Enlightenment rather than recrimination were apposite words used at the end of Mark Eklid’s account of last night’s AGM at the cricket club and this is the right time to reflect and to move on.
The threatened rebellion of the membership came to nothing as only one man spoke up. All those commenting about last night below the previous article and all of last week on IMWT had their chance to say something and did nothing. If something or someone bothers you – as the comments below suggest – the time and place to do something about it was last night. Sitting in front of a computer and moaning will change nothing, if change is what you want, while any issues with one person are always going to be there if the individual concerned is always elected unopposed. If you’re unhappy about things – and importantly think you can do better, then stand for election next year.
Anyway, now is the time for such talk to be consigned to history and for everyone to unite behind a new young chairman ahead of the season. The rights and wrongs of the past week or so will doubtless be debated for some time, but while it was poorly handled it is time to move on. In such situations there are often faults on both sides and for what it is worth I feel that the end result is as good as the county could have hoped for.
My final words on recent events are these. I have no issue with the committee whatsoever, as long as they allow talented employees – namely Keith Loring and John Morris - the opportunity to do their jobs unhindered. Maybe there has been some confusion along the way and that was always the intention, but a quick response to the Derby Telegraph’s interview with Don Amott could have defused the situation much more quickly than has been the case.
I am also a believer in the Chairman calling the shots and the committee AS A WHOLE reporting to him. There should be no sub-committees, as in such circumstances do allegations of subterfuge start to germinate. In my experience of over twenty years in committees, they work best when 100% transparent.
I am especially encouraged by the words of Chris Grant after his meteoric rise to Chairman. As I wrote last week, he was the standout candidate to replace Don Amott, himself thankfully restored to the committee, and is already saying things that should reassure those, including myself, who had concerns about the club’s future direction. Discussions are underway about an extension to the contracts of both Keith Loring and John Morris which is encouraging to hear. Regular readers will know that I am a great admirer of the work of both men and Keith Loring should ideally head our commercial direction for a long time to come.
As I wrote last week, some may feel we should wait to the end of the season before offering a new deal to John Morris. After all, last season was far from a success, although the team was somewhat hamstrung by the loss of almost all the seam bowlers. Steffan Jones and Tim Groenewald effectively carried that area last year, the former playing far more than was probably planned, given his coaching commitments.
I feel that Morris should now be given an extension to his contract and thereby secure a consistency of approach for the foreseeable future. He has worked tirelessly in his time at the club with a constantly evolving side and works under the handicap of knowing that it is almost always going to be that way. Morris has said that he can ‘sell opportunity’ at Derbyshire but simply doesn’t have the resources to hang on to players who make the most of such opportunity and are courted by other clubs. As the age of one-club men has long gone, more affluent suitors (if there are any in modern county cricket) will always be able to offer more than we can afford.
Morris presented a five-year plan to the committee, based on the work he is doing, the work in the Academy and the considerable scouting that goes on around the local leagues. Anyone who looks at the current Derbyshire squad will realise that it is a young one and now needs time to develop. Young players like Borrington, Redfern, Hughes, Needham, Clare, Whiteley, Sheikh, Knight, Slater and Poynton could easily emerge as county cricketers of talent, especially now we have a structure in place below the first team squad, with Andrew Harris set to work with the young players as they leave Karl Krikken’s ‘nest.’ They will all progress at different paces of course and some may fall by the wayside, but it is a long time since we have had a clutch of young players of that potential. It would be stupid to rock the boat and adversely impact on their development by bringing in someone new, while the likelihood of their being given earlier opportunity is advanced by the Head of Cricket having greater job security than the six months that it is at present.
We need to remember that most of these lads are under 23 and nowhere even close to their peak. Players like Paul Borrington and Dan Redfern seem to have been around for years, yet are still only 22 and 20 respectively. Likewise I read of this being a crucial season for Jake Needham, and the off-spinner is only 24.
It is spinners I feel especially sorry for with the ECB age incentive payments, as it is widely recognised that they don’t reach their peak until their thirties. Look at the best spinners in the country over the past few years – Robert Croft, Shaun Udal and Graeme Swann. All reached their peak after their thirtieth birthday. It is unrealistic to expect the craft to be mastered earlier, but the pre-season signs are that Jake is coming along pretty well.
