I got an e-mail last night that asked how I could choose Eddie Barlow, who only had three years at Derbyshire, over Kim Barnett, who spent most of his career at the club and broke all of the batting records.
Now, if this was a reality TV show, at this point I’d be saying ‘it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.’ Such comments are the norm for X Factor judges when deciding who needs to leave the show, which always leaves me thinking that they must have had a pretty easy life. Personally, deciding on an operation for a child and an entire raft of personal decisions sees such a choice pale to insignificance…
It was a tough call though, but one I thought I’d explained yesterday. Kim Barnett was a lovely batsman to watch and was himself a good captain. He had set ideas about how we could get results, taking a leaf from the great West Indian side of the period by building an attack of pace. This took advantage of some ‘sporting’ tracks at the County Ground, where the wicket was often undistinguishable from the rest of the square. Yet while the opposition often struggled, Barnett would lead from the front and produce an innings that made a mockery of conditions. He bowled tidy legspin or seam too, though the bowling was of an occasional nature as his career progressed.
Barnett is one of my two all-time favourite Derbyshire cricketers, the difficulty being that the other is Eddie Barlow. See the dilemma?
I went over some of the reasons for choosing Eddie yesterday, but to expand a little, he came into a club that was at rock bottom in 1976 and in three years took us to a Lords final that would have been laughable as a concept when he came. His own performances were steady, rather than spectacular, but his runs and wickets usually came when most needed. When people moaned about his batting in his first season (yes, we had moaners then…) he went out and scored 217 against Surrey at Ilkeston…
His statistics?
1976 - Championship - averaged 30, plus 28 wickets at 24
One day – averaged 33 plus 34 wickets at 20
1977 – Championship – averaged 29 plus 46 wickets at 19
One day – averaged 22 and 33 wickets at 17
1978 – Championship – averaged 30 plus 24 wickets at 22
One day – averaged 22 plus 44 wickets at 12
Every season his batting average, however modest, exceeded his bowling one, the true mark of an all-rounder of talent. Yet he was 36 when he arrived at the county. Dad and I have often talked about what we might have achieved had we been able to pick him up six years earlier. In 1970, playing in the Rest of the World side against England, he looked as good as Sobers, averaging 39 with two centuries and taking 20 wickets at just 19 each. As I mentioned yesterday, he was an eye player and at 36, with fifteen years at the top behind him, was past his peak when we signed him - but boy, he could still play!
Captains like Stuart Surridge at Surrey, Ronnie Burnett and Brian Sellars at Yorkshire, Arthur Richardson at Derbyshire and Mike Brearley for England achieved great feats with their sides despite limited personal success. Barlow was at least their equal as captain, yet his own performances were also inspirational.
Besides transforming young players like Tony Borrington, Alan Hill, Harry Cartwright and Colin Tunnicliffe into good county cricketers, he effectively turned Geoff Miller and Mike Hendrick into England players with a strong work ethic and sensible advice. As the latter once commented, Eddie worked on the basis that if the opposition had someone who could hit the ball into the next county, Derbyshire could fetch it back quicker than anyone…
It was just three years, but so much happened in that time. He brought over three young players from Western Province who all played for our Second XI one summer. We opted for Peter Kirsten ahead of Allan Lamb and Garth Le Roux, but must never have fielded a better second string side. Kirsten went on to become the star of the 1981 side that won at Lords, a powerful line-up that owed so much to Barlow and one in which the young Kim Barnett was introduced to the first-class game. The difference between that side and the one inherited by Barlow in 1975 was extraordinary and only a man with his dynamism, positive outlook and skill could have been the catalyst. If you didn’t see the Barlow era, you were unlucky. I consider myself privileged to have seen much of it and live in hope that the excitement of those years will be replicated in my lifetime.
In the same way that Derby County fans still discuss the relatively short tenure of Brian Clough, or the even shorter (effectively one season) period of Carter and Doherty, Derbyshire fans of a certain age will probably always be nostalgic for the Barlow era.
While it didn’t conclude with the definitive proof of its excellence and a trophy, it marked a time when the club emerged from years of mediocrity to become worth watching again.
King B? It’s just got to be Barlow.
Postscript: after a two-year hunt, my lovely wife has told me that she’s managed to source a copy of Eddie Barlow’s autobiography from South Africa and it will be part of my Christmas present. How can you not love a woman like that?!
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Monday, 8 November 2010
Brilliant battling Barlow
The concept of greatness depends on the individual, but I would argue that Derbyshire have had perhaps a dozen truly great cricketers in the wider form of the game in 140 years, and around twenty to thirty who were perhaps bordering on greatness in their services to the county. One day I will have to quantify that more accurately…
So who is King B? There are more candidates than in the As, that’s for sure. Ian Buxton was a solid county player, as was Peter Bowler and to a lesser extent Ian Blackwell, but it is indicative of the strength of the category that they earn only passing mention here. As Nathan points out, Bill Bestwick gave extraordinary service over many years, much of the time effectively keeping one end going when there was little support at the other end.
Third place for me would be Ian Bishop. A fast bowler of lissom action, genial temperament and astonishing speed, Bishop would have been one of the all time greats had he been blessed with a more robust back. Changes in action cost him pace and crucially some of his ability to swing the ball at extreme speed, a potent combination. He could also bat and hit a fine century against Yorkshire at Scarborough, but in this company his contribution to the county cannot get a higher placing than third.
In second place would be Kim Barnett. Our all-time top run scorer and long-time captain, Barnett was perhaps the best locally produced batsman I’ve seen (though John Morris ran him close and was more orthodox.) His play through the off side was impeccable, although his curious, shuffling stance perhaps cost him greater international recognition. He was a good captain too, at his best when he had Phil Russell as coach. The down side was that for a lot of Barnett’s tenure there was considerable discord behind the scenes. While all of that cannot be laid at his door, it would be unrealistic to suggest he was always an innocent bystander.
What it is safe to say was that he remained a batsman of rare talent at county level, one of the best that the county has had. Despite that stance, Barnett watching was always a joy.
Indeed, relegating him to second place is difficult, but while Barnett was every inch the star at local level, Eddie Barlow was an international star who transformed the county. Indeed, had the South African all-rounder not come to Derbyshire and shaken it from the foundations, I doubt we would have experienced some of the subsequent success.
Before he arrived we were at our lowest ebb, a poor side under Brian Bolus, but Barlow, through a strong work ethic, force of personality and sheer talent, made us a side to be reckoned with. While individually the side was of only moderate ability - at least on paper – collectively they were dangerous opponents who you discounted at your peril.
As an eye player, Barlow was past his best as a batsman, yet still produced enough innings to make a difference, some of them quite brilliant. If quick runs were required, Barlow would hit a quick 50. If we were under the cosh he might counter-attack, or could just as happily dig in to frustrate opponents. Irrespective of the style that he adopted, you felt it was part of a plan and eagerly awaited developments. As a bowler he would always take wickets when they were needed, often in clusters as he changed the direction of a match. He caught most things that went his way too, usually at slip.
Yet it was his captaincy that set him apart. At first you’d see him make a bowling change and wonder ‘Why?’ yet it soon became evident as a wicket fell. Fields were changed and catches went to the man who had just been moved. Those making a mistake and/or opponents would be fixed with a basilisk stare, often while those chunky forearms wiped perspiration from his brow. The game rarely stagnated as Barlow didn’t let it, preferring to challenge the opposition as well as his own team.
It was a magical time to be a fan and I lapped it up like everyone else. We didn’t win every match, but we went down fighting and won many more than we were used to. The cricket was aggressive, whether batting or bowling and Edgar John Barlow was the hub, the catalyst, the star and our hero. We’ve had better batsmen and better bowlers, but none who so captured the imagination or had a greater influence.
I’ve written before that two Derby Telegraph headlines will stay with me forever. “Rams sign Dave Mackay” was one. “County sign Eddie Barlow” was the other. Both gave me goosebumps then and still do when I think about them.
Best B? Best any letter for me. End of argument.
Monday musings
There was an extraordinary innings by Loots Bosman for the Dolphins in the MTN40 competition in South Africa yesterday.
Bosman scored 150 from 86 balls before being first man out in the 31st over with the score on 253. His innings included 12 fours and 9 sixes against an attack that included Makhaya Ntini and Nick Boje. It must have been something special, and Loots has been in impressive touch this winter – which is all down to us of course…
Despite such an onslaught, his side ‘only’ ended up with 311 and won the match by just 22 runs after a spirited reply by the Warriors.
It is just a pity that we didn’t see more of Loots in that vein at Derbyshire. His opening knock at Headingley was spectacular, but a knee injury hampered him latterly and the pitches at Derby were far from conducive to someone trying to hit through the ball with any confidence. In some ways it mirrored our signing of Shahid Afridi. The latter had a terrific spell at Leicestershire before we signed him but profited with bat and ball on the mid/late summer pitches. We then picked him up for April and May, when he looked as comfortable as a balloon man on a bed of nails. The Afridi experiment never looked likely to work, though Bosman’s average (29) was far from a disgrace. It just didn’t live up to our expectations, nor requirements.
Changing tack, I was interested to read the Derby Telegraph’s report of Chris Grant joining the committee.
“I hope to be able to assist in the club's development, on and off the field, in any way I can" were the words used. This might suggest that he is prepared to support bringing in the right players financially. I still don’t think that the advent of Mr Grant will see us signing overpriced players for the sake of it, but his input may make the difference between signing an up and coming overseas player and an established name.
Of course, the other way of reading that statement is that he’s now part of the committee and will support the Head of Cricket like any committee man worth his salt would do. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
Speaking of the committee, there have been comments on IMWT about the people on it and that it needs ‘shaken up.’ I’m not sure why, to be honest, as I’m unaware of any shortcomings in that area. I’ve been a committee man for years in both cricket and hockey clubs and the reality is that most people think they can do it better than the current incumbents but very few actually want to. Over the years I have experienced such ‘delights’ as delivering leaflets door to door for gala days, bar and DJ duties at events and lining pitches, many done when there were no other takers outside the committee. I’m not sure who has what responsibilities in the existing setup at Derbyshire, but the tasks are probably the sort that don’t get noticed until no one does them.
I once had an encounter with a talented young player who made his usual 50 then berated a lesser talent for dropping a catch, the latter having made his usual negligible contribution to the batting.
“Why’s that useless blank playing?” he yelled at anyone prepared to listen, before I took him to one side and explained, politely but firmly, that if it wasn’t for that ‘useless blank’ we would have neither the fixture, which he’d arranged, nor the pitch, which he’d prepared. Truth be told, I continued, given the choice between the ‘useless blank’ and a youngster of talent but little consideration for others I would back the former every time. Without the latter we would have been a lesser side; without the former we would not have had a club.
I’m not sure of the motivation in such criticism. First the players, then the Head of Cricket and finally the committee. It’s as if we must have some blood-letting somewhere to satisfy a latent blood-lust. I’ve heard the story that is being alluded to on IMWT, but cannot account for its veracity nor do I intend to. It needs to be remembered, however, that while a shake-up can sometimes be productive, it can also make things go horribly wrong. Look how Somerset fans demanded change after a poor season, and ended up losing Joel Garner, Viv Richards and Ian Botham.
Both 606 and IMWT refer to a player who has an impressive record of wickets for Little Stoke Cricket Club in the last couple of seasons. Various contributors suggest he would be a good signing, but perhaps fail to take into account the fact that the player, who is 21, may not want to play professional cricket, much as Matt Lineker didn’t want to for several seasons. If he has a decent job, the chances are that it would be more rewarding than a county deal at that age or in the long term. League cricket across the country is littered with talented players who choose to play recreational, as opposed to professional cricket for that very reason.
