to replace Chris Rogers for the 20/20 I don't know.
Someone on 606 suggests that Mike Hendrick has left Derbyshire, though how much truth there is in that rumour is anyone's guess. Its only been aired there and may well just be a typical story that does the rounds. We're used to them at Derby.
Thanks to Matt of Littleover for the link to a cracking article on Charl Langeveldt that appeared recently in the Saffer press. It is well worth a look and I link to it below. Thanks for that one Matt! Anyone else who comes across something that may be of interest to fans, please let me know and I'll broadcast it here and of course, credit the person concerned.
Rumours also suggest (thanks Tim) that Stuart Law is seeking 180K a year for next season. Again, you pay your money you takes your choice on the truth in this one, but I'm also looking for that sort of money and, like Stuart, am unlikely to get it. He has been a great player but his last season suggests the talent is on the wane and that's outside our compass. With Lance Klusener supposedly set for Glamorgan, there's no sign of the name player as yet.
Until the next time - sooner, rather than later!
Langeveldt article:
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=17&art_id=vn20081121070618762C603045
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
A winter warmer
I love where I live, but I wish it was in God's own county.
Scotland is a fantastic place to live and bring up a family. We live in a semi-rural village ten miles north of Glasgow. Close enough to be in the city in no time, but only an hour from the water in either direction. The cricket is good too and although the game doesn't have an especially high profile up here, there are a lot of good clubs and good players. Some clubs run four or five elevens, there are a lot of them with thriving junior sections and the main barrier is the weather.
My first game in Scotland was over 25 years ago, and however cold you've been on a cricket ground, I reckon I was colder that day. The East of Scotland in April is often dry but can be freezing and on this day I had pyjama trousers and long johns underneath my whites, while a vest, T shirt, cricket shirt, short sleeve sweater and two long sleeve sweaters made no impact except to make me look like the Michelin Man...
Of course, two hard chances came my way in the early overs and both went down. It was like trying to catch a ping pong ball between two planks of wood and I went home that evening thinking Scottish cricket was a non-starter.
Of course, years on and I'm still playing and enjoying it. I've played in balmy weather where the sun hat and cream were essential and come off with reddened arms when I forgot to apply it before going out to field for 40/50 overs.
Yet the one regret is that I've not been able to watch regular Derbyshire cricket for years. Any game on Sky is essential viewing and I usually get to two/three games every season when work/holidays/family commitments permit. I think back with a great deal of fondness to going to matches back home.
Of course, it was always sunny. We'd study the weather forecast and go when it was in any way favourable. Many's the time I'd go to bed when I was a kid and pray that the day would dawn bright and sunny, just like Michael Fish or whoever had said it would. I'd wake to a beam of sunshine between the bedroom curtains and sleep a while longer, safe in the knowledge that there'd be a game that day.
After breakfast we'd load the car. Deckchairs - check. Picnic (lunch and tea) - check. Pens and pencils for the scorecard - check. Binoculars - check. I always preferred Chesterfield when I was a youngster as you were closer to the action, but as the County Ground was developed it gained a space in my affections.
Even at that time for Championship matches it was a little like the old joke.
"What time does the game start?"
"What time can you come?"
The exception was the Yorkshire game, when there'd be a good crowd building from early on. You'd to get past the stewards first and Dad used to reckon that Derbyshire took retired SS men from Hitler's Germany. They were many things, but not helpful. Most comments were prefaced "You can't" and I've previously written about encounters with them. We used to get there early enough to be right on the boundary edge (just in case they needed a 12th man...)and we'd settle back to see who was knocking up.
Things were more leisurely then. A few took throw downs but there was little running around the boundary, loosening up or fielding practice before Eddie Barlow's time. I still smile at the thought of Fred Rumsey doing these activities.
Back in July at Chesterfield with my family, we sat on a bench across from the old scoreboard and my mind went back 40 years to my first game there. Yorkshire. We got beaten heavily. Over the years I'd guess I've seen far more defeats than wins, yet the latter are the ones that stay with me. You don't follow Derbyshire if trophies are your raison d'etre. Glory hunters need not apply. Occasionally we will rise from a morass of mediocrity to be competitive and from time to time will threaten to become something special. Under Eddie Barlow, Kim Barnett, Dean Jones and now Chris Rogers.
However many defeats there are, however many times I'll switch off the teletext or computer muttering about the "load of rubbish", I know I'll never get rid of the bug. On match days I'll still wake up and look for the sunshine, or if I'm up here I'll check the forecast to see if we're likely to get the chance to win (I know).