So from me it is no more moans and time to look forward to a new season. Along the way we will have our share of bad days – it wouldn’t be a Derbyshire cricket season without them – but we’ll enjoy the good ones all the more because of that and I hope that everyone will now get behind the lads and hope for the best – starting next week!
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Pre-season prospects - the Championship
Just over a week to go until Derbyshire start their 2011 Championship campaign and fans, like those of all counties, will be looking at the prospects of their favourites and dreaming.
As for me, I am quietly confident that the county can put the off-field stuff behind them and produce a steady campaign. I'll not predict the spectacular as I've been there before and regretted it (about 25 times!) but I think that John Morris has put together a good squad that should produce some solid cricket, especially in the four-day format.
I've written before that we have a number of wicket-taking bowlers and that is the case. Footitt, Groenewald, Palladino, Turner and Clare all have good reputations in this area, if not so much at always keeping things quiet in the one-day form of the game. How many play will, of course, depend on the wicket and the improvement the winter has brought in Jake Needham. Atif Sheikh may also come to the fore and we should not lack for bowling strength this year. They've all worked hard with Steffan Jones and the fitness coach over the winter and should reap rewards for that hard work.
I think we all like to see a balanced attack and the presence of Jon Clare means that we can effectively field an all-rounder at eight. Greg Smith's role will also be important and I'm intrigued as to how his season will pan out. Is he a batsman who bowls spin, or a batsman who bowls medium pace? Or is he a bowler who does a bit of batting? The demands of the current game make it very difficult for a player to excel in all areas and Smith's game suffered last year from having to do, or trying to do too much. Will speculation over his future affect him, positively or negatively? Few would deny that at his best he is a fine player. If he can produce regularly, we're likely to do well.
I don't see him batting higher than five or six though, which gives him a decent chance, while Wes Durston could do a little of the spin duties if he cements a place in the batting line-up.
If anything, the batting is perhaps the most likely cause for concern. I'd be fairly confident of good runs from Wayne Madsen, but his likely opening partners are likely to be either Paul Borrington or Chesney Hughes at the start of the season and both have things to prove. Can Bozza combine occupation of the crease with punishment of the bad ball to keep the score moving? Can Chesney overcome second season syndrome when bowlers will know him better? He is a fine talent, but all cricketers have their good and bad times. Good starts make such a difference to teams and if we can get a settled pairing it would bode well.
Then there's the rest. Garry Park went back last year, but is surely too good a player to stay struggling, while Wes Durston needs to score the runs we have seen in one day cricket in the Championship, where an average in the early 20's from a man of his experience (and ability) is under-achieving.
There are other questions. Can Matt Lineker emerge from the local leagues and score heavily in the first-class game. Put another way and taking things in stages, can he force his way into the team first? Most of all, can Dan Redfern show us that the best young batsman to emerge in Derbyshire cricket since Kim Barnett is alive and well, ready to score the runs that his talent suggests?
In the words of the old song, there are more questions than answers and how many of the players prove themselves will dictate our fortunes for 2011.
Two final points about the Championship campaign. We have two gifted overseas batsmen coming in. Will they take to English domestic cricket like a duck to water, or struggle on wickets that often offer more assistance than they are used to? Their respective abilities again suggest they can and will do, but until the action starts we won't know. Martin Guptill is likely to enjoy later season wickets, but key to our success will be the way that Usman Khawaja adapts his game to early season English wickets. If he does, we should be flying.
Finally the new skipper. I'm thrilled we have a good, solid wicket-keeper who just happens to be a good, solid batsman. He's also a man who sets a standard and will expect them to be met every day. Luke Sutton was the first bit of business this close season and may turn out to be the most important.
If we start solidly, keep working at our game and get the rub of the green we could be in the promotion mix. Whether we do better than that will be down to enough people with reputations to build ending the season with their names enhanced. I don't know how it will go, but it should be a lot of fun in finding out!
As for me, I am quietly confident that the county can put the off-field stuff behind them and produce a steady campaign. I'll not predict the spectacular as I've been there before and regretted it (about 25 times!) but I think that John Morris has put together a good squad that should produce some solid cricket, especially in the four-day format.