To suggest Derbyshire are unaware of him, or are slow in acting, is unfair, especially when his club are one of only two Staffordshire League clubs to get Pro Coach Sponsorship. This sees current and former first-class players visit the club to coach, a scheme that includes the like of Graeme Welch and Steve Stubbings. If there was anything really special about the lad, surely they would have alerted the club, even if he wasn’t already on the radar? According to the local press in that area, he is a medium pace bowler, not the fast bowler being portrayed in some quarters. Nothing wrong with being a bit slower, but we might as well be as accurate as he obviously is…
It also needs to be remembered that finances are tight, we have a number of seam bowlers already on the staff and that even a summer contract would cost money we may not have. Nor am I sure about the standard in that league, which could also be a factor. Maybe he’s a big fish who enjoys being in a smaller pond? Again, I played cricket against a chap who averaged 70 every season but didn’t want to step up in standard ‘because I enjoy averaging 70.’
Good luck to the guy, I could see his point. Our club gained promotion three seasons running a few years back and went from involvement in competitive matches that were fun to something quite unpleasant. Batting became less a case of scoring runs than escaping with life and limbs intact, sledging was de rigeur and it became increasingly difficult to get an eleven. In short, the fun went out of it.
Finally tonight, have you noticed how slowly things are happening around the country regarding signings? I think this is indicative of the tight finances around the game. There are a lot of players out of contract who will all, understandably, be getting touted around the clubs by agents looking for the best deal for their clients. The clubs will, if at all interested, be holding off for more sensible terms as time passes. While Laurie Evans has now joined Warwickshire, I would see this as a ‘plan B’ in case Younis Khan pulls out of his contract with them to play for Pakistan again.
Until the next time. Thanks for dropping in.
Bosman scored 150 from 86 balls before being first man out in the 31st over with the score on 253. His innings included 12 fours and 9 sixes against an attack that included Makhaya Ntini and Nick Boje. It must have been something special, and Loots has been in impressive touch this winter – which is all down to us of course…
Despite such an onslaught, his side ‘only’ ended up with 311 and won the match by just 22 runs after a spirited reply by the Warriors.
It is just a pity that we didn’t see more of Loots in that vein at Derbyshire. His opening knock at Headingley was spectacular, but a knee injury hampered him latterly and the pitches at Derby were far from conducive to someone trying to hit through the ball with any confidence. In some ways it mirrored our signing of Shahid Afridi. The latter had a terrific spell at Leicestershire before we signed him but profited with bat and ball on the mid/late summer pitches. We then picked him up for April and May, when he looked as comfortable as a balloon man on a bed of nails. The Afridi experiment never looked likely to work, though Bosman’s average (29) was far from a disgrace. It just didn’t live up to our expectations, nor requirements.
Changing tack, I was interested to read the Derby Telegraph’s report of Chris Grant joining the committee.
“I hope to be able to assist in the club's development, on and off the field, in any way I can" were the words used. This might suggest that he is prepared to support bringing in the right players financially. I still don’t think that the advent of Mr Grant will see us signing overpriced players for the sake of it, but his input may make the difference between signing an up and coming overseas player and an established name.
Of course, the other way of reading that statement is that he’s now part of the committee and will support the Head of Cricket like any committee man worth his salt would do. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
Speaking of the committee, there have been comments on IMWT about the people on it and that it needs ‘shaken up.’ I’m not sure why, to be honest, as I’m unaware of any shortcomings in that area. I’ve been a committee man for years in both cricket and hockey clubs and the reality is that most people think they can do it better than the current incumbents but very few actually want to. Over the years I have experienced such ‘delights’ as delivering leaflets door to door for gala days, bar and DJ duties at events and lining pitches, many done when there were no other takers outside the committee. I’m not sure who has what responsibilities in the existing setup at Derbyshire, but the tasks are probably the sort that don’t get noticed until no one does them.
I once had an encounter with a talented young player who made his usual 50 then berated a lesser talent for dropping a catch, the latter having made his usual negligible contribution to the batting.
“Why’s that useless blank playing?” he yelled at anyone prepared to listen, before I took him to one side and explained, politely but firmly, that if it wasn’t for that ‘useless blank’ we would have neither the fixture, which he’d arranged, nor the pitch, which he’d prepared. Truth be told, I continued, given the choice between the ‘useless blank’ and a youngster of talent but little consideration for others I would back the former every time. Without the latter we would have been a lesser side; without the former we would not have had a club.
I’m not sure of the motivation in such criticism. First the players, then the Head of Cricket and finally the committee. It’s as if we must have some blood-letting somewhere to satisfy a latent blood-lust. I’ve heard the story that is being alluded to on IMWT, but cannot account for its veracity nor do I intend to. It needs to be remembered, however, that while a shake-up can sometimes be productive, it can also make things go horribly wrong. Look how Somerset fans demanded change after a poor season, and ended up losing Joel Garner, Viv Richards and Ian Botham.
Both 606 and IMWT refer to a player who has an impressive record of wickets for Little Stoke Cricket Club in the last couple of seasons. Various contributors suggest he would be a good signing, but perhaps fail to take into account the fact that the player, who is 21, may not want to play professional cricket, much as Matt Lineker didn’t want to for several seasons. If he has a decent job, the chances are that it would be more rewarding than a county deal at that age or in the long term. League cricket across the country is littered with talented players who choose to play recreational, as opposed to professional cricket for that very reason.
To suggest Derbyshire are unaware of him, or are slow in acting, is unfair, especially when his club are one of only two Staffordshire League clubs to get Pro Coach Sponsorship. This sees current and former first-class players visit the club to coach, a scheme that includes the like of Graeme Welch and Steve Stubbings. If there was anything really special about the lad, surely they would have alerted the club, even if he wasn’t already on the radar? According to the local press in that area, he is a medium pace bowler, not the fast bowler being portrayed in some quarters. Nothing wrong with being a bit slower, but we might as well be as accurate as he obviously is…
It also needs to be remembered that finances are tight, we have a number of seam bowlers already on the staff and that even a summer contract would cost money we may not have. Nor am I sure about the standard in that league, which could also be a factor. Maybe he’s a big fish who enjoys being in a smaller pond? Again, I played cricket against a chap who averaged 70 every season but didn’t want to step up in standard ‘because I enjoy averaging 70.’
Good luck to the guy, I could see his point. Our club gained promotion three seasons running a few years back and went from involvement in competitive matches that were fun to something quite unpleasant. Batting became less a case of scoring runs than escaping with life and limbs intact, sledging was de rigeur and it became increasingly difficult to get an eleven. In short, the fun went out of it.
Finally tonight, have you noticed how slowly things are happening around the country regarding signings? I think this is indicative of the tight finances around the game. There are a lot of players out of contract who will all, understandably, be getting touted around the clubs by agents looking for the best deal for their clients. The clubs will, if at all interested, be holding off for more sensible terms as time passes. While Laurie Evans has now joined Warwickshire, I would see this as a ‘plan B’ in case Younis Khan pulls out of his contract with them to play for Pakistan again.
Until the next time. Thanks for dropping in.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Random news
The hunt for Saffers is on, with Kent declaring an interest in re-signing Wayne Parnell as their overseas player next season.
Given that only South Africa and New Zealand are without tour commitments next summer, I suspect there will be a few braai around the country next year, as counties that can afford to do so look for a worthwhile overseas star. Earlier this week Worcestershire announced that they are ‘unlikely’ to have an overseas player, though Shakib al Hasan may play for a few weeks in mid-season after his successful stint this year.
There have been early suggestions of Kolpak interest in Makhaya Ntini, though again Kent, for who he starred in a brief stint last year, have suggested they’ll not be pursuing it. Given the parlous state of their finances I’m not surprised, but someone could get a good overseas player who would theoretically be available all season.
Thanks to DCCC Forever for recent comments and his shared enthusiasm for Colin Ingram as a potential overseas player. I doubt that we’ll see the pairing of Ingram and Juan Theron in the T20 though on cost grounds, though I’d share your opinion that it would notionally be an excellent one.
It's also good to read on the club site that Chris Grant has been co-opted onto the club committee. There has been months of speculation that he could be brought on board and all fans will hope that the excellent work he has done at Swarkestone can continue at the County Ground. Some fans will, of course, assume that he will plough money into the club, which is a little unfair. That may happen, but his 'nous' in business will be invaluable to the club. Anything else will be a bonus. Welcome on board Chris - I hope that the relationship is a long and mutually beneficial one!
Given that only South Africa and New Zealand are without tour commitments next summer, I suspect there will be a few braai around the country next year, as counties that can afford to do so look for a worthwhile overseas star. Earlier this week Worcestershire announced that they are ‘unlikely’ to have an overseas player, though Shakib al Hasan may play for a few weeks in mid-season after his successful stint this year.
There have been early suggestions of Kolpak interest in Makhaya Ntini, though again Kent, for who he starred in a brief stint last year, have suggested they’ll not be pursuing it. Given the parlous state of their finances I’m not surprised, but someone could get a good overseas player who would theoretically be available all season.
Thanks to DCCC Forever for recent comments and his shared enthusiasm for Colin Ingram as a potential overseas player. I doubt that we’ll see the pairing of Ingram and Juan Theron in the T20 though on cost grounds, though I’d share your opinion that it would notionally be an excellent one.
It's also good to read on the club site that Chris Grant has been co-opted onto the club committee. There has been months of speculation that he could be brought on board and all fans will hope that the excellent work he has done at Swarkestone can continue at the County Ground. Some fans will, of course, assume that he will plough money into the club, which is a little unfair. That may happen, but his 'nous' in business will be invaluable to the club. Anything else will be a bonus. Welcome on board Chris - I hope that the relationship is a long and mutually beneficial one!
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
CB40
That’s pretty good!
That was my initial reaction on seeing this afternoon’s CB40 draw for 2011, at least until I realised that we had again got the Netherlands and not Scotland. Grrrr…
Group A in full is:
Netherlands
Derbyshire
Middlesex
Worcestershire
Sussex
Yorkshire
Kent
While Yorkshire and Sussex will probably start favourites, Derbyshire will be encouraged by recent performances against the White Rose county. They have to find someone to replace the runs of Rudolph, while I maintain that on a given day we can be a match for any side in the country. All of the sides are beatable and a good start could see a solid campaign.
If we can just get the Yorkies at Scarborough, that would do me very nicely!
The other groups are:
Group B:
Scotland
Hampshire
Durham
Northamptonshire
Warwickshire
Surrey
Leicestershire
Group C:
Unicorns
Nottinghamshire
Glamorgan
Gloucestershire
Essex
Somerset
Lancashire
Group C is a belter and I’m glad we’re not in with that little lot. Just what Gloucestershire wanted after all their departures, while I suspect Graham Wagg may not be fancying his new side’s chances either…
That was my initial reaction on seeing this afternoon’s CB40 draw for 2011, at least until I realised that we had again got the Netherlands and not Scotland. Grrrr…
Group A in full is:
Netherlands
Derbyshire
Middlesex
Worcestershire
Sussex
Yorkshire
Kent
While Yorkshire and Sussex will probably start favourites, Derbyshire will be encouraged by recent performances against the White Rose county. They have to find someone to replace the runs of Rudolph, while I maintain that on a given day we can be a match for any side in the country. All of the sides are beatable and a good start could see a solid campaign.
If we can just get the Yorkies at Scarborough, that would do me very nicely!