At all the home games, I'll imagine myself sat by the sightscreen with Dad, putting it to rights and getting frustrated when we collapse during a routine run chase.
Forty years of following Derbyshire does that for you.
But they're still MY Derbyshire.
Scotland is a fantastic place to live and bring up a family. We live in a semi-rural village ten miles north of Glasgow. Close enough to be in the city in no time, but only an hour from the water in either direction. The cricket is good too and although the game doesn't have an especially high profile up here, there are a lot of good clubs and good players. Some clubs run four or five elevens, there are a lot of them with thriving junior sections and the main barrier is the weather.
My first game in Scotland was over 25 years ago, and however cold you've been on a cricket ground, I reckon I was colder that day. The East of Scotland in April is often dry but can be freezing and on this day I had pyjama trousers and long johns underneath my whites, while a vest, T shirt, cricket shirt, short sleeve sweater and two long sleeve sweaters made no impact except to make me look like the Michelin Man...
Of course, two hard chances came my way in the early overs and both went down. It was like trying to catch a ping pong ball between two planks of wood and I went home that evening thinking Scottish cricket was a non-starter.
Of course, years on and I'm still playing and enjoying it. I've played in balmy weather where the sun hat and cream were essential and come off with reddened arms when I forgot to apply it before going out to field for 40/50 overs.
Yet the one regret is that I've not been able to watch regular Derbyshire cricket for years. Any game on Sky is essential viewing and I usually get to two/three games every season when work/holidays/family commitments permit. I think back with a great deal of fondness to going to matches back home.
Of course, it was always sunny. We'd study the weather forecast and go when it was in any way favourable. Many's the time I'd go to bed when I was a kid and pray that the day would dawn bright and sunny, just like Michael Fish or whoever had said it would. I'd wake to a beam of sunshine between the bedroom curtains and sleep a while longer, safe in the knowledge that there'd be a game that day.
After breakfast we'd load the car. Deckchairs - check. Picnic (lunch and tea) - check. Pens and pencils for the scorecard - check. Binoculars - check. I always preferred Chesterfield when I was a youngster as you were closer to the action, but as the County Ground was developed it gained a space in my affections.
Even at that time for Championship matches it was a little like the old joke.
"What time does the game start?"
"What time can you come?"
The exception was the Yorkshire game, when there'd be a good crowd building from early on. You'd to get past the stewards first and Dad used to reckon that Derbyshire took retired SS men from Hitler's Germany. They were many things, but not helpful. Most comments were prefaced "You can't" and I've previously written about encounters with them. We used to get there early enough to be right on the boundary edge (just in case they needed a 12th man...)and we'd settle back to see who was knocking up.
Things were more leisurely then. A few took throw downs but there was little running around the boundary, loosening up or fielding practice before Eddie Barlow's time. I still smile at the thought of Fred Rumsey doing these activities.
Back in July at Chesterfield with my family, we sat on a bench across from the old scoreboard and my mind went back 40 years to my first game there. Yorkshire. We got beaten heavily. Over the years I'd guess I've seen far more defeats than wins, yet the latter are the ones that stay with me. You don't follow Derbyshire if trophies are your raison d'etre. Glory hunters need not apply. Occasionally we will rise from a morass of mediocrity to be competitive and from time to time will threaten to become something special. Under Eddie Barlow, Kim Barnett, Dean Jones and now Chris Rogers.
However many defeats there are, however many times I'll switch off the teletext or computer muttering about the "load of rubbish", I know I'll never get rid of the bug. On match days I'll still wake up and look for the sunshine, or if I'm up here I'll check the forecast to see if we're likely to get the chance to win (I know).
At all the home games, I'll imagine myself sat by the sightscreen with Dad, putting it to rights and getting frustrated when we collapse during a routine run chase.
Forty years of following Derbyshire does that for you.
But they're still MY Derbyshire.
Sunday, 9 November 2008
New contact detail
I understand one or two people have had problems with posting on Blogger with the way that it works.
I've now added an e mail contact to the "About Me" section on the left of the page. If you have any news about Derbyshire, would like to comment or have any suggestions, please feel free to get in touch. I'll reply as quickly as I can.
If you've been replying to posts via the blog, by all means carry on as you are.
For those who can't be bothered scrolling down the page, you can contact me at peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk
36? Now what could be the significance of that number..
I've now added an e mail contact to the "About Me" section on the left of the page. If you have any news about Derbyshire, would like to comment or have any suggestions, please feel free to get in touch. I'll reply as quickly as I can.