I've written before that we have a number of wicket-taking bowlers and that is the case. Footitt, Groenewald, Palladino, Turner and Clare all have good reputations in this area, if not so much at always keeping things quiet in the one-day form of the game. How many play will, of course, depend on the wicket and the improvement the winter has brought in Jake Needham. Atif Sheikh may also come to the fore and we should not lack for bowling strength this year. They've all worked hard with Steffan Jones and the fitness coach over the winter and should reap rewards for that hard work.
I think we all like to see a balanced attack and the presence of Jon Clare means that we can effectively field an all-rounder at eight. Greg Smith's role will also be important and I'm intrigued as to how his season will pan out. Is he a batsman who bowls spin, or a batsman who bowls medium pace? Or is he a bowler who does a bit of batting? The demands of the current game make it very difficult for a player to excel in all areas and Smith's game suffered last year from having to do, or trying to do too much. Will speculation over his future affect him, positively or negatively? Few would deny that at his best he is a fine player. If he can produce regularly, we're likely to do well.
I don't see him batting higher than five or six though, which gives him a decent chance, while Wes Durston could do a little of the spin duties if he cements a place in the batting line-up.
If anything, the batting is perhaps the most likely cause for concern. I'd be fairly confident of good runs from Wayne Madsen, but his likely opening partners are likely to be either Paul Borrington or Chesney Hughes at the start of the season and both have things to prove. Can Bozza combine occupation of the crease with punishment of the bad ball to keep the score moving? Can Chesney overcome second season syndrome when bowlers will know him better? He is a fine talent, but all cricketers have their good and bad times. Good starts make such a difference to teams and if we can get a settled pairing it would bode well.
Then there's the rest. Garry Park went back last year, but is surely too good a player to stay struggling, while Wes Durston needs to score the runs we have seen in one day cricket in the Championship, where an average in the early 20's from a man of his experience (and ability) is under-achieving.
There are other questions. Can Matt Lineker emerge from the local leagues and score heavily in the first-class game. Put another way and taking things in stages, can he force his way into the team first? Most of all, can Dan Redfern show us that the best young batsman to emerge in Derbyshire cricket since Kim Barnett is alive and well, ready to score the runs that his talent suggests?
In the words of the old song, there are more questions than answers and how many of the players prove themselves will dictate our fortunes for 2011.
Two final points about the Championship campaign. We have two gifted overseas batsmen coming in. Will they take to English domestic cricket like a duck to water, or struggle on wickets that often offer more assistance than they are used to? Their respective abilities again suggest they can and will do, but until the action starts we won't know. Martin Guptill is likely to enjoy later season wickets, but key to our success will be the way that Usman Khawaja adapts his game to early season English wickets. If he does, we should be flying.
Finally the new skipper. I'm thrilled we have a good, solid wicket-keeper who just happens to be a good, solid batsman. He's also a man who sets a standard and will expect them to be met every day. Luke Sutton was the first bit of business this close season and may turn out to be the most important.
If we start solidly, keep working at our game and get the rub of the green we could be in the promotion mix. Whether we do better than that will be down to enough people with reputations to build ending the season with their names enhanced. I don't know how it will go, but it should be a lot of fun in finding out!
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
95 votes...
86 think the wrong person (or persons) left the Derbyshire committee.
That's 90% of a decent-sized sample. Reflects fairly accurately what people are thinking in my humble opinion....
Look forward to hearing your thoughts on the AGM. Make sure you mail me at the usual address.
That's 90% of a decent-sized sample. Reflects fairly accurately what people are thinking in my humble opinion....
Look forward to hearing your thoughts on the AGM. Make sure you mail me at the usual address.
World's worst comedians...
Years ago, when I was a kid, my Dad told me that cricket was the best game in the world, ruined by a lot of the people who run it.
Over the years he's mentioned that a time or two and especially in the past week as the internal wranglings at Derbyshire have rumbled on. Today comes news that Don Amott is happy to stand again for the committee (a position I suggested he left with too great a haste) but that there was opposition to him standing for chairman 'from within the club.'
Oh really? That Don should walk back on to the committee IF people turn up to vote for him should be straightforward and is pleasing. That there was opposition to him standing once more for chairman speaks volumes (unfavourably) for those concerned who are presumably set to do a little empire building. Looks like there's a few want that gravy train to keep on rolling...