The other groups are:
Group B:
Scotland
Hampshire
Durham
Northamptonshire
Warwickshire
Surrey
Leicestershire
Group C:
Unicorns
Nottinghamshire
Glamorgan
Gloucestershire
Essex
Somerset
Lancashire
Group C is a belter and I’m glad we’re not in with that little lot. Just what Gloucestershire wanted after all their departures, while I suspect Graham Wagg may not be fancying his new side’s chances either…
Tuesday thoughts
It has again been a fairly quiet weekend on the news front, with little cricket news of real consequence to report.
Colin Ingram scored another century for South Africa against Pakistan and seems to be a player of real talent. Thanks to ‘Anon’ who pointed out that Ingram played for two seasons with great success for Spondon, scoring 2,400 runs at an average of 57. I’d not be at all disappointed if he were to return to the area as our overseas player next season, though I wouldn't necessarily see him as captaincy material.
I don’t understand the pessimism of some supporters with regard to next year. Even if, in common with other counties, we have to reduce our playing budget, I think we have the nucleus of a decent squad, certainly better on paper than some others at present. I posted on IMWT the other night, in reply to someone who suggested I must be crazy to write such a thing. Of course, in an ideal world we could and would replace Robin Pietersen, Graham Wagg and Chris Rogers with Daniel Vettori, Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith, but this isn’t fantasy cricket. When times are hard, cloth has to be cut to suit and we have to remember restrictions on overseas players, the Memorandum of Understanding and the hectic nature of international cricket these days, as well as budgetary considerations.
Comparisons with even five or six years ago are unfair, as there are now far greater controls over who you can and can’t sign and on the general availability/affordability of players. The gap between the rich counties and the poor ones has widened and we must accept that this is unlikely to change in the near future.
Like all of you, I was delighted to see that Mark Footitt and Wayne Madsen have signed new contracts, but anyone who thinks that this will be on their existing terms is delusional. Both are fine players who will be rightly rewarded for good performances. In contrast to Graham Wagg, their demands will have been deemed affordable and our ongoing recruitment will continue in similar vein as finance permits.
On a different tack, my money is on someone signing Makhaya Ntini on a Kolpak deal now he has finished in international cricket. He would be a terrific signing, but I'm less sure who has the money to do so.
Finally tonight, I’m no betting man but I’d have £100 that the man who comes out as Derbyshire’s best-ever player whose surname begins with an I in the club website A-Z will be Richard Illingworth.
Why? Because he’s the only bloke to play for us with a name beginning with that letter. If you were wanting to introduce a little (I use the word loosely) competition, you could include Clive Inman, who had a few one-day games for us prior to retirement in the 1970’s. Mind you, my Dad was never sure whether we’d signed him or his namesake John from Are You Being Served.
I guess that tells you he was largely unsuccessful…
Colin Ingram scored another century for South Africa against Pakistan and seems to be a player of real talent. Thanks to ‘Anon’ who pointed out that Ingram played for two seasons with great success for Spondon, scoring 2,400 runs at an average of 57. I’d not be at all disappointed if he were to return to the area as our overseas player next season, though I wouldn't necessarily see him as captaincy material.
I don’t understand the pessimism of some supporters with regard to next year. Even if, in common with other counties, we have to reduce our playing budget, I think we have the nucleus of a decent squad, certainly better on paper than some others at present. I posted on IMWT the other night, in reply to someone who suggested I must be crazy to write such a thing. Of course, in an ideal world we could and would replace Robin Pietersen, Graham Wagg and Chris Rogers with Daniel Vettori, Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith, but this isn’t fantasy cricket. When times are hard, cloth has to be cut to suit and we have to remember restrictions on overseas players, the Memorandum of Understanding and the hectic nature of international cricket these days, as well as budgetary considerations.
Comparisons with even five or six years ago are unfair, as there are now far greater controls over who you can and can’t sign and on the general availability/affordability of players. The gap between the rich counties and the poor ones has widened and we must accept that this is unlikely to change in the near future.
Like all of you, I was delighted to see that Mark Footitt and Wayne Madsen have signed new contracts, but anyone who thinks that this will be on their existing terms is delusional. Both are fine players who will be rightly rewarded for good performances. In contrast to Graham Wagg, their demands will have been deemed affordable and our ongoing recruitment will continue in similar vein as finance permits.
On a different tack, my money is on someone signing Makhaya Ntini on a Kolpak deal now he has finished in international cricket. He would be a terrific signing, but I'm less sure who has the money to do so.
Finally tonight, I’m no betting man but I’d have £100 that the man who comes out as Derbyshire’s best-ever player whose surname begins with an I in the club website A-Z will be Richard Illingworth.
Why? Because he’s the only bloke to play for us with a name beginning with that letter. If you were wanting to introduce a little (I use the word loosely) competition, you could include Clive Inman, who had a few one-day games for us prior to retirement in the 1970’s. Mind you, my Dad was never sure whether we’d signed him or his namesake John from Are You Being Served.
I guess that tells you he was largely unsuccessful…
Friday, 29 October 2010
Something for the weekend
Former Derbyshire player Dominic Telo was in the runs for Western Province yesterday, making what was called a ‘sparkling’ 96 before being dismissed.
Telo is now skipper of the side, which for old cricket fans like me makes confusing reading. Western Province was one of the country’s top sides for many years and the home of Eddie Barlow, Adrian Kuiper and Peter Kirsten among others. The reorganisation of their domestic competitions means that they now play in what is effectively a second-tier competition. If you don’t have an animal name now in South African cricket you’re nothing (unless you’re a Titan, Knight or Warrior of course!)
That he could bat was evident to anyone who saw him, but Telo, who looked beautifully balanced and composed at the crease, got out far too often when he was going well. Twenties, thirties and forties are OK, but are ultimately frustrating for team mates and supporters alike. Even that 96, in his career record, will go down as a fifty.
Meanwhile, Greg Smith is playing for the wonderfully named Mountaineers in Zimbabwe (bet they climb the table well…) and bowled seven overs for twenty-five yesterday. Considering the opposition were 443-6 the last time I looked, I bet he’s glad he’d little more to do. There was another century for Garry Ballance for their opponents, the even more wonderfully named Mid-West Rhinos. I wonder if he’ll be tempted back to Zimbabwe cricket when he finishes his degree?
Changing tack, there’s a nice idea from Nathan Fern on the club site with his A-Z of Derbyshire cricket greats. He makes a very valid comment about web polls giving an unfair bias to young people, generally the only ones who can be bothered to vote yet often with the blinkered opinion of inexperience. I recently saw a web poll that declared Garry Barlow was the greatest-ever songwriter and Take That the greatest-ever group. I’m not so sure that you could discount Lennon and McCartney for the former, not to mention Gershwin, Berlin or Rodgers and Hammerstein. Take That better than the Beatles, or the Stones? Hmmm…
As I’ve said before, comparing players from different generations is impossible, as the game has evolved. WG Grace would probably not make 200 runs in a season today, but was a giant of his era and crucial in the development of the game. Was Wally Hammond better than Peter May, or was Lillee better than Larwood?
Nathan’s first choice at A was the worthy Albert Alderman, opening batsman in the Championship side of 1936. For me, the selection was the antithesis of voting for modern players and was perhaps a vote for an old-timer for nostalgic reasons, especially in a year when we celebrate our 140th anniversary.
Was Alderman better than Chris Adams? I didn’t see him, but my Dad did and reckons he was ‘workmanlike but nowt brilliant.’ While his solid batting in 1936 contributed to the success that summer (as Denis Smith was woefully out of touch) he experienced many fallow seasons. He was a sticker, like Alan Hill and Steve Stubbings in more recent times and was probably worth a few runs more than his average suggests. Nathan points out the uncovered wickets of the time, but there were some truly great bowlers around in the 1930s, far more than is the case today.
Chris Adams’ form in 1996 could equally have won us the Championship and it was sad to see a player with so much talent ultimately flower elsewhere, as the highly successful skipper at Sussex. He played some fine innings for us though, learning a great deal from Dean Jones in particular.
Selecting Alderman also means that you overlook the claims of the brilliant Mohammad Azharuddin, who played some majestic innings for the county in an albeit brief stay. I would suggest that he played three of the best ten innings I’ve seen by a Derbyshire player, with his double century at Queens Park against Durham on a spinning track a quite sublime piece of batting.
It all comes down to preference. Alderman’s long service, Adams’ few seasons or Azharuddin’s year and a half? After a little thought, and aided by the way that the Indian genius (not a word I use lightly) left under something of a cloud, I’ll plump for Adams.
Perhaps if we’d noted his credentials and aptitude for captaincy a little earlier, the recent histories of Derbyshire and Sussex may have been considerably different.
In closing, a suggestion for what may prove the problem letters of X and Z.
For the former, I could give a few dozen examples of X-certificate batting over the years.
Z? No names, but there have been a few over the years whose batting has enabled spectators to catch up on their sleep. Zzzzzzzz….
Postscript - Greg Smith 44 not out at the end of the day in a score of 132-5 chasing 460. They've got a mountain to climb...
Telo is now skipper of the side, which for old cricket fans like me makes confusing reading. Western Province was one of the country’s top sides for many years and the home of Eddie Barlow, Adrian Kuiper and Peter Kirsten among others. The reorganisation of their domestic competitions means that they now play in what is effectively a second-tier competition. If you don’t have an animal name now in South African cricket you’re nothing (unless you’re a Titan, Knight or Warrior of course!)
That he could bat was evident to anyone who saw him, but Telo, who looked beautifully balanced and composed at the crease, got out far too often when he was going well. Twenties, thirties and forties are OK, but are ultimately frustrating for team mates and supporters alike. Even that 96, in his career record, will go down as a fifty.
Meanwhile, Greg Smith is playing for the wonderfully named Mountaineers in Zimbabwe (bet they climb the table well…) and bowled seven overs for twenty-five yesterday. Considering the opposition were 443-6 the last time I looked, I bet he’s glad he’d little more to do. There was another century for Garry Ballance for their opponents, the even more wonderfully named Mid-West Rhinos. I wonder if he’ll be tempted back to Zimbabwe cricket when he finishes his degree?
Changing tack, there’s a nice idea from Nathan Fern on the club site with his A-Z of Derbyshire cricket greats. He makes a very valid comment about web polls giving an unfair bias to young people, generally the only ones who can be bothered to vote yet often with the blinkered opinion of inexperience. I recently saw a web poll that declared Garry Barlow was the greatest-ever songwriter and Take That the greatest-ever group. I’m not so sure that you could discount Lennon and McCartney for the former, not to mention Gershwin, Berlin or Rodgers and Hammerstein. Take That better than the Beatles, or the Stones? Hmmm…
As I’ve said before, comparing players from different generations is impossible, as the game has evolved. WG Grace would probably not make 200 runs in a season today, but was a giant of his era and crucial in the development of the game. Was Wally Hammond better than Peter May, or was Lillee better than Larwood?
Nathan’s first choice at A was the worthy Albert Alderman, opening batsman in the Championship side of 1936. For me, the selection was the antithesis of voting for modern players and was perhaps a vote for an old-timer for nostalgic reasons, especially in a year when we celebrate our 140th anniversary.
Was Alderman better than Chris Adams? I didn’t see him, but my Dad did and reckons he was ‘workmanlike but nowt brilliant.’ While his solid batting in 1936 contributed to the success that summer (as Denis Smith was woefully out of touch) he experienced many fallow seasons. He was a sticker, like Alan Hill and Steve Stubbings in more recent times and was probably worth a few runs more than his average suggests. Nathan points out the uncovered wickets of the time, but there were some truly great bowlers around in the 1930s, far more than is the case today.
Chris Adams’ form in 1996 could equally have won us the Championship and it was sad to see a player with so much talent ultimately flower elsewhere, as the highly successful skipper at Sussex. He played some fine innings for us though, learning a great deal from Dean Jones in particular.