If you've been replying to posts via the blog, by all means carry on as you are.
For those who can't be bothered scrolling down the page, you can contact me at peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk
36? Now what could be the significance of that number..
Academy News
Its amazing how quickly time passes. That's a full calendar month since the end of the season and we're well into November already. Winter tours are underway, Christmas shopping is upon us and there's still little more news from the County Ground about additional signings.
Even the message boards are fairly quiet across the country but I would think it likely that discussions and negotiations continue apace between players, cricket managers and agents. There are still some big names to decide where their future lies and hopefully one of them may head towards Derbyshire.
On a lesser level, but very important, the club has announced the next intake to the Academy and they sound like promising players. Having come third in he national Under 15 county competition, the younger element in the game appear to have talent and we must hope that they continue to develop apace.
Paul Borrington, Dan Redfern, Jake Needham and left-arm fast-bowler Atif Sheikh will all be part of the professional squad next year, having progressed through the system.
Eddie Ikin, 15, a seam bowling all-rounder who plays his club cricket at Ticknall CC and opening batsman Tom Hamilton, also 15, a product of Swarkestone CC join for the first time having played a starring role for the Under-15 team that performed brilliantly in the ECB Under-15 County Cup.
The full academy intake for 2008/09 includes Ben Slater, Alex Hughes, Sam van Doesdonk, Chris Durham, Georgia Elwiss, Danielle Wyatt, Ikin and Hamilton.
They will benefit from specialist coaching and development throughout the winter, which will range from lifestyle information and sports psychology through to technical work on their cricketing skills.
In addition, fellow graduates - Staffordshire based fast-bowler Ed Jones, left-arm seam bowling all-rounder Ross Whiteley and wicketkeeping prospect Tom Poynton - have all signed summer contracts for 2009.
I'm pleased to see the conveyor belt working well, but there's two names missing that seemed to have a lot to offer. Akhil Patel is presumably too old for the Academy now but hasn't earned a summer contract, while there have been many good comments over the past couple of years about Jack Ratcliffe, who I seem to recall bowled leg spin as well as being a talented batsman. Does anyone know what happened to him? Patel looks to have a lot of talent but has maybe not done enough in either discipline to warrant a contract at this stage. I hope we don't end up missing out on a mercurial talent who is perhaps a later developer.
The only other news is that the England Sixes are doing well in Hong Kong and have made it through the group stages. There's little news on major sites (or if there is it is well concealed) but I hope Waggy acquits himself well.
See you next week - or when there's more news, whichever is the sooner!
Even the message boards are fairly quiet across the country but I would think it likely that discussions and negotiations continue apace between players, cricket managers and agents. There are still some big names to decide where their future lies and hopefully one of them may head towards Derbyshire.
On a lesser level, but very important, the club has announced the next intake to the Academy and they sound like promising players. Having come third in he national Under 15 county competition, the younger element in the game appear to have talent and we must hope that they continue to develop apace.
Paul Borrington, Dan Redfern, Jake Needham and left-arm fast-bowler Atif Sheikh will all be part of the professional squad next year, having progressed through the system.
Eddie Ikin, 15, a seam bowling all-rounder who plays his club cricket at Ticknall CC and opening batsman Tom Hamilton, also 15, a product of Swarkestone CC join for the first time having played a starring role for the Under-15 team that performed brilliantly in the ECB Under-15 County Cup.
The full academy intake for 2008/09 includes Ben Slater, Alex Hughes, Sam van Doesdonk, Chris Durham, Georgia Elwiss, Danielle Wyatt, Ikin and Hamilton.
They will benefit from specialist coaching and development throughout the winter, which will range from lifestyle information and sports psychology through to technical work on their cricketing skills.
In addition, fellow graduates - Staffordshire based fast-bowler Ed Jones, left-arm seam bowling all-rounder Ross Whiteley and wicketkeeping prospect Tom Poynton - have all signed summer contracts for 2009.
I'm pleased to see the conveyor belt working well, but there's two names missing that seemed to have a lot to offer. Akhil Patel is presumably too old for the Academy now but hasn't earned a summer contract, while there have been many good comments over the past couple of years about Jack Ratcliffe, who I seem to recall bowled leg spin as well as being a talented batsman. Does anyone know what happened to him? Patel looks to have a lot of talent but has maybe not done enough in either discipline to warrant a contract at this stage. I hope we don't end up missing out on a mercurial talent who is perhaps a later developer.