The other night I had an e mail asking why I was 'leading' a rebellion against the committee. From 300 miles away? Do they think I'm William Wallace?
I'm not. I'm stating my opinion and if people agree with it, that's fine. If they don't, that's equally fine as its a free country. The current poll suggests that most people are with me on this one, however.
With Don out of the way, the coast will be clear for one of the three stooges to take over, which in my opinion would be a joke. Alternatively, they could nominate Chris Grant for the role which would be slightly preferable, if only for the fact that he carries little baggage at this stage.
I will say only this. If he listens closely to the three people who resulted in Don Amott's departure, we'll be going nowhere fast.
And if I was going to that meeting tomorrow night I would still be proposing a vote of no confidence.
That's just my opinion of course...
Over the years he's mentioned that a time or two and especially in the past week as the internal wranglings at Derbyshire have rumbled on. Today comes news that Don Amott is happy to stand again for the committee (a position I suggested he left with too great a haste) but that there was opposition to him standing for chairman 'from within the club.'
Oh really? That Don should walk back on to the committee IF people turn up to vote for him should be straightforward and is pleasing. That there was opposition to him standing once more for chairman speaks volumes (unfavourably) for those concerned who are presumably set to do a little empire building. Looks like there's a few want that gravy train to keep on rolling...
The other night I had an e mail asking why I was 'leading' a rebellion against the committee. From 300 miles away? Do they think I'm William Wallace?
I'm not. I'm stating my opinion and if people agree with it, that's fine. If they don't, that's equally fine as its a free country. The current poll suggests that most people are with me on this one, however.
With Don out of the way, the coast will be clear for one of the three stooges to take over, which in my opinion would be a joke. Alternatively, they could nominate Chris Grant for the role which would be slightly preferable, if only for the fact that he carries little baggage at this stage.
I will say only this. If he listens closely to the three people who resulted in Don Amott's departure, we'll be going nowhere fast.
And if I was going to that meeting tomorrow night I would still be proposing a vote of no confidence.
That's just my opinion of course...
Sunday, 27 March 2011
Defeat closes Caribbean sojourn
Derbyshire lost their last tour game in Barbados by seven wickets.
We were bowled out for 185, with Paul Borrington top scoring with 66.
In reply, Warwickshire won the game with almost eight of their 40 overs in hand, Darren Maddy scoring an unbeaten century to complete an outstanding tour.
As I've said before, I wouldn't read too much into things at this stage. Its what happens back here, starting in April, that matters.
We were bowled out for 185, with Paul Borrington top scoring with 66.
In reply, Warwickshire won the game with almost eight of their 40 overs in hand, Darren Maddy scoring an unbeaten century to complete an outstanding tour.
As I've said before, I wouldn't read too much into things at this stage. Its what happens back here, starting in April, that matters.
Friday, 25 March 2011
Young 'uns to the fore
Good to read in the Telegraph this morning such encouraging news on the performances of Ross Whiteley and Tom Knight in Barbados.
I’ve seen Whiteley a time or two and have seen him bowl quite beautifully in what could best be described as the ‘Kevin Dean’ style. Yet I’ve been even more impressed by his clean hitting, which made me think of another young Derbyshire cricketer in Ian Blackwell.
At 22 Whiteley has time on his side and it alone will decide whether he becomes a genuine all-rounder, a batsman who can bowl a few overs or a bowler who can give the ball a real tonk. He has several impressive hitting feats to his name in the Premier League for Chesterfield, including an unbeaten 204 for them last August from just 117 balls. That innings included no fewer than eighteen sixes and eighteen fours!
As well as his cameo in last weekend’s final against Warwickshire, on the tour Whiteley played two innings for composite sides - 68 not out off 47 balls with three fours and five sixes and 45 off 26 balls with eight fours and a six. Such statistics suggest a young player who is getting to grips with his game and has the confidence to go for his shots. It is a potent mix and I will watch his progress with considerable interest.
As for Tom Knight I have yet to see him bowl but have heard enough good reports from good judges to suggest he could be a real find for the club. At 17 he has loads of time on his side and will need to continue to work hard, but figures of 3-18 in eight overs are impressive by any standards.