Selecting Alderman also means that you overlook the claims of the brilliant Mohammad Azharuddin, who played some majestic innings for the county in an albeit brief stay. I would suggest that he played three of the best ten innings I’ve seen by a Derbyshire player, with his double century at Queens Park against Durham on a spinning track a quite sublime piece of batting.
It all comes down to preference. Alderman’s long service, Adams’ few seasons or Azharuddin’s year and a half? After a little thought, and aided by the way that the Indian genius (not a word I use lightly) left under something of a cloud, I’ll plump for Adams.
Perhaps if we’d noted his credentials and aptitude for captaincy a little earlier, the recent histories of Derbyshire and Sussex may have been considerably different.
In closing, a suggestion for what may prove the problem letters of X and Z.
For the former, I could give a few dozen examples of X-certificate batting over the years.
Z? No names, but there have been a few over the years whose batting has enabled spectators to catch up on their sleep. Zzzzzzzz….
Postscript - Greg Smith 44 not out at the end of the day in a score of 132-5 chasing 460. They've got a mountain to climb...
Thursday, 28 October 2010
Consideration needed.
An article in the Coventry Telegraph today explained the reason behind Tim Ambrose’s wretched season at Warwickshire and is a salutory lesson for those who are perhaps too quick to criticise players for poor performance.
You can see the article at:
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-warwickshire-sport/coventry-warwickshire-cricket/warwickshire-ccc/2010/10/28/ambrose-considered-quitting-as-personal-crisis-wrecked-his-game-92746-27554979/
It is very easy for people to forget that cricketers are like everyone else in life. They have their share of problems off the field that impairs their judgement and can easily affect their form. Who among us hasn’t had a personal crisis that affected them profoundly over the short or long term? Yet cricketers are ‘expected’ by a minority of fans to always be at the top of their game, like those in other sports.
A marital crisis, the illness of a loved one, money worries or even lack of sleep because of a new baby can all make day to day routines more difficult. In a game like cricket, where the difference between success and failure can be measured in millimetres, the consequences are much more obvious. If I have a bad night and don’t shift quite so much paperwork there is always tomorrow. For a cricketer, that bad night can result in an early dismissal and tomorrow brings their failings to the fore in black and white.
We need to remember that next season. There may be times when our heroes fall short of our expectations, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not trying their best.
You can see the article at:
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-warwickshire-sport/coventry-warwickshire-cricket/warwickshire-ccc/2010/10/28/ambrose-considered-quitting-as-personal-crisis-wrecked-his-game-92746-27554979/
It is very easy for people to forget that cricketers are like everyone else in life. They have their share of problems off the field that impairs their judgement and can easily affect their form. Who among us hasn’t had a personal crisis that affected them profoundly over the short or long term? Yet cricketers are ‘expected’ by a minority of fans to always be at the top of their game, like those in other sports.
A marital crisis, the illness of a loved one, money worries or even lack of sleep because of a new baby can all make day to day routines more difficult. In a game like cricket, where the difference between success and failure can be measured in millimetres, the consequences are much more obvious. If I have a bad night and don’t shift quite so much paperwork there is always tomorrow. For a cricketer, that bad night can result in an early dismissal and tomorrow brings their failings to the fore in black and white.
We need to remember that next season. There may be times when our heroes fall short of our expectations, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not trying their best.
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Bits and pieces...
Sorry its been a little quiet over recent days but a potent combination of family commitments and little news has created a brief hiatus.
Chris Benham, a batsman of some talent, has opted to leave Hampshire for opportunities elsewhere. He could find that opportunity at Gloucestershire, who would appear to be short of players, but a first class average of 28 at the age of 27 doesn’t suggest that competition will be fierce for potential employers. Useful a player as he may be, he doesn’t strike me as substantially better than what we have and I told you my thoughts on that last week.
Those keeping an eye on the scene overseas will have noted that Glamorgan’s Mark Cosgrove made an impressive 150 for Tasmania, while the latest in a long line of young batting talents in South Africa have taken to international cricket like ducks to water. Both David Miller and Colin Ingram have shown themselves unfazed by the demands of the game and the pressures of tight finishes. Miller, at 21, looks a real talent with impressive averages in all forms of the one day game though slightly less in the longer format. The powerfully built Ingram, four years older, appears to be even more impressive, with the added benefit of experience. Both players are racking up international one-day matches and I have a feeling that we could see one or both in the county game next summer.
Both have a tough job in breaking through to the first choice, full-strength South African side. With Smith, Amla, de Villiers, Kallis, Prince and Duminy ahead of them, they will surely want to increase their experience and build their reputations in a different environment. The county game would be an ideal opportunity and I have a feeling that a discerning county cricket chief would make a shrewd move in picking up such versatile young players, who would theoretically be available for most, if not all of the summer.
Indeed, Ingram also has useful leg spin to offer, with career best figures of 4-16 at a reasonable average. Unless personal circumstances dictated otherwise, I would be very surprised if someone didn’t make a move for his services in 2011.
Elsewhere, Paul Nixon has signed for another year at Leicestershire. Since Shaun Udal’s retirement he must surely be the oldest player in the county game. He has been a good servant to them and will doubtless continue to lend experience to a youthful and talented batting lineup.
Finally tonight, news today that Bon Jovi are set to play Old Trafford on June 24, which is more than the county plan to do next season. There’s something quirky about a band who sprang to prominence with Livin’ On a Prayer playing on the ground of a team who have been praying for Championship success since the 1930’s…
Chris Benham, a batsman of some talent, has opted to leave Hampshire for opportunities elsewhere. He could find that opportunity at Gloucestershire, who would appear to be short of players, but a first class average of 28 at the age of 27 doesn’t suggest that competition will be fierce for potential employers. Useful a player as he may be, he doesn’t strike me as substantially better than what we have and I told you my thoughts on that last week.
Those keeping an eye on the scene overseas will have noted that Glamorgan’s Mark Cosgrove made an impressive 150 for Tasmania, while the latest in a long line of young batting talents in South Africa have taken to international cricket like ducks to water. Both David Miller and Colin Ingram have shown themselves unfazed by the demands of the game and the pressures of tight finishes. Miller, at 21, looks a real talent with impressive averages in all forms of the one day game though slightly less in the longer format. The powerfully built Ingram, four years older, appears to be even more impressive, with the added benefit of experience. Both players are racking up international one-day matches and I have a feeling that we could see one or both in the county game next summer.
Both have a tough job in breaking through to the first choice, full-strength South African side. With Smith, Amla, de Villiers, Kallis, Prince and Duminy ahead of them, they will surely want to increase their experience and build their reputations in a different environment. The county game would be an ideal opportunity and I have a feeling that a discerning county cricket chief would make a shrewd move in picking up such versatile young players, who would theoretically be available for most, if not all of the summer.
Indeed, Ingram also has useful leg spin to offer, with career best figures of 4-16 at a reasonable average. Unless personal circumstances dictated otherwise, I would be very surprised if someone didn’t make a move for his services in 2011.
Elsewhere, Paul Nixon has signed for another year at Leicestershire. Since Shaun Udal’s retirement he must surely be the oldest player in the county game. He has been a good servant to them and will doubtless continue to lend experience to a youthful and talented batting lineup.
Finally tonight, news today that Bon Jovi are set to play Old Trafford on June 24, which is more than the county plan to do next season. There’s something quirky about a band who sprang to prominence with Livin’ On a Prayer playing on the ground of a team who have been praying for Championship success since the 1930’s…
Friday, 22 October 2010
Something for the weekend
There was an array of season statistics in the Wisden Cricketer this month, but nothing, to my disappointment, on the performance of overseas players who were brought in specifically for the T20.
While some of the names below were engaged as season-long overseas players, the figures make interesting reading. Please note that I’ve omitted some players who played the odd match. The pick of these was Andrew MacDonald at Leicestershire, who averaged 86 but only played in three matches.
Derbyshire - Loots Bosman 368 runs @ 29 / Charl Langeveldt 13 wickets @ 23
Durham - Ross Taylor 315 runs @ 39 / Albie Morkel 272 runs @ 34 and 7 wickets at 42
Essex - Scott Styris 392 runs @ 36 and 13 wickets @ 31 / Danish Kaneria 17 wickets at 17
Glamorgan - Mark Cosgrove 562 runs @ 35 / Shaun Tait 7 wickets @ 41
Gloucestershire - James Franklin 470 runs @ 39 and 8 wickets @ 40
Hampshire - Abdul Razzaq 183 runs @ 20 and 7 wickets @ 35 / Daniel Christian 33 runs @ 8 and 9 wickets at 31
Kent – Malinga Bandara 17 wickets @ 22
Lancashire – Simon Katich 185 runs at 26 / Nathan McCullum 155 runs @ 17 and 11 wickets @ 30
Leicestershire – Brad Hodge 431 runs at 28 and 10 wickets at 18
Middlesex – Adam Gilchrist 212 runs @ 30: Dave Warner 260 @ 20
Northamptonshire - Chaminda Vaas 412 runs @ 25 and 23 wickets @ 15: Elton Chigumbura 160 runs @ 22 and 10 wickets @ 21
Nottinghamshire - David Hussey 524 runs @ 44: Dirk Nannes 17 wickets @ 28
Somerset - Keiron Pollard 354 runs @ 32 and 29 wickets at 15: Murali Kartik 13 wickets @ 30
Surrey - Andrew Symonds 263 runs @ 20 and 12 wickets @ 25: Younis Khan 154 runs @ 15
Sussex – Brendon McCullum 200 runs @ 33: Yasir Arafat 13 wickets @ 30
Warwickshire - Imran Tahir 20 wickets @ 20
Worcestershire - Sanath Jayasuriya 267 runs @ 26 Phil Jaques 330 runs @ 33
Yorkshire - Herschelle Gibbs 443 runs @ 37
While I accept that batting averages for T20 will not compare with those in other forms of the game, some of those above didn’t get a great deal of value from their imports. Lancashire, Middlesex and Surrey all have reason to feel short-changed by their players, while Hampshire seem to have won the competition despite, rather than because of their imports.
Keiron Pollard’s statistics suggest that he was probably worth the sizeable outlay, while Northamptonshire did better than most with their signings. I highlighted the value of Chaminda Vaas last winter having watched the IPL and he didn’t disappoint, nor did Elton Chigumbura, who ripped us apart in that decisive nightmare game at the County Ground.
Essex and Nottinghamshire also did well with their players, though Surrey must get the booby prize for their two high profile (and presumably cost) players. I just wonder if Ashley Giles saw these statistics before taking Younis on a two-year deal…
Derbyshire? Loots Bosman pretty much lived up to his career average, but struggled with a knee injury, while Charl Langeveldt still bowled with control but looked noticeably slower than two years ago. You couldn’t say they let anyone down, but they didn’t quite produce as often as we’d have liked. Mind you, Bosman’s assault on Yorkshire at Headingley will live long in the memory and there’s a lot of people would love to play just one innings like that.
For what its worth, my benchmark for ‘circus cricket’ is an average of 35 for a batsman and a bowling average of twenty and/or impressive parsimony from a bowler. If you’re bringing someone from the other side of the world that has to be a consideration.
On that basis, there’s not too many successes in that list.
While some of the names below were engaged as season-long overseas players, the figures make interesting reading. Please note that I’ve omitted some players who played the odd match. The pick of these was Andrew MacDonald at Leicestershire, who averaged 86 but only played in three matches.