The only other news is that the England Sixes are doing well in Hong Kong and have made it through the group stages. There's little news on major sites (or if there is it is well concealed) but I hope Waggy acquits himself well.
See you next week - or when there's more news, whichever is the sooner!
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Another quiet week
Well, just under half of those who voted think Stuart Law would be a good acquisition for next year.
Me too, but if there was a younger model out there I'd be more tempted. There's life in some of those old dogs though. Look at the impact of Shaun Udal last year and Ian Salisbury. Law may not be a whippet these days but fielding at slip and passing on the benefits of his experience would be a doddle for him. It may be inspired work too, but lets discuss that one if/when there's any news.
Elsewhere, Waggy is off to Hong Kong and the sixes so we'll wish him good luck with that. They've a good squad and could do well. I'm not normally that bothered, to be perfectly honest, but Wagg deserves his selection and could be a real asset out there.
Its the final of the Stanford series tonight. The multi-million match or however they are billing it.
Whoopy doop.
The fact that the main talking point thus far has been the WAGs and Mr Stanford tells its own story. The wickets are low and slow and the cricket singularly dull, especially so for 20/20. They have been great tracks for nurdling and for dibbly dobbly bowlers. I was left with the feeling that Wavell would have been hard to get away and Langaeveldt nigh impossible. Unless Gayle has one of his periodic blinders tonight, I expect England to win and head home with big cheques to guarantee their futures.
Outside of the players, however, who cares?
We'd our club AGM this week and first look at the stats for the year. I averaged 17 with the bat and 27 with the ball in 20/20 this year, including a strike rate of just 6 an over from my bowling. I'm less mobile in the field than I used to be (I had my 50th a couple of weeks back) but am available, if selected, for Derbyshire next year...
Mind you, I was also re-elected skipper for the ninth year in a row, so it will have to be around my club commitments!
Until next time. No poll this week. At this stage I can't think of something worthwhile, unless its "Will you be buying Christmas presents from the Club shop"?
Hopefully next week. Any ideas for a poll- let me know!
Me too, but if there was a younger model out there I'd be more tempted. There's life in some of those old dogs though. Look at the impact of Shaun Udal last year and Ian Salisbury. Law may not be a whippet these days but fielding at slip and passing on the benefits of his experience would be a doddle for him. It may be inspired work too, but lets discuss that one if/when there's any news.
Elsewhere, Waggy is off to Hong Kong and the sixes so we'll wish him good luck with that. They've a good squad and could do well. I'm not normally that bothered, to be perfectly honest, but Wagg deserves his selection and could be a real asset out there.
Its the final of the Stanford series tonight. The multi-million match or however they are billing it.
Whoopy doop.
The fact that the main talking point thus far has been the WAGs and Mr Stanford tells its own story. The wickets are low and slow and the cricket singularly dull, especially so for 20/20. They have been great tracks for nurdling and for dibbly dobbly bowlers. I was left with the feeling that Wavell would have been hard to get away and Langaeveldt nigh impossible. Unless Gayle has one of his periodic blinders tonight, I expect England to win and head home with big cheques to guarantee their futures.
Outside of the players, however, who cares?
We'd our club AGM this week and first look at the stats for the year. I averaged 17 with the bat and 27 with the ball in 20/20 this year, including a strike rate of just 6 an over from my bowling. I'm less mobile in the field than I used to be (I had my 50th a couple of weeks back) but am available, if selected, for Derbyshire next year...
Mind you, I was also re-elected skipper for the ninth year in a row, so it will have to be around my club commitments!
Until next time. No poll this week. At this stage I can't think of something worthwhile, unless its "Will you be buying Christmas presents from the Club shop"?
Hopefully next week. Any ideas for a poll- let me know!
Sunday, 26 October 2008
The joy of signings
Here we are, if not in the bleak midwinter (though yesterday felt like it)then a long way from the resumption of County cricket.
Tomorrow night we have our cricket AGM at the club and it couldn't be less like cricket weather. Then again, after last summer, maybe it is pretty close. Yesterday we had high winds and heavy rain, just like August...
When you're a fan of a team, each winter brings hope that you will make signings to galvanise the side and change fortunes, when the reality is that the following season brings the same old, age old problems to the fore.
I really feel that we are not too far away from a very good Derbyshire side, but it has not always been so. Winters have brought news of Derbyshire signings, potential and otherwise. Some have been met with interest (Garry Park recently), some with astonishment (James Graham-Brown - why?) and a few with unbelievable excitement.
I remember when we were set to sign Dennis Lillee back in the 1970's. The best young quick bowler in the world was coming to Derbyshire and we anticipated him destroying teams as he had done England.