He took enough wickets in the Second XI last summer to set people talking and the slow left armer could be another to watch.
Meanwhile Tom Poynton has made good runs in Barbados on the back of his Australian trip. He is another for the future, although logically is going to find it hard to break into the side when the first team keeper is also the captain. If he works hard with Luke Sutton in the next couple of seasons, we will not need to look too far for the heir to the County Ground gloves.
Encouraging stuff.
I’ve seen Whiteley a time or two and have seen him bowl quite beautifully in what could best be described as the ‘Kevin Dean’ style. Yet I’ve been even more impressed by his clean hitting, which made me think of another young Derbyshire cricketer in Ian Blackwell.
At 22 Whiteley has time on his side and it alone will decide whether he becomes a genuine all-rounder, a batsman who can bowl a few overs or a bowler who can give the ball a real tonk. He has several impressive hitting feats to his name in the Premier League for Chesterfield, including an unbeaten 204 for them last August from just 117 balls. That innings included no fewer than eighteen sixes and eighteen fours!
As well as his cameo in last weekend’s final against Warwickshire, on the tour Whiteley played two innings for composite sides - 68 not out off 47 balls with three fours and five sixes and 45 off 26 balls with eight fours and a six. Such statistics suggest a young player who is getting to grips with his game and has the confidence to go for his shots. It is a potent mix and I will watch his progress with considerable interest.
As for Tom Knight I have yet to see him bowl but have heard enough good reports from good judges to suggest he could be a real find for the club. At 17 he has loads of time on his side and will need to continue to work hard, but figures of 3-18 in eight overs are impressive by any standards.
He took enough wickets in the Second XI last summer to set people talking and the slow left armer could be another to watch.
Meanwhile Tom Poynton has made good runs in Barbados on the back of his Australian trip. He is another for the future, although logically is going to find it hard to break into the side when the first team keeper is also the captain. If he works hard with Luke Sutton in the next couple of seasons, we will not need to look too far for the heir to the County Ground gloves.
Encouraging stuff.
Final thoughts on a dire week
What happened in Derbyshire cricket this week daddy? We started it with a place in a T20 final in Barbados son, and then it went down hill from there.
There still appears to be massive confusion about what is happening with regard to the imminent elections and the club should really be making a statement sometime soon. As far as I’m concerned the elections are well and truly screwed and with the depth of feeling that I’m seeing in e mails, on IMWT and in the poll I would not be at all surprised if a vote of no confidence in the committee was proposed at the AGM. That it would lead to a period of uncertainty is likely, but at least one of those concerned has seen this sort of thing before. Read IMWT’s link to the Amott departure and see what I mean…
This, of course, is dependent on people being brave enough to say what they’re doing on a computer in front of a meeting. Its not courage in the real sense, the Helmland province sense if you will, but some find it hard to do that kind of thing and what happens from here is dependent on people being willing to do so.
If you’re a regular reader of this site you’ll know that I am a supporter of the club and as such will defend it where at all possible, but I’m finding that very difficult in the light of recent events. I have always tried to be even-handed in criticism and constructive where at all possible, but I’ll tell you areas where I have major issues with recent events and where the actions of those involved have given me serious cause for concern:
1 We’ve heard Don’s story but we’ve still not heard a peep from the three villains of the piece to say that he got it all wrong. Why is this? Quite likely because he didn’t.
2 If there is any truth whatsoever that committee members wanted a say in team selection, they should go. Quite simply it has nothing to do with them. We pay someone to do that and any variant will take us back to the days when England teams were picked by panels who had poor knowledge and were too parochial. There's not a coach worthy of the name would take that - would you?
3 For me, the actions of the tricky trio were an ill-thought, knee-jerk reaction to a situation that really wasn’t there. The two people who mattered – the Chairman and Chief Executive - were in control of last year’s loss, had put procedures in place to reverse it this year and should have been left alone to carry on with what they have thus far done very well.
4 These discussions should have been on a full committee basis, not just what seems to be three conspirators and a chairman. Whether it was a sub-committee or not, this is the impression given and the track record of one of those concerned, as highlighted in recent historical press accounts on IMWT, only fuels that argument.