Derbyshire - Loots Bosman 368 runs @ 29 / Charl Langeveldt 13 wickets @ 23
Durham - Ross Taylor 315 runs @ 39 / Albie Morkel 272 runs @ 34 and 7 wickets at 42
Essex - Scott Styris 392 runs @ 36 and 13 wickets @ 31 / Danish Kaneria 17 wickets at 17
Glamorgan - Mark Cosgrove 562 runs @ 35 / Shaun Tait 7 wickets @ 41
Gloucestershire - James Franklin 470 runs @ 39 and 8 wickets @ 40
Hampshire - Abdul Razzaq 183 runs @ 20 and 7 wickets @ 35 / Daniel Christian 33 runs @ 8 and 9 wickets at 31
Kent – Malinga Bandara 17 wickets @ 22
Lancashire – Simon Katich 185 runs at 26 / Nathan McCullum 155 runs @ 17 and 11 wickets @ 30
Leicestershire – Brad Hodge 431 runs at 28 and 10 wickets at 18
Middlesex – Adam Gilchrist 212 runs @ 30: Dave Warner 260 @ 20
Northamptonshire - Chaminda Vaas 412 runs @ 25 and 23 wickets @ 15: Elton Chigumbura 160 runs @ 22 and 10 wickets @ 21
Nottinghamshire - David Hussey 524 runs @ 44: Dirk Nannes 17 wickets @ 28
Somerset - Keiron Pollard 354 runs @ 32 and 29 wickets at 15: Murali Kartik 13 wickets @ 30
Surrey - Andrew Symonds 263 runs @ 20 and 12 wickets @ 25: Younis Khan 154 runs @ 15
Sussex – Brendon McCullum 200 runs @ 33: Yasir Arafat 13 wickets @ 30
Warwickshire - Imran Tahir 20 wickets @ 20
Worcestershire - Sanath Jayasuriya 267 runs @ 26 Phil Jaques 330 runs @ 33
Yorkshire - Herschelle Gibbs 443 runs @ 37
While I accept that batting averages for T20 will not compare with those in other forms of the game, some of those above didn’t get a great deal of value from their imports. Lancashire, Middlesex and Surrey all have reason to feel short-changed by their players, while Hampshire seem to have won the competition despite, rather than because of their imports.
Keiron Pollard’s statistics suggest that he was probably worth the sizeable outlay, while Northamptonshire did better than most with their signings. I highlighted the value of Chaminda Vaas last winter having watched the IPL and he didn’t disappoint, nor did Elton Chigumbura, who ripped us apart in that decisive nightmare game at the County Ground.
Essex and Nottinghamshire also did well with their players, though Surrey must get the booby prize for their two high profile (and presumably cost) players. I just wonder if Ashley Giles saw these statistics before taking Younis on a two-year deal…
Derbyshire? Loots Bosman pretty much lived up to his career average, but struggled with a knee injury, while Charl Langeveldt still bowled with control but looked noticeably slower than two years ago. You couldn’t say they let anyone down, but they didn’t quite produce as often as we’d have liked. Mind you, Bosman’s assault on Yorkshire at Headingley will live long in the memory and there’s a lot of people would love to play just one innings like that.
For what its worth, my benchmark for ‘circus cricket’ is an average of 35 for a batsman and a bowling average of twenty and/or impressive parsimony from a bowler. If you’re bringing someone from the other side of the world that has to be a consideration.
On that basis, there’s not too many successes in that list.
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Not too much required
The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that Derbyshire don’t need much more this winter to complete the side.
For one thing, as I wrote the other day, if other counties are having to cut their playing budget, it stands to reason that we may well have to do the same.
But what else do we need? Consider the following team:
Madsen
Overseas player
Hughes
Durston
Park
Smith
Sutton
Jones
Groenewald
Turner
Footitt
Most fans would probably accept that this is close to our first choice side, based on last season’s form and the likelihood that new signings will get a run in the side. Yet the side omits Paul Borrington, Dan Redfern, Matt Lineker, Jonathan Clare, Jake Needham and Atif Sheikh. It also leaves Ian Hunter, who should be fit for 2011, on the sidelines. It is, in short, a good side, ten of them brought to the county by John Morris.
In the current economic climate I cannot see Derbyshire signing many more players, unless they are sufficiently talented and young to make it worthwhile from a cost/benefit perspective. That, of course, begs the question as to why they would be released in the first place…
With the exception of an overseas star, the only thing that the existing squad lacks is a spinner who turns the ball away from the bat. Like most of you, I’ve looked closely at lists of players released and the pick of the domestic players in this category is still leg-spinner Michael Munday, formerly of Somerset. How good he is I don’t honestly know as I’ve not seen him, but his record is decent and I’d reckon that with Steffan Jones and Wes Durston on the staff, who have both played with him, the club should have a fair idea of his ability.
Other than that, I haven’t a clue. David Wainwright would have been an asset but is staying with Yorkshire, while Lancashire are retaining all three of their left-arm spinners. The cupboard isn’t yet bare around the country, but the Tesco home delivery van appears to have broken down en route…
I’ll not be commenting on available players from now on for the above reason. Do the records of Shafayat, Wood, Kadeer Ali or Thornely, to give examples, suggest them to be better than we have? I don’t think so, and when we have nine/ten batsmen already on the staff I’m less than convinced that we need any of them. Usman Afzaal is a better player, but I understand we couldn’t match his demands when he left Northamptonshire. In difficult times, it wouldn’t make sense to have players like Durston or Park, who he would presumably replace, in the Seconds. Both are fine players, eminently capable of being major scorers in the Championship next season after disappointments in the four-day game in 2010.
If the side performs to potential, 2011 will see a competitive outfit. It will be down to the coaching staff to motivate a bunch of talented players and the right overseas player could be the catalyst for that. Players like Tony Borrington, Harry Cartwright, Ashley Harvey-Walker, Phil Russell and Colin Tunnicliffe became good, reliable county cricketers under Eddie Barlow. I’d suggest that the team named above contains better players than Barlow had, but someone – whether captain or coach – now needs to get them playing to their potential on a regular basis. I know that Barlow also had Geoff Miller and Mike Hendrick, but he played a key role in their development and John Morris has to find someone this winter who can do a similar job. He effectively only has New Zealand and South Africa to choose from too, given the congested international schedule. Easy job, huh?
Other than that, I feel only the ‘John Sadler’ role with the Seconds needs to be addressed. Whether someone comes in to fill that role, or whether the current coaching structure is overhauled I don’t know, but we need to somehow accelerate the development of our young players with the right setup. Having represented their country at age group cricket, they all have the talent.
By the way, I’m not claiming inside knowledge in suggesting an overseas opening batsman in the above team. For balance, a spin bowling all-rounder would be perfect, but there will be few out there who could emulate Robin Peterson and score nearly 500 runs and take fifty wickets, let alone exceed that tally and be available for the whole season.
Much will depend on availability. Given the financial issues around the country, we would need someone equally adept at all forms of the game, as I can’t see us affording a second player for the T20, in common with most other sides. Maybe a young gun from South Africa with a reputation to build would be ideal, but there’s also the captaincy issue to consider. A more established player may find the ‘carrot’ of captaincy irresistible. Greg Smith will still be in the frame, but John Morris could dangle that offer in front of the right man.
Of course, we’d love to see Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy or AB de Villiers at Derbyshire. Ross Taylor or Daniel Vettori would do nicely too, but that would be some coup, as they say up here on sight of a bovine critter…
The likelihood is that it will be someone from perhaps the next tier down, reputation-wise, who wants to build on that reputation and either wants a challenge or to further their experience.
I was interested to read in the Wisden Cricketer that Malinga Bandara ‘was the best we could afford’ according to Kent’s Paul Farbrace, but eighteen wickets at 40-plus was hardly justification for the signing, even for paying what was ‘a second team player’s salary.’
If we can’t do better than that I’d sooner we didn’t bother, but I’m confident that at some point between now and April we will hear some exciting news. Just don’t expect wholesale changes, as I don’t think we’ll have the money. With the right overseas player coming in, however, I think there’s enough talent already in place to hold our own.
And if there’s another Eddie Barlow out there, could you give John Morris a ring and let him know you’re up for it?
For one thing, as I wrote the other day, if other counties are having to cut their playing budget, it stands to reason that we may well have to do the same.
But what else do we need? Consider the following team:
Madsen
Overseas player
Hughes
Durston
Park
Smith
Sutton
Jones
Groenewald
Turner
Footitt
Most fans would probably accept that this is close to our first choice side, based on last season’s form and the likelihood that new signings will get a run in the side. Yet the side omits Paul Borrington, Dan Redfern, Matt Lineker, Jonathan Clare, Jake Needham and Atif Sheikh. It also leaves Ian Hunter, who should be fit for 2011, on the sidelines. It is, in short, a good side, ten of them brought to the county by John Morris.
In the current economic climate I cannot see Derbyshire signing many more players, unless they are sufficiently talented and young to make it worthwhile from a cost/benefit perspective. That, of course, begs the question as to why they would be released in the first place…
With the exception of an overseas star, the only thing that the existing squad lacks is a spinner who turns the ball away from the bat. Like most of you, I’ve looked closely at lists of players released and the pick of the domestic players in this category is still leg-spinner Michael Munday, formerly of Somerset. How good he is I don’t honestly know as I’ve not seen him, but his record is decent and I’d reckon that with Steffan Jones and Wes Durston on the staff, who have both played with him, the club should have a fair idea of his ability.
Other than that, I haven’t a clue. David Wainwright would have been an asset but is staying with Yorkshire, while Lancashire are retaining all three of their left-arm spinners. The cupboard isn’t yet bare around the country, but the Tesco home delivery van appears to have broken down en route…
I’ll not be commenting on available players from now on for the above reason. Do the records of Shafayat, Wood, Kadeer Ali or Thornely, to give examples, suggest them to be better than we have? I don’t think so, and when we have nine/ten batsmen already on the staff I’m less than convinced that we need any of them. Usman Afzaal is a better player, but I understand we couldn’t match his demands when he left Northamptonshire. In difficult times, it wouldn’t make sense to have players like Durston or Park, who he would presumably replace, in the Seconds. Both are fine players, eminently capable of being major scorers in the Championship next season after disappointments in the four-day game in 2010.
If the side performs to potential, 2011 will see a competitive outfit. It will be down to the coaching staff to motivate a bunch of talented players and the right overseas player could be the catalyst for that. Players like Tony Borrington, Harry Cartwright, Ashley Harvey-Walker, Phil Russell and Colin Tunnicliffe became good, reliable county cricketers under Eddie Barlow. I’d suggest that the team named above contains better players than Barlow had, but someone – whether captain or coach – now needs to get them playing to their potential on a regular basis. I know that Barlow also had Geoff Miller and Mike Hendrick, but he played a key role in their development and John Morris has to find someone this winter who can do a similar job. He effectively only has New Zealand and South Africa to choose from too, given the congested international schedule. Easy job, huh?
Other than that, I feel only the ‘John Sadler’ role with the Seconds needs to be addressed. Whether someone comes in to fill that role, or whether the current coaching structure is overhauled I don’t know, but we need to somehow accelerate the development of our young players with the right setup. Having represented their country at age group cricket, they all have the talent.
By the way, I’m not claiming inside knowledge in suggesting an overseas opening batsman in the above team. For balance, a spin bowling all-rounder would be perfect, but there will be few out there who could emulate Robin Peterson and score nearly 500 runs and take fifty wickets, let alone exceed that tally and be available for the whole season.
Much will depend on availability. Given the financial issues around the country, we would need someone equally adept at all forms of the game, as I can’t see us affording a second player for the T20, in common with most other sides. Maybe a young gun from South Africa with a reputation to build would be ideal, but there’s also the captaincy issue to consider. A more established player may find the ‘carrot’ of captaincy irresistible. Greg Smith will still be in the frame, but John Morris could dangle that offer in front of the right man.