Then he did his back and we ended up with (I think) Venkat...
There have been signings that resulted from a scouring of the Professional Cricketers Rest Home for the Elderly. Phil Sharpe, Ron Headley, Fred Rumsey, Fred Trueman - at one point you could have been forgiven for thinking the club was sponsored by SAGA.
Some were exciting but never materialised. Nathan Astle, Mohammad Yousuf and Mahela Jayawardene were all set to sign and pulled out for varying reasons. Jacques Rudolph was another (why didn't we check if he fancied playing as a Kolpak, instead of letting Yorkshire benefit?)
Geoff Boycott too. In the days of his disputes with Yorkshire, there were strong suggestions that he was set to move across the border to us and discussions were held, yet it never materialised.
There have been plenty of strange signings. Shahid Afridi was signed for April and May when he had built a reputation for being a flat track slogger. The results were predictable. He barely made a run (nor a defensive stroke) and his leggies hardly turned on early season wickets. Mohammad Kaif was signed as an up and coming Indian batsman but found the County grind difficult. Travis Birt was retained in place of the soon-to-be European player Michael Di Venuto and we all know how that turned out.
I would love to have been a fly on the wall at some of these discussions, just as long as I could have landed on the table and told the participants that they were mad. I'll defer to professionals on grounds of knowledge in many cases, but the logic of these decisions baffles me now as it did then.
The same with the signing of Peter Kirsten over Allan Lamb. No problem with the former, one of our finest-ever batsmen, but we could have had them both. No one gets it right every time, but we are looking for decisions that illustrate common sense has been applied.
In both of the winter signings so far, the signs are good in that respect. Garry Park was wanted by Durham, has good averages yet needed regular cricket that they could not offer. We signed him - result. Tim Groenewald is signed as a replacement for Wayne White. Is he a better player? Definitely, so again - result.
Whoever else comes in this winter, all that we as fans can ask for is that an obvious, logical thought process has been applied. As long as they appear an improvement on what we already have, were respected by their former employers and are not yet in a bath chair in the field I'm prepared to give them the benefit.
Yet it's difficult. John Sadler looked a sound signing last year after good seasons with Leicestershire, yet did poorly for us. Dom Telo had a good record in South African cricket (albeit at not quite top level) and also struggled. Nayan Doshi had bowled well in one day cricket for Surrey and did so for us, but rarely looked like bowling out sides who were happy to nudge him around for ones and twos. Then there was Rikki Clarke. Less said the better, I suppose, but most of us were excited by his signing last winter and hoped for a lot better than what later transpired.
So, with a few days of October to go, let's all hope that John Morris has something lined up that will get us through the winter months, anticipating better things when April comes round once more.
On my way home from the AGM tomorrow night I'll probably think of April, looking at a scoreboard that reads Derbyshire 375-2 and global dominance. As always, I'll settle for competitiveness and a few wins here and there.
Enough for a trophy, of course.
Tomorrow night we have our cricket AGM at the club and it couldn't be less like cricket weather. Then again, after last summer, maybe it is pretty close. Yesterday we had high winds and heavy rain, just like August...
When you're a fan of a team, each winter brings hope that you will make signings to galvanise the side and change fortunes, when the reality is that the following season brings the same old, age old problems to the fore.
I really feel that we are not too far away from a very good Derbyshire side, but it has not always been so. Winters have brought news of Derbyshire signings, potential and otherwise. Some have been met with interest (Garry Park recently), some with astonishment (James Graham-Brown - why?) and a few with unbelievable excitement.
I remember when we were set to sign Dennis Lillee back in the 1970's. The best young quick bowler in the world was coming to Derbyshire and we anticipated him destroying teams as he had done England.
Then he did his back and we ended up with (I think) Venkat...
There have been signings that resulted from a scouring of the Professional Cricketers Rest Home for the Elderly. Phil Sharpe, Ron Headley, Fred Rumsey, Fred Trueman - at one point you could have been forgiven for thinking the club was sponsored by SAGA.
Some were exciting but never materialised. Nathan Astle, Mohammad Yousuf and Mahela Jayawardene were all set to sign and pulled out for varying reasons. Jacques Rudolph was another (why didn't we check if he fancied playing as a Kolpak, instead of letting Yorkshire benefit?)
Geoff Boycott too. In the days of his disputes with Yorkshire, there were strong suggestions that he was set to move across the border to us and discussions were held, yet it never materialised.