5 The reality is that any committee should be representative of the views of the membership and should do just that in their actions. If they had a mandate from the membership to address the financial situation that would be a different matter. They didn’t, as there was no vote, so we now have three committee members saying that a second paid employee – the Chief Executive – is effectively wrong in his summation of our financial state.
The Derby Telegraph earlier in the week said
“An emergency committee meeting is to be called soon to gauge reaction to Amott's resignation. After that, the club has to face its members at the AGM on March 30, when there could be some awkward questions to address.”
If the people involved in this scenario hold an emergency meeting and come up with any other conclusion than that the weight of opinion is firmly against them, they are too blinkered to be holding office. Likewise if the membership tolerate their actions and say nowt at the AGM then they deserve everything they get in the future.
If John Morris has presented a five-year plan it suggests he is prepared for a long haul. With Amott as chairman and Loring as Chief Executive we had nothing to worry about. Having lost one, there is a risk that another could feel it is not worth the hassle and the third would be increasingly isolated.
I think there is still an opportunity to persuade Don Amott to return, but a condition of that would almost certainly be that three others, whose actions have been out of order, resign for it to happen. If they cannot see that, in order to flourish in this economic climate, the club needs Amott at the helm far more than it needs them, they are doing a club they purport to support a grave disservice.
There still appears to be massive confusion about what is happening with regard to the imminent elections and the club should really be making a statement sometime soon. As far as I’m concerned the elections are well and truly screwed and with the depth of feeling that I’m seeing in e mails, on IMWT and in the poll I would not be at all surprised if a vote of no confidence in the committee was proposed at the AGM. That it would lead to a period of uncertainty is likely, but at least one of those concerned has seen this sort of thing before. Read IMWT’s link to the Amott departure and see what I mean…
This, of course, is dependent on people being brave enough to say what they’re doing on a computer in front of a meeting. Its not courage in the real sense, the Helmland province sense if you will, but some find it hard to do that kind of thing and what happens from here is dependent on people being willing to do so.
If you’re a regular reader of this site you’ll know that I am a supporter of the club and as such will defend it where at all possible, but I’m finding that very difficult in the light of recent events. I have always tried to be even-handed in criticism and constructive where at all possible, but I’ll tell you areas where I have major issues with recent events and where the actions of those involved have given me serious cause for concern:
1 We’ve heard Don’s story but we’ve still not heard a peep from the three villains of the piece to say that he got it all wrong. Why is this? Quite likely because he didn’t.
2 If there is any truth whatsoever that committee members wanted a say in team selection, they should go. Quite simply it has nothing to do with them. We pay someone to do that and any variant will take us back to the days when England teams were picked by panels who had poor knowledge and were too parochial. There's not a coach worthy of the name would take that - would you?
3 For me, the actions of the tricky trio were an ill-thought, knee-jerk reaction to a situation that really wasn’t there. The two people who mattered – the Chairman and Chief Executive - were in control of last year’s loss, had put procedures in place to reverse it this year and should have been left alone to carry on with what they have thus far done very well.
4 These discussions should have been on a full committee basis, not just what seems to be three conspirators and a chairman. Whether it was a sub-committee or not, this is the impression given and the track record of one of those concerned, as highlighted in recent historical press accounts on IMWT, only fuels that argument.
5 The reality is that any committee should be representative of the views of the membership and should do just that in their actions. If they had a mandate from the membership to address the financial situation that would be a different matter. They didn’t, as there was no vote, so we now have three committee members saying that a second paid employee – the Chief Executive – is effectively wrong in his summation of our financial state.
The Derby Telegraph earlier in the week said
“An emergency committee meeting is to be called soon to gauge reaction to Amott's resignation. After that, the club has to face its members at the AGM on March 30, when there could be some awkward questions to address.”
If the people involved in this scenario hold an emergency meeting and come up with any other conclusion than that the weight of opinion is firmly against them, they are too blinkered to be holding office. Likewise if the membership tolerate their actions and say nowt at the AGM then they deserve everything they get in the future.
If John Morris has presented a five-year plan it suggests he is prepared for a long haul. With Amott as chairman and Loring as Chief Executive we had nothing to worry about. Having lost one, there is a risk that another could feel it is not worth the hassle and the third would be increasingly isolated.