Of course, we’d love to see Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy or AB de Villiers at Derbyshire. Ross Taylor or Daniel Vettori would do nicely too, but that would be some coup, as they say up here on sight of a bovine critter…
The likelihood is that it will be someone from perhaps the next tier down, reputation-wise, who wants to build on that reputation and either wants a challenge or to further their experience.
I was interested to read in the Wisden Cricketer that Malinga Bandara ‘was the best we could afford’ according to Kent’s Paul Farbrace, but eighteen wickets at 40-plus was hardly justification for the signing, even for paying what was ‘a second team player’s salary.’
If we can’t do better than that I’d sooner we didn’t bother, but I’m confident that at some point between now and April we will hear some exciting news. Just don’t expect wholesale changes, as I don’t think we’ll have the money. With the right overseas player coming in, however, I think there’s enough talent already in place to hold our own.
And if there’s another Eddie Barlow out there, could you give John Morris a ring and let him know you’re up for it?
Madsen and Footitt sign for two years
Excellent start to the day for Derbyshire fans this morning with the news that Wayne Madsen and Mark Footitt have both signed new two-year contracts.
Put another way, we’ve secured the services one of the best batsmen to break onto the county scene in some time, together with perhaps the fastest bowler in the country for another two seasons.
What’s not to like? Big thumbs up from me!
Put another way, we’ve secured the services one of the best batsmen to break onto the county scene in some time, together with perhaps the fastest bowler in the country for another two seasons.
What’s not to like? Big thumbs up from me!
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
There is nothing like Hussain...
With excuses to Rodgers and Hammerstein, that’s perhaps the song going through the minds of Somerset fans this morning, after Gemaal Hussain followed Steve Kirby from Gloucestershire to their West Country rivals.
Somerset and Warwickshire seem to be the only sides with any money to spend so far this winter, which suggests that a lot of players with somewhat inflated salary demands may be unlucky. There are many currently out of contract or released and I’m far from convinced that there is much money in the counties to re-employ most of them.
Indeed, Gloucestershire’s Chief Executive Alan Richardson admitted in the Bristol Post early in the week that he expected ‘another four’ senior players from the club to depart as the club slashes its playing budget. He did say that two or three might come in, but that they intended to bring through youngsters from their academy setup, in much the same way that Kent have admitted they will operate.
Meanwhile, various clubs with ambitious ground building plans are feeling the pinch. I still can’t get my head around why we have so many international grounds developing with commensurate costs when only two, or at the most three international sides actually attract crowds that could fill existing capacities. Even at Derbyshire, where the commercial team have done an exceptional job in recent years (and won awards today - well done guys!) I’m still a little baffled by the new stand.
That it looks impressive and affords an excellent view of the play is beyond dispute. My only query is why we spent a considerable sum on increasing the capacity when we are a long way from bursting at the seams. There were some very good performances in one-day games by Derbyshire last season, but even their crucial T20 match against Northamptonshire was watched by at best an average crowd. The performance in that game hardly acted as an inducement for many to return. I know it’s a football city, as the 25,000-plus who attend Pride Park for home matches testifies, but surely there should be more than 1500 attending the T20, with all the associated razzamatazz?
The Daily Telegraph reported this morning that the T20 will be retained at its 2010 level next year, so there will again be 16 high-energy matches to play, eight of them at home. Could a T20 season ticket be worthwhile, offering a discount when paying up front and a greater incentive to get down to the ground when you’ve done so? It may be if there's a repetition of the many grey evenings that we seemed to play on this year, while bringing in a few of Derby County’s players for signing sessions and photos might encourage some footy fanatics to try a different class of game…
Perhaps the absence of the World Cup as a counter-attraction will also help to bring in additional fans, but based on last year I would be surprised if many counties opt to bring in a second overseas player. Too many high profile, high cost players performed poorly and simply didn’t warrant the expenditure. Brad Hodge, Andrew Symonds, Dave Warner – these guys will not have come cheap, yet averaged 28, 20 and 20 respectively. Most people will have permitted a wry smile when Essex’s gamble in paying £10,000 to Dwayne Bravo for finals day backfired bigtime and Hampshire's success had a lot to do with fine performances by youngsters.
All this leads me to think that Derbyshire cannot fail to be affected and that we will not necessarily see many signings this winter. With Test match revenues plummeting and John Morris playing non-qualified players to ensure we remain competitive, we won’t get as much as we would hope for from the ECB. We also carry a reasonable size of staff (assuming they all stay fit, of course) and perhaps the job is now to get the best out of what we have.
For what its worth, I think we already have a solid squad that with the right overseas player, better luck with injuries and good team spirit could do OK next summer.
More on this before the weekend.
Somerset and Warwickshire seem to be the only sides with any money to spend so far this winter, which suggests that a lot of players with somewhat inflated salary demands may be unlucky. There are many currently out of contract or released and I’m far from convinced that there is much money in the counties to re-employ most of them.
Indeed, Gloucestershire’s Chief Executive Alan Richardson admitted in the Bristol Post early in the week that he expected ‘another four’ senior players from the club to depart as the club slashes its playing budget. He did say that two or three might come in, but that they intended to bring through youngsters from their academy setup, in much the same way that Kent have admitted they will operate.
Meanwhile, various clubs with ambitious ground building plans are feeling the pinch. I still can’t get my head around why we have so many international grounds developing with commensurate costs when only two, or at the most three international sides actually attract crowds that could fill existing capacities. Even at Derbyshire, where the commercial team have done an exceptional job in recent years (and won awards today - well done guys!) I’m still a little baffled by the new stand.
That it looks impressive and affords an excellent view of the play is beyond dispute. My only query is why we spent a considerable sum on increasing the capacity when we are a long way from bursting at the seams. There were some very good performances in one-day games by Derbyshire last season, but even their crucial T20 match against Northamptonshire was watched by at best an average crowd. The performance in that game hardly acted as an inducement for many to return. I know it’s a football city, as the 25,000-plus who attend Pride Park for home matches testifies, but surely there should be more than 1500 attending the T20, with all the associated razzamatazz?
The Daily Telegraph reported this morning that the T20 will be retained at its 2010 level next year, so there will again be 16 high-energy matches to play, eight of them at home. Could a T20 season ticket be worthwhile, offering a discount when paying up front and a greater incentive to get down to the ground when you’ve done so? It may be if there's a repetition of the many grey evenings that we seemed to play on this year, while bringing in a few of Derby County’s players for signing sessions and photos might encourage some footy fanatics to try a different class of game…
Perhaps the absence of the World Cup as a counter-attraction will also help to bring in additional fans, but based on last year I would be surprised if many counties opt to bring in a second overseas player. Too many high profile, high cost players performed poorly and simply didn’t warrant the expenditure. Brad Hodge, Andrew Symonds, Dave Warner – these guys will not have come cheap, yet averaged 28, 20 and 20 respectively. Most people will have permitted a wry smile when Essex’s gamble in paying £10,000 to Dwayne Bravo for finals day backfired bigtime and Hampshire's success had a lot to do with fine performances by youngsters.
All this leads me to think that Derbyshire cannot fail to be affected and that we will not necessarily see many signings this winter. With Test match revenues plummeting and John Morris playing non-qualified players to ensure we remain competitive, we won’t get as much as we would hope for from the ECB. We also carry a reasonable size of staff (assuming they all stay fit, of course) and perhaps the job is now to get the best out of what we have.
For what its worth, I think we already have a solid squad that with the right overseas player, better luck with injuries and good team spirit could do OK next summer.
More on this before the weekend.
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Still here...
Sorry it has been quiet on the blogging front but this is a Derbyshire cricket blog and there’s not all that much happening in Derbyshire cricket right now.
In fact, truth be told there’s not a lot happening in the county game as a whole, with the only likely move in the near future being Owais Shah’s to Essex. This will be a major blow to Lancashire, whose fans on 606 quite fancied him (though not in THAT sense…)
Warwickshire signed Younis Khan for two years and Ashley Giles remains confident that he will honour that deal despite a likely return to the Test fold, which will certainly test his loyalty. I suppose the promise of international cricket works in mysterious ways…
See you later in the week.
In fact, truth be told there’s not a lot happening in the county game as a whole, with the only likely move in the near future being Owais Shah’s to Essex. This will be a major blow to Lancashire, whose fans on 606 quite fancied him (though not in THAT sense…)
Warwickshire signed Younis Khan for two years and Ashley Giles remains confident that he will honour that deal despite a likely return to the Test fold, which will certainly test his loyalty. I suppose the promise of international cricket works in mysterious ways…
See you later in the week.
Friday, 15 October 2010
Something for the weekend
Had to laugh at the comments of Will Porterfield on signing for Warwickshire. Usual stuff about England ambitions, not at all harmed by cousin Ashley's dual (and unfair, in my opinion) role with county and country. Be honest, if you had comparable offers, would you sign for a bloke who was a national selector or one who wasn't? Hmmm, thought so.
Elsewhere, Vikram Banerjee is the only man to not escape from Gloucestershire this close season. Maybe they could do a remake of The Great Escape and base it in Bristol, rather than a POW camp. Don't know about you, but I'll be watching next season's averages of Messrs Kirby (28 per wicket this year) Hussain (22) and Ireland (21) very closely to see how they compare. For that matter, Steve Kirby's average on the dirt track was nothing to write home about, was it?
Shaun Udal has retired at the age of 41 after a long and successful career. He looked finished when Mark Footitt was tearing in at him in the Pro 40 near the end of season, but has been an admirable professional. It made me think how unfair we are in our expectations of Jake Needham, who at 23 is a long way from the finished article but could still develop into a very good bowler. His winter with Phil Russell will only improve him, as the ex-county seamer is a very good coach. I wonder if we could entice him back to Derby to work with John Morris? Probably not, as he has built a good life for himself in South Africa, but he was the best Derbyshire coach of my experience. Les Stillman was good, but had much better players than Russell at his disposal.
Digressing slightly, I was amused tonight to read Derby County fans writing off England Under 21 goalkeeper Frank Fielding, who has signed for the club on a month's loan. That's right, England Under 21 goalkeeper. I'm not sure what it is with local sports fans that they denigrate their heroes at any opportunity, but it seems especially ludicrous before they've even pulled the team colours on. The same has already happened in some quarters with Mark Turner and Matt Lineker and it is grossly unfair.
I was amused (but not especially surprised) to read Alec Swann commenting in this month's Wisden Cricketer about the conclusive match between Derbyshire and Northamptonshire in the T20. You'll recall we didn't turn up, but Swann hits an interesting note:
The result goes the way of Northants, but while Derby aren't at their best, they aren't as bad as one fan, situated right under the press box, believes. His sole observation, made every two minutes just for effect, is that they're "f****** s***."
And that's support?
Over forty-three summers I've been reduced to despair on many occasions, but I've never got quite that bad. However poorly they've played - and trust me, I've seen much worse than that game - I've never resorted to that and always try to remember that they're still our lads.
Next summer will be a challenge, but who knows, maybe we'll take a leaf from Worcestershire's book. A handful of prudent signings to replace the big name departures and you never can tell...
Have a good weekend.
Elsewhere, Vikram Banerjee is the only man to not escape from Gloucestershire this close season. Maybe they could do a remake of The Great Escape and base it in Bristol, rather than a POW camp. Don't know about you, but I'll be watching next season's averages of Messrs Kirby (28 per wicket this year) Hussain (22) and Ireland (21) very closely to see how they compare. For that matter, Steve Kirby's average on the dirt track was nothing to write home about, was it?