There have been plenty of strange signings. Shahid Afridi was signed for April and May when he had built a reputation for being a flat track slogger. The results were predictable. He barely made a run (nor a defensive stroke) and his leggies hardly turned on early season wickets. Mohammad Kaif was signed as an up and coming Indian batsman but found the County grind difficult. Travis Birt was retained in place of the soon-to-be European player Michael Di Venuto and we all know how that turned out.
I would love to have been a fly on the wall at some of these discussions, just as long as I could have landed on the table and told the participants that they were mad. I'll defer to professionals on grounds of knowledge in many cases, but the logic of these decisions baffles me now as it did then.
The same with the signing of Peter Kirsten over Allan Lamb. No problem with the former, one of our finest-ever batsmen, but we could have had them both. No one gets it right every time, but we are looking for decisions that illustrate common sense has been applied.
In both of the winter signings so far, the signs are good in that respect. Garry Park was wanted by Durham, has good averages yet needed regular cricket that they could not offer. We signed him - result. Tim Groenewald is signed as a replacement for Wayne White. Is he a better player? Definitely, so again - result.
Whoever else comes in this winter, all that we as fans can ask for is that an obvious, logical thought process has been applied. As long as they appear an improvement on what we already have, were respected by their former employers and are not yet in a bath chair in the field I'm prepared to give them the benefit.
Yet it's difficult. John Sadler looked a sound signing last year after good seasons with Leicestershire, yet did poorly for us. Dom Telo had a good record in South African cricket (albeit at not quite top level) and also struggled. Nayan Doshi had bowled well in one day cricket for Surrey and did so for us, but rarely looked like bowling out sides who were happy to nudge him around for ones and twos. Then there was Rikki Clarke. Less said the better, I suppose, but most of us were excited by his signing last winter and hoped for a lot better than what later transpired.
So, with a few days of October to go, let's all hope that John Morris has something lined up that will get us through the winter months, anticipating better things when April comes round once more.
On my way home from the AGM tomorrow night I'll probably think of April, looking at a scoreboard that reads Derbyshire 375-2 and global dominance. As always, I'll settle for competitiveness and a few wins here and there.
Enough for a trophy, of course.
Friday, 24 October 2008
New poll
The news that Stuart Law was being released by Lancashire came as a surprise, despite a poorer season last year.
Would you want him as a close season signing for Derbyshire, or is he past it?
Alternatively, should we go the Kolpak route and sign Lance Klusener?
Those who read this blog regularly will know that a couple of weeks ago I suggested that we might go for Deon Kruis of Yorkshire, who has now agreed to return to the club on a new deal. I'd have to say that the Yorkies don't handle these contractual negotiations too well and never have. Still, at least they have their man for next year while we have signed Tim Groenewald who could be an interesting signing.
I'll be interested to see how this one goes.
Around half of you felt that Garry Park may well turn out to be a very astute signing, while 40% thought they would wait and see.
I'm in the first camp. He appears a good signing and I'm looking forward to seeing him in our colours.
Would you want him as a close season signing for Derbyshire, or is he past it?
Alternatively, should we go the Kolpak route and sign Lance Klusener?
Those who read this blog regularly will know that a couple of weeks ago I suggested that we might go for Deon Kruis of Yorkshire, who has now agreed to return to the club on a new deal. I'd have to say that the Yorkies don't handle these contractual negotiations too well and never have. Still, at least they have their man for next year while we have signed Tim Groenewald who could be an interesting signing.
I'll be interested to see how this one goes.
Around half of you felt that Garry Park may well turn out to be a very astute signing, while 40% thought they would wait and see.
I'm in the first camp. He appears a good signing and I'm looking forward to seeing him in our colours.
Back in business
In the words of that old classic by Willie Nelson - well hello there, my it's been a long, long time.
Having lost internet connection for a couple of weeks when my laptop went away to hospital, I'm now back online and in possession of a much healthier and repaired machine.
So what's been happening? The answer to that is - not a lot.
After the signings of Messrs Park and Groenewald, we're all champing at the bit for more.
Of course, we don't know for sure that there will be much more, but it's a widely held assumption if one does the Maths of the departed. Given that Clarke was on a lot of money, Doshi would have been on a fair salary and Kevin Dean was an experienced professional, there must have been a fair amount on wages for that little lot. Throw in Wayne White's money and it's a fair chunk of the playing budget available.
Of course, Chris Rogers as overseas player would earn less than Rogers the overseas star and skipper, while Graham Wagg has deservedly got an improved deal. My guess, however, would be that we may have 70-80K left for team improvements.