I think there is still an opportunity to persuade Don Amott to return, but a condition of that would almost certainly be that three others, whose actions have been out of order, resign for it to happen. If they cannot see that, in order to flourish in this economic climate, the club needs Amott at the helm far more than it needs them, they are doing a club they purport to support a grave disservice.
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Can you help?
I've had an e mail from a Derbyshire fan asking if I knew whether Cliff Gladwin's sports shop in Chesterfield was opened after his testimonial in the early 1950's or after he retired in 1958.
I remember going in there a few times but much later, being far too young (ahem...) to recall the 1950s from any perspective but milk and rusks.
If you know the answer, please mail me at the usual address that you'll find down the left hand side of this page.
Thanks!
I remember going in there a few times but much later, being far too young (ahem...) to recall the 1950s from any perspective but milk and rusks.
If you know the answer, please mail me at the usual address that you'll find down the left hand side of this page.
Thanks!
IMWT
One word to describe 'Parore's posts on IMWT today.
Wow.
In the words of a top comic, it's deja vu all over again...
Wow.
In the words of a top comic, it's deja vu all over again...
Various points
No major news to report today. That doesn’t appear to mean that people are any easier with the recent events at the County Ground, certainly not judging by the volume of e-mails I have received.
People aren’t happy and the AGM promises to be a feisty affair to say the least. I guess it will be a hot ticket and I hope people take the opportunity to ask all the questions that they’re asking me and don’t turn bashful.
Just one thing about the blog comments – please avoid personal insults and litigation-worthy statements. I will remove anything of that nature that I see as its my site and me that gets the grief if someone is unhappy. I’m always happy to see your comments – but don’t get personal about people, please.
Derbyshire struggled with the bat in Barbados yesterday, though I’m honestly not fussed at this stage. The nearest I could relate to how they must feel right now is perhaps going back to work after six months away from your desk. Even after a fortnight’s holiday the first few days can be hard going, so players need to iron out techniques and dust the cobwebs off their strokeplay.
By and large the bowlers have done pretty well and Jake Needham is making a strong case for regular involvement with both runs and wickets. I hope that Jake’s winter in South Africa with Phil Russell has worked, as he would give us a useful variant in all forms of the game.
Tony Palladino looks handy too at this early stage, while most of the batsmen have got some runs so far. Paul Borrington and Wayne Madsen both did well yesterday. The latter we know all about and he is a key member of the side, but this is a big year for Bozza. We know he has a good technique and can stick in there, but he also has to be prepared to play his shots when the chance arises. He and Dan Redfern both need to get through the ‘nice thirty’ syndrome that affects them and play innings of greater substance.
I remember reading Mark Butcher explaining how he took some time to realise how he was getting out at a similar stage with monotonous and frustrating regularity. The penny eventually dropped that he was concentrating hard and ensuring that his feet were moving and he was watching the ball until he got to twenty. Then he mentally relaxed and thought he was OK, resulting in his giving it away far too quickly. Once he acquired the ability to switch on and off his concentration between overs and wasn’t so mentally tired, he started to score with the frequency that made him an England regular.
It’s the same for wicket-keepers. Luke Sutton has spoken of the demands on him as wicket-keeper and captain and said that you learn to relax between overs or you are mentally ‘gone’ before the end of the day. We saw that with Lee Goddard last year and none of us can really appreciate the mental demands, the concentration required to bat for hours against people trying to make a ball do tricks. Batting on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon is one thing, but again, batting for six hours when your livelihood depends on it requires a completely different skill and mind set.
I’ll be interested to see how Matt Lineker gets on this season. Over recent years he has been remarkably prolific in the Derbyshire leagues, but if he’s to translate that to the first-class game he will need to work harder than ever before. Every jump in standard makes the game harder, obviously, and batsmen will get fewer bad balls to put away. Bowlers will find they’ve less margin for error and fielders need to be on their toes all the time.
Even I found that. My club side once got promoted in four successive seasons, partly through league reorganisations. We suddenly found ourselves playing against some seriously good players who could bowl quickly and spin it a lot. Some of the fun went at that point. Facing a West Indian quickie on a park pitch where the ball exploded like a grenade was no laughing matter. My mental preparation became one of making a mental note to check my life insurance policy when I got home…
That’s why the World Cup minnows have largely struggled. Players can, if they’re good enough, raise their game for occasional one-offs, but only the best will survive over the long haul. That’s why Ireland did better than most, as they had around eight players with decent first-class experience. Its also why Kevin O’Brien failed after his day of glory against England. The combination of faulty technique and mental tiredness, coupled with the weight of expectation did for him.