Shaun Udal has retired at the age of 41 after a long and successful career. He looked finished when Mark Footitt was tearing in at him in the Pro 40 near the end of season, but has been an admirable professional. It made me think how unfair we are in our expectations of Jake Needham, who at 23 is a long way from the finished article but could still develop into a very good bowler. His winter with Phil Russell will only improve him, as the ex-county seamer is a very good coach. I wonder if we could entice him back to Derby to work with John Morris? Probably not, as he has built a good life for himself in South Africa, but he was the best Derbyshire coach of my experience. Les Stillman was good, but had much better players than Russell at his disposal.
Digressing slightly, I was amused tonight to read Derby County fans writing off England Under 21 goalkeeper Frank Fielding, who has signed for the club on a month's loan. That's right, England Under 21 goalkeeper. I'm not sure what it is with local sports fans that they denigrate their heroes at any opportunity, but it seems especially ludicrous before they've even pulled the team colours on. The same has already happened in some quarters with Mark Turner and Matt Lineker and it is grossly unfair.
I was amused (but not especially surprised) to read Alec Swann commenting in this month's Wisden Cricketer about the conclusive match between Derbyshire and Northamptonshire in the T20. You'll recall we didn't turn up, but Swann hits an interesting note:
The result goes the way of Northants, but while Derby aren't at their best, they aren't as bad as one fan, situated right under the press box, believes. His sole observation, made every two minutes just for effect, is that they're "f****** s***."
And that's support?
Over forty-three summers I've been reduced to despair on many occasions, but I've never got quite that bad. However poorly they've played - and trust me, I've seen much worse than that game - I've never resorted to that and always try to remember that they're still our lads.
Next summer will be a challenge, but who knows, maybe we'll take a leaf from Worcestershire's book. A handful of prudent signings to replace the big name departures and you never can tell...
Have a good weekend.
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Gloucestershire gloom
I’m not sure whether they have installed revolving doors or ejector seats at Bristol, but the speed with which players are leaving the club brings the words ‘rats’, ‘sinking’ and ‘ships’ to mind…
Anthony Ireland has gone to Middlesex, Steve Kirby to Somerset, Will Porterfield to Warwickshire (“you’ll be the next England opening batsman, son…”) and Gemaal Hussain to…who knows? The thinking money is on Nottinghamshire, but county fans are disappointed in his decision to leave after just one season of a two-year deal. You might call it ambition, others could call it disloyalty. Say what you like about Graham Wagg, but he gave Derbyshire good service after we gave him a fresh start. In my opinion, Hussain owed Gloucestershire at least a second season after he had been rejected at four other counties, but I suppose he’s entitled to sell his services to the highest bidder while his star is in the ascendant. If he had a poor year next season, he would be in a much weaker bargaining position, undoubtedly a factor in his decision.
With Vikram Banerjee also set to leave and Kadeer Ali supposedly talking to other counties, Gloucestershire coach John Bracewell looks like having either a very young squad or one made up of Kiwis with English passports next season. Losing such players should, of course, free up some money in their playing budget but they have also to make considerable savings. It is by no means clear whether James Franklin will return either, so if you think Derbyshire have problems, spare a thought for one of several counties (Kent, Leicestershire and Yorkshire are others) who are worse off.
Reports suggest the latter have signed Ryan Sidebottom with the money freed up by Jacques Rudolph’s departure and they may not sign an overseas player next year. Others suggest that Surrey wanted to sign Will Porterfield but couldn’t afford him. The latter I find quite staggering and suggests that their backroom layoff has had an impact on the cricket budget. It also lends credence to John Morris’ assertion that too many ordinary players are demanding inflated sums. Porterfield is a decent, but by no means exceptional batsman who misses a fair amount of cricket with his commitments to the Irish national team. The same goes for Niall O’Brien, a steady wicket keeper and on his day exciting batsman who may be leaving Northamptonshire. Potential employers have to accept that he could miss up to half a season, a consideration when they are doing any cost/benefit analysis.
So to Derbyshire, and there was a nice piece by Dave Griffin on the funeral of Ian Buxton on the club site yesterday. It would appear he got a good send off with many former team mates present and it was richly deserved. I once bought some cricket gear from his shop in Chesterfield and he was extremely helpful and courteous, even if I was a little awe-struck in his company as a youth. He even gave me his autograph, which I still have to this day. If you’ve not been on the blog before, my appreciation of Ian Buxton can be seen in last week’s posts.
Nothing much else to report at this stage. Thanks for your positive comments on the site’s revamp and also for your continued interest.
See you soon!
Anthony Ireland has gone to Middlesex, Steve Kirby to Somerset, Will Porterfield to Warwickshire (“you’ll be the next England opening batsman, son…”) and Gemaal Hussain to…who knows? The thinking money is on Nottinghamshire, but county fans are disappointed in his decision to leave after just one season of a two-year deal. You might call it ambition, others could call it disloyalty. Say what you like about Graham Wagg, but he gave Derbyshire good service after we gave him a fresh start. In my opinion, Hussain owed Gloucestershire at least a second season after he had been rejected at four other counties, but I suppose he’s entitled to sell his services to the highest bidder while his star is in the ascendant. If he had a poor year next season, he would be in a much weaker bargaining position, undoubtedly a factor in his decision.
With Vikram Banerjee also set to leave and Kadeer Ali supposedly talking to other counties, Gloucestershire coach John Bracewell looks like having either a very young squad or one made up of Kiwis with English passports next season. Losing such players should, of course, free up some money in their playing budget but they have also to make considerable savings. It is by no means clear whether James Franklin will return either, so if you think Derbyshire have problems, spare a thought for one of several counties (Kent, Leicestershire and Yorkshire are others) who are worse off.
Reports suggest the latter have signed Ryan Sidebottom with the money freed up by Jacques Rudolph’s departure and they may not sign an overseas player next year. Others suggest that Surrey wanted to sign Will Porterfield but couldn’t afford him. The latter I find quite staggering and suggests that their backroom layoff has had an impact on the cricket budget. It also lends credence to John Morris’ assertion that too many ordinary players are demanding inflated sums. Porterfield is a decent, but by no means exceptional batsman who misses a fair amount of cricket with his commitments to the Irish national team. The same goes for Niall O’Brien, a steady wicket keeper and on his day exciting batsman who may be leaving Northamptonshire. Potential employers have to accept that he could miss up to half a season, a consideration when they are doing any cost/benefit analysis.
So to Derbyshire, and there was a nice piece by Dave Griffin on the funeral of Ian Buxton on the club site yesterday. It would appear he got a good send off with many former team mates present and it was richly deserved. I once bought some cricket gear from his shop in Chesterfield and he was extremely helpful and courteous, even if I was a little awe-struck in his company as a youth. He even gave me his autograph, which I still have to this day. If you’ve not been on the blog before, my appreciation of Ian Buxton can be seen in last week’s posts.
Nothing much else to report at this stage. Thanks for your positive comments on the site’s revamp and also for your continued interest.
See you soon!
Monday, 11 October 2010
The Little Master at Chesterfield
No doubt like a few of you, I have been watching the events of the second Test between India and Australia this weekend with considerable interest. A continuing joy is the form of the ‘Little Master’, Sachin Tendulkar.
At 37 he has most of the records of the game and must surely now be considered the greatest there has been after Bradman. In my time watching cricket I have been privileged to see some of the greatest players in its history and watching the likes of Garfield Sobers, Barry Richards, Viv Richards and Ricky Ponting has been a joy, even when they were making runs against the team I supported.
Dad told me from an early age that I should always see both sides in a match and I’ve always done that, whether in football or cricket. Only the most partisan of fans could fail to enjoy the batting of such players as those above, but Tendulkar has been touched by greatness since we first saw him as a teenager.
That was at Chesterfield in July 1990, when he played for an Indian team managed by the great Bishen Bedi. A pre-match pleasure was seeing the great slow left armer bowling a few in practice, a reminder of that classic, easy style that graced the game for so many years. Derbyshire posted 235 in 55 overs, with a century from Kim Barnett and runs from both Peter Bowler and John Morris, and for a long time in the visitors innings looked like winning easily. At 88-4 with both Azharuddin and Kapil Dev back in the pavilion, we looked like picking up a notable scalp.
The batsmen were all troubled by steepling bounce on a lively track, especially when Ian Bishop was bowling seriously quickly from the pavilion end. Bishop took an early wicket but had moral victories several times an over. The diminutive Tendulkar, coming in at number three, sparred at several balls and the battle seemed uneven, as if one of the world’s fastest bowlers was bowling at a schoolboy. Which is exactly what it was, of course.
Derbyshire continued to chip away at the Indian batting but no one could dismiss the little player, who for a sixteen year old had an obviously impressive technique, as well as time to play his shots against all but Bishop. Even then he was working the lifting ball off his hip and there was a delightful, Boycott-like force off the back foot that brought a murmur of acknowledgement from Dad. “He can bat, this lad,” he said, which has always been the most effusive of praise from his lips.
The calculation came down to a tricky 20-odd from three overs and with Bishop to bowl at least one of them it was obvious where the key to the game lay. Surely the youngster’s charmed life against the scarily quick but genial Trinidadian couldn’t last?
It could. As Bishop dropped another ball short, climbing and homing in on the batsman’s chest/head, the player rocked back and hooked/pulled the ball for a country mile over the trees by the old scorebox. It was an enormous hit for a player who hadn’t looked like a big hitter, but was the result of superb footwork and impeccable timing. After that, the visitors won in a canter, their young star finishing unbeaten on a superb unbeaten 105 out of 239-8, the win coming with two balls to spare. His previous best one-day score was just 36, so I can safely say that we were in at the start of something special.
Since then Tendulkar has become a global brand and an icon of his country, indeed the game as a whole. Despite living his life in the spotlight, he has remained a man of charm, modesty and consummate professionalism.
A Test average of 56, which even now looks set to increase, is impressive, but perhaps no more so than a one-day international one of 45, a first-class one of 60 and a T20 average of 37. By any standards impressive, but Tendulkar has also been a useful bowler and has had stints as captain. It would be understandable by now if his powers were on the wane, but that appears to be some time off. Indeed, his last thousand Test runs have come in just fifteen innings…
The only disappointment has been that his international commitments have seen him spend only one season in the county game, where he perhaps experienced his only disappointment in a year with Yorkshire. It was asking a lot of a teenager, no matter how talented, to adapt to life in a foreign country in such a key role and Tendulkar’s class came through in glimpses, rather than with the evidence of a stack of runs behind him. Like many before him, however, the experience probably did him good and went some way towards the making of the batting maestro we have all witnessed for the past twenty seasons.
Long may he continue to entertain us!
http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/53/53143.html
At 37 he has most of the records of the game and must surely now be considered the greatest there has been after Bradman. In my time watching cricket I have been privileged to see some of the greatest players in its history and watching the likes of Garfield Sobers, Barry Richards, Viv Richards and Ricky Ponting has been a joy, even when they were making runs against the team I supported.
Dad told me from an early age that I should always see both sides in a match and I’ve always done that, whether in football or cricket. Only the most partisan of fans could fail to enjoy the batting of such players as those above, but Tendulkar has been touched by greatness since we first saw him as a teenager.
That was at Chesterfield in July 1990, when he played for an Indian team managed by the great Bishen Bedi. A pre-match pleasure was seeing the great slow left armer bowling a few in practice, a reminder of that classic, easy style that graced the game for so many years. Derbyshire posted 235 in 55 overs, with a century from Kim Barnett and runs from both Peter Bowler and John Morris, and for a long time in the visitors innings looked like winning easily. At 88-4 with both Azharuddin and Kapil Dev back in the pavilion, we looked like picking up a notable scalp.