Like most fans, I'd like to see this go on another batsman, ideally one of experience and reputation. A Law, Klusener or Blackwell if you will, though they may all be out of our league and compass. If we sign one of these, I still feel that there is a great need for someone to be our lynchpin in the 20/20 next year. Perhaps Chris Rogers is going to play the full season next year and that would give us an improved batting line-up, but we must have more from the top-order batting next year. Rogers apart, the early order was brittle and it is in need of an old and experienced head. Maybe Law is too old at 40, but his erstwhile team mates and supporters reckoned him the best batsman at the club. Given Hick had some good years post-40, Law might have something to offer the young talent coming through.
As for the new players, I think that Park could be a real gem. In recent seasons for the Durham seconds he has averaged between 50 and 70, while doing pretty well on the occasional first team appearance. His fielding should be worth a few runs before he goes out, so well worth a watch, that one.
Groenewald doesn't appear to have been a huge favourite with Bears fans, but interestingly his bowling average has come down every season. His batting is explosive and he definitely offers more than White, the man he replaced. Whether he is a regular in the four day side, only time will tell, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him in there.
I fancy us to do well next year in the Championship, though I'm wary of using the "P" word. With this side in April, I think we'd be a match for most sides:
Chris Rogers
Steve Stubbings
Wavell Hinds
Stuart Law
Dan Redfern
Garry Park
Greg Smith
James Pipe
Graham Wagg
Jonathan Clare
Charl Langeveldt
We'll need to fit Jake Needham in somewhere when it turns, and there's also Mark Lawson. Throw in Tom Lungley and Ian Hunter as reserve seamers with Groenewald and we've good competition.
Batting competition too.
Pipe at 8, Clare at 10. Good line-up eh?
Having lost internet connection for a couple of weeks when my laptop went away to hospital, I'm now back online and in possession of a much healthier and repaired machine.
So what's been happening? The answer to that is - not a lot.
After the signings of Messrs Park and Groenewald, we're all champing at the bit for more.
Of course, we don't know for sure that there will be much more, but it's a widely held assumption if one does the Maths of the departed. Given that Clarke was on a lot of money, Doshi would have been on a fair salary and Kevin Dean was an experienced professional, there must have been a fair amount on wages for that little lot. Throw in Wayne White's money and it's a fair chunk of the playing budget available.
Of course, Chris Rogers as overseas player would earn less than Rogers the overseas star and skipper, while Graham Wagg has deservedly got an improved deal. My guess, however, would be that we may have 70-80K left for team improvements.
Like most fans, I'd like to see this go on another batsman, ideally one of experience and reputation. A Law, Klusener or Blackwell if you will, though they may all be out of our league and compass. If we sign one of these, I still feel that there is a great need for someone to be our lynchpin in the 20/20 next year. Perhaps Chris Rogers is going to play the full season next year and that would give us an improved batting line-up, but we must have more from the top-order batting next year. Rogers apart, the early order was brittle and it is in need of an old and experienced head. Maybe Law is too old at 40, but his erstwhile team mates and supporters reckoned him the best batsman at the club. Given Hick had some good years post-40, Law might have something to offer the young talent coming through.
As for the new players, I think that Park could be a real gem. In recent seasons for the Durham seconds he has averaged between 50 and 70, while doing pretty well on the occasional first team appearance. His fielding should be worth a few runs before he goes out, so well worth a watch, that one.
Groenewald doesn't appear to have been a huge favourite with Bears fans, but interestingly his bowling average has come down every season. His batting is explosive and he definitely offers more than White, the man he replaced. Whether he is a regular in the four day side, only time will tell, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him in there.
I fancy us to do well next year in the Championship, though I'm wary of using the "P" word. With this side in April, I think we'd be a match for most sides:
Chris Rogers
Steve Stubbings
Wavell Hinds
Stuart Law
Dan Redfern
Garry Park
Greg Smith
James Pipe
Graham Wagg
Jonathan Clare
Charl Langeveldt
We'll need to fit Jake Needham in somewhere when it turns, and there's also Mark Lawson. Throw in Tom Lungley and Ian Hunter as reserve seamers with Groenewald and we've good competition.
Batting competition too.
Pipe at 8, Clare at 10. Good line-up eh?
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Tim Groenewald signs from Warwickshire
Breaking news today is that South African born but English-qualified all-rounder Tim Groenewald has left Warwickshire with a year to go on his contract to join Derbyshire.
Like Garry Park, he was a player that the county wished to retain but he has opted for the greater opportunities at Derby than there would be at Edgbaston, where the legend that is Rikki Clarke stands ahead of him...
He has a tough act to follow, as the previous all-rounders we signed from the Bears, Graeme Welch and Graham Wagg became huge favourites at Derby. A fast medium bowler and big hitting batsman, he has hit more sixes in limited over matches than he has fours, which suggests that life will not be dull when he goes in next season.
It also means that with Wagg, Smith, Clare, Park, Needham and now Groenewald we have plenty of all-rounders to call on next year. It's a good job the ex-captain did leave, as he would have slipped back to seventh best all-rounder at the club!
While Groenewald's first class record isn't spectacular, he has done enough to suggest that there is something there and I'm quite prepared to trust the coach's judgement on this one. I've not seen enough of him to comment, but players take a while to settle in the County game and I'd suggest that there is potential, just as long as we don't expect the new Ian Botham.
So we "give" them Botha, Rankin and Clarke and have had Welch, Wagg and Groenewald in return (OK and Tim Munton, who was unlucky with injuries)
Think we've done better in those exchanges, don't you?
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
FP Trophy Draw
So, next year in a de-regionalised draw, we have Glamorgan, Essex, Northants and Lancashire.
I think we could do OK. Lancashire are nothing to be scared of these days, likewise Northants. Glamorgan don't look world-beaters either, which leaves the holders Essex.
While much rests on recruitment over the winter, at this stage I'd say we could give it a go.
Mind you, it is a one day competition... maybe I should revise that one!
On a different tack, Stuart Law is now available and there are suggestions he could do a job for us.
I'm not keen. He has been a fine player for nearly 20 years, but the signs last year were not good. He averaged 37 in the Championship, about the same as Stubbings and Birch. Meanwhile, in the one days he averaged 22 and 11. Not great is it?
Having rejected a suggestion that we sign David Hemp from Glamorgan on grounds of age, I can't see merit in signing an older player.
It would be going back to the days of signing Phil Sharpe, Ron Headley, Fred Rumsey et al. They all did things of note and none pulled up the trees at Derby. While accepting Law has been a class act, he would logically take the place of either Redfern or Smith next year, players who need matches to improve. For me it would be a retrograde step. Added to the above would be that his ICL links would bar us from the big money if we were to win the 20/20.
Sorry...I forgot. Excuse my cynicism but I've little grounds for one day optimism at present. Loved the comment from a pal the other day who suggested that our one day strategy was for Greg Smith to get a hundred every match! Until our batsmen learn to push it around to keep the score moving, to run fast between the wickets having placed the ball well and not to panic when the run rate goes to 6.4 an over, we'll always be poor at this game.
My old man summed it up nicely last week.
"Batting in one day matches is easy" he said.
"One good thwock and three or four sensible taps an over and you can't lose".
Over-simplified perhaps, but something to consider over the dark nights ahead.
I think we could do OK. Lancashire are nothing to be scared of these days, likewise Northants. Glamorgan don't look world-beaters either, which leaves the holders Essex.
While much rests on recruitment over the winter, at this stage I'd say we could give it a go.
Mind you, it is a one day competition... maybe I should revise that one!
On a different tack, Stuart Law is now available and there are suggestions he could do a job for us.
I'm not keen. He has been a fine player for nearly 20 years, but the signs last year were not good. He averaged 37 in the Championship, about the same as Stubbings and Birch. Meanwhile, in the one days he averaged 22 and 11. Not great is it?
Having rejected a suggestion that we sign David Hemp from Glamorgan on grounds of age, I can't see merit in signing an older player.
It would be going back to the days of signing Phil Sharpe, Ron Headley, Fred Rumsey et al. They all did things of note and none pulled up the trees at Derby. While accepting Law has been a class act, he would logically take the place of either Redfern or Smith next year, players who need matches to improve. For me it would be a retrograde step. Added to the above would be that his ICL links would bar us from the big money if we were to win the 20/20.
Sorry...I forgot. Excuse my cynicism but I've little grounds for one day optimism at present. Loved the comment from a pal the other day who suggested that our one day strategy was for Greg Smith to get a hundred every match! Until our batsmen learn to push it around to keep the score moving, to run fast between the wickets having placed the ball well and not to panic when the run rate goes to 6.4 an over, we'll always be poor at this game.
My old man summed it up nicely last week.
"Batting in one day matches is easy" he said.
"One good thwock and three or four sensible taps an over and you can't lose".
Over-simplified perhaps, but something to consider over the dark nights ahead.
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