The batsmen were all troubled by steepling bounce on a lively track, especially when Ian Bishop was bowling seriously quickly from the pavilion end. Bishop took an early wicket but had moral victories several times an over. The diminutive Tendulkar, coming in at number three, sparred at several balls and the battle seemed uneven, as if one of the world’s fastest bowlers was bowling at a schoolboy. Which is exactly what it was, of course.
Derbyshire continued to chip away at the Indian batting but no one could dismiss the little player, who for a sixteen year old had an obviously impressive technique, as well as time to play his shots against all but Bishop. Even then he was working the lifting ball off his hip and there was a delightful, Boycott-like force off the back foot that brought a murmur of acknowledgement from Dad. “He can bat, this lad,” he said, which has always been the most effusive of praise from his lips.
The calculation came down to a tricky 20-odd from three overs and with Bishop to bowl at least one of them it was obvious where the key to the game lay. Surely the youngster’s charmed life against the scarily quick but genial Trinidadian couldn’t last?
It could. As Bishop dropped another ball short, climbing and homing in on the batsman’s chest/head, the player rocked back and hooked/pulled the ball for a country mile over the trees by the old scorebox. It was an enormous hit for a player who hadn’t looked like a big hitter, but was the result of superb footwork and impeccable timing. After that, the visitors won in a canter, their young star finishing unbeaten on a superb unbeaten 105 out of 239-8, the win coming with two balls to spare. His previous best one-day score was just 36, so I can safely say that we were in at the start of something special.
Since then Tendulkar has become a global brand and an icon of his country, indeed the game as a whole. Despite living his life in the spotlight, he has remained a man of charm, modesty and consummate professionalism.
A Test average of 56, which even now looks set to increase, is impressive, but perhaps no more so than a one-day international one of 45, a first-class one of 60 and a T20 average of 37. By any standards impressive, but Tendulkar has also been a useful bowler and has had stints as captain. It would be understandable by now if his powers were on the wane, but that appears to be some time off. Indeed, his last thousand Test runs have come in just fifteen innings…
The only disappointment has been that his international commitments have seen him spend only one season in the county game, where he perhaps experienced his only disappointment in a year with Yorkshire. It was asking a lot of a teenager, no matter how talented, to adapt to life in a foreign country in such a key role and Tendulkar’s class came through in glimpses, rather than with the evidence of a stack of runs behind him. Like many before him, however, the experience probably did him good and went some way towards the making of the batting maestro we have all witnessed for the past twenty seasons.
Long may he continue to entertain us!
http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/53/53143.html
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Overseas players
Just to clarify my comment from yesterday, following (and thanks again to) Master Villain's response below.
The regulations now will prevent all but the handful of players with requisite international experience from coming here, even as Kolpaks or overseas players.
In days of yore, counties may have taken a chance on a young player and there are plenty of examples out there. They can't now though. Chris Wilkins was regarded by South African judges as being nearly as good as Barry Richards when we signed him (he wasn't, but was some player.) Greg Chappell was unknown at Somerset, Majid Khan at Glamorgan and so on.
As I see it, the only Saffers who will potentially be Kolpaks next year are likely to be Ntini, Petersen and van der Merwe, guys without central contracts but have played internationally fairly recently. If a few others get more games this winter it would open it up, but there's not many options.
Given the congested international calendar though, I'd prefer to see a young tyro from elsewhere as overseas professional than have four guys flying in and out for six weeks each, with little opportunity to integrate into the team. I accept this gives them experience on our tracks, as it always did, but would add considerably to the appeal of the domestic game for fans to see players on the cusp of greatness.
Of course, it would need a change in the regulations, but would certainly make the jobs of cricket supremos much easier. We may never see exciting players like Rossouw, Elgar and Miller in the county game, while a very fine player like Michael Klinger in Australia is another who is victim of a surfeit of fine players over there. He would be a huge asset to the county game, as would Stiaan van Zyl and Andrew Puttick. Their paths to the South African national side are blocked by brilliant players, but with first class averages over 40 would be an exciting asset to our domestic game.
I am 100% behind the regulations to ensure that Kolpaks are of top quality, but if we're allowing an overseas player, I just think it should be anyone that counties want to bring in. It might just enhance things and I reckon that a young player with a reputation to build would offer more than the many 'have passport will travel' mercenaries out there. When some of them are onto their fourth or fifth county, I just don't see how they can be genuine team men.
Crucially, such players as named above would also be more affordable, so counties would be able to field a player of genuine talent who few fans will have seen and therefore may attract additional crowds.
As far as I'm concerned its a winner all the way.
The regulations now will prevent all but the handful of players with requisite international experience from coming here, even as Kolpaks or overseas players.
In days of yore, counties may have taken a chance on a young player and there are plenty of examples out there. They can't now though. Chris Wilkins was regarded by South African judges as being nearly as good as Barry Richards when we signed him (he wasn't, but was some player.) Greg Chappell was unknown at Somerset, Majid Khan at Glamorgan and so on.
As I see it, the only Saffers who will potentially be Kolpaks next year are likely to be Ntini, Petersen and van der Merwe, guys without central contracts but have played internationally fairly recently. If a few others get more games this winter it would open it up, but there's not many options.
Given the congested international calendar though, I'd prefer to see a young tyro from elsewhere as overseas professional than have four guys flying in and out for six weeks each, with little opportunity to integrate into the team. I accept this gives them experience on our tracks, as it always did, but would add considerably to the appeal of the domestic game for fans to see players on the cusp of greatness.
Of course, it would need a change in the regulations, but would certainly make the jobs of cricket supremos much easier. We may never see exciting players like Rossouw, Elgar and Miller in the county game, while a very fine player like Michael Klinger in Australia is another who is victim of a surfeit of fine players over there. He would be a huge asset to the county game, as would Stiaan van Zyl and Andrew Puttick. Their paths to the South African national side are blocked by brilliant players, but with first class averages over 40 would be an exciting asset to our domestic game.
I am 100% behind the regulations to ensure that Kolpaks are of top quality, but if we're allowing an overseas player, I just think it should be anyone that counties want to bring in. It might just enhance things and I reckon that a young player with a reputation to build would offer more than the many 'have passport will travel' mercenaries out there. When some of them are onto their fourth or fifth county, I just don't see how they can be genuine team men.
Crucially, such players as named above would also be more affordable, so counties would be able to field a player of genuine talent who few fans will have seen and therefore may attract additional crowds.
As far as I'm concerned its a winner all the way.
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Saffers on the rise
Back in the days when I was a lad, South African cricketers were among the very best in the world and their presence enriched county cricket over many years.
They were not all world beaters, but still gave good service to their adopted counties. Lee Irvine at Essex, Peter Swart at Glamorgan and Chris Wilkins at Derbyshire were not huge names, but there were plenty around.
Barry Richards, Mike Procter, Eddie Barlow, Garth le Roux, Peter Kirsten, Jimmy Cook and Ken McEwan were all the heartbeat of their respective sides and were outstanding servants to the county game. In recent years, however, such involvement has declined because of the international calendar.
What would we give to see the likes of Smith, Duminy, Kallis, Steyn and de Villiers in the county game today? I don't see that happening, but there are signs that the next generation in South Africa is going to be another golden one. I would be very surprised if some of the young guns making such an impression didn't end up in England, especially as their experimentation in lesser series will give players the requisite international games to earn a visa.
One of my close friends is South African and knows the game well. He insists that young players like David Miller, who at 21 averages over 40 in all forms of one day cricket will be a part of the next 'golden generation' and would benefit from some time in England to complete their education. By the way that Miller finished off Zimbabwe yesterday he can't be far from the finished article, but he is far from alone.
Colin Ingram didn't make many yesterday, but is another punishing batsman, while it is only a matter of time until the astonishingly talented Dean Elgar and Rilee Rossouw force their way through. At 23, Elgar averages 46 in the first class game with 12 centuries and 15 fifties in just 91 innings. The left hander also averages over 35 in the one day game and is a real talent, while Rossouw is perhaps even better. At 21 and another left hander, his average nudges 50 from 56 innings and he already has eight centuries and a highest score of 319...
If I'm honest, irrespective of via regulations I would love to see young players like that in England. Comparisons with counterparts of a similar age at Derbyshire are odious, but these are young players in the top South African franchise sides (unlike Dominic Telo a few years back) and would translate such runs into the English game with a little experience.
While their paths to the national side are currently blocked by some very good players, their presence on the horizon could mean that the likes of Alviro Petersen is unlikely to earn a national recall in the near future and could therefore consider a Kolpak deal in this country. At 29, Petersen, like Stephen Cook (son of Jimmy), Dave Jacobs and others is less likely to see an international call up, but is a very fine player. He is also a victim of a crop of outstanding players coming together over there.
I think South Africa will be THE force in the world game in five years time. Remember, you read it here first!
They were not all world beaters, but still gave good service to their adopted counties. Lee Irvine at Essex, Peter Swart at Glamorgan and Chris Wilkins at Derbyshire were not huge names, but there were plenty around.
Barry Richards, Mike Procter, Eddie Barlow, Garth le Roux, Peter Kirsten, Jimmy Cook and Ken McEwan were all the heartbeat of their respective sides and were outstanding servants to the county game. In recent years, however, such involvement has declined because of the international calendar.
What would we give to see the likes of Smith, Duminy, Kallis, Steyn and de Villiers in the county game today? I don't see that happening, but there are signs that the next generation in South Africa is going to be another golden one. I would be very surprised if some of the young guns making such an impression didn't end up in England, especially as their experimentation in lesser series will give players the requisite international games to earn a visa.
One of my close friends is South African and knows the game well. He insists that young players like David Miller, who at 21 averages over 40 in all forms of one day cricket will be a part of the next 'golden generation' and would benefit from some time in England to complete their education. By the way that Miller finished off Zimbabwe yesterday he can't be far from the finished article, but he is far from alone.
Colin Ingram didn't make many yesterday, but is another punishing batsman, while it is only a matter of time until the astonishingly talented Dean Elgar and Rilee Rossouw force their way through. At 23, Elgar averages 46 in the first class game with 12 centuries and 15 fifties in just 91 innings. The left hander also averages over 35 in the one day game and is a real talent, while Rossouw is perhaps even better. At 21 and another left hander, his average nudges 50 from 56 innings and he already has eight centuries and a highest score of 319...
If I'm honest, irrespective of via regulations I would love to see young players like that in England. Comparisons with counterparts of a similar age at Derbyshire are odious, but these are young players in the top South African franchise sides (unlike Dominic Telo a few years back) and would translate such runs into the English game with a little experience.
While their paths to the national side are currently blocked by some very good players, their presence on the horizon could mean that the likes of Alviro Petersen is unlikely to earn a national recall in the near future and could therefore consider a Kolpak deal in this country. At 29, Petersen, like Stephen Cook (son of Jimmy), Dave Jacobs and others is less likely to see an international call up, but is a very fine player. He is also a victim of a crop of outstanding players coming together over there.
I think South Africa will be THE force in the world game in five years time. Remember, you read it here first!
New look
As you've probably noticed, I've given the blog a revamp, thanks to the assistance of my glamorous designers - aka my wife and daughter.
As always, I welcome your comments and hope you like the new - more vibrant look!
The ads are hopefully not too intrusive (they are only at the top of the screen) but they will make the blog worthwhile financially - especially if you find any of them interesting and click through on to them.
Its not compulsory though, so hopefully you'll continue to visit and find things of interest.
Cheers!
As always, I welcome your comments and hope you like the new - more vibrant look!
The ads are hopefully not too intrusive (they are only at the top of the screen) but they will make the blog worthwhile financially - especially if you find any of them interesting and click through on to them.
Its not compulsory though, so hopefully you'll continue to visit and find things of interest.
Cheers!
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