For me, these issues are the problem with the ECB payments for playing age-bracket players. Some players acquire these skills fairly quickly, others later and some not at all. The history of the game is littered with late developers who became very good cricketers, but if we’re to effectively say “you’ve reached 23 without the necessary skillset – goodbye” we could miss out on a generation of talent.
Given the financial issues in the current game, few will get second chances and that’s quite sad.
In closing and on a lighter note, I read today that there were just 15 paying customers at the Kenya v Bangladesh World Cup game.
And we reckoned last year’s T20 attendances were disappointing?
PS I see Nottinghamshire have jetted out for the pre-season opener against the MCC. As ECB spokesman Fred Flintstone put it: “the pitches at Lords just now don’t allow for a good game of cricket, but those in Abu Dhabi do…”
People aren’t happy and the AGM promises to be a feisty affair to say the least. I guess it will be a hot ticket and I hope people take the opportunity to ask all the questions that they’re asking me and don’t turn bashful.
Just one thing about the blog comments – please avoid personal insults and litigation-worthy statements. I will remove anything of that nature that I see as its my site and me that gets the grief if someone is unhappy. I’m always happy to see your comments – but don’t get personal about people, please.
Derbyshire struggled with the bat in Barbados yesterday, though I’m honestly not fussed at this stage. The nearest I could relate to how they must feel right now is perhaps going back to work after six months away from your desk. Even after a fortnight’s holiday the first few days can be hard going, so players need to iron out techniques and dust the cobwebs off their strokeplay.
By and large the bowlers have done pretty well and Jake Needham is making a strong case for regular involvement with both runs and wickets. I hope that Jake’s winter in South Africa with Phil Russell has worked, as he would give us a useful variant in all forms of the game.
Tony Palladino looks handy too at this early stage, while most of the batsmen have got some runs so far. Paul Borrington and Wayne Madsen both did well yesterday. The latter we know all about and he is a key member of the side, but this is a big year for Bozza. We know he has a good technique and can stick in there, but he also has to be prepared to play his shots when the chance arises. He and Dan Redfern both need to get through the ‘nice thirty’ syndrome that affects them and play innings of greater substance.
I remember reading Mark Butcher explaining how he took some time to realise how he was getting out at a similar stage with monotonous and frustrating regularity. The penny eventually dropped that he was concentrating hard and ensuring that his feet were moving and he was watching the ball until he got to twenty. Then he mentally relaxed and thought he was OK, resulting in his giving it away far too quickly. Once he acquired the ability to switch on and off his concentration between overs and wasn’t so mentally tired, he started to score with the frequency that made him an England regular.
It’s the same for wicket-keepers. Luke Sutton has spoken of the demands on him as wicket-keeper and captain and said that you learn to relax between overs or you are mentally ‘gone’ before the end of the day. We saw that with Lee Goddard last year and none of us can really appreciate the mental demands, the concentration required to bat for hours against people trying to make a ball do tricks. Batting on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon is one thing, but again, batting for six hours when your livelihood depends on it requires a completely different skill and mind set.
I’ll be interested to see how Matt Lineker gets on this season. Over recent years he has been remarkably prolific in the Derbyshire leagues, but if he’s to translate that to the first-class game he will need to work harder than ever before. Every jump in standard makes the game harder, obviously, and batsmen will get fewer bad balls to put away. Bowlers will find they’ve less margin for error and fielders need to be on their toes all the time.
Even I found that. My club side once got promoted in four successive seasons, partly through league reorganisations. We suddenly found ourselves playing against some seriously good players who could bowl quickly and spin it a lot. Some of the fun went at that point. Facing a West Indian quickie on a park pitch where the ball exploded like a grenade was no laughing matter. My mental preparation became one of making a mental note to check my life insurance policy when I got home…
That’s why the World Cup minnows have largely struggled. Players can, if they’re good enough, raise their game for occasional one-offs, but only the best will survive over the long haul. That’s why Ireland did better than most, as they had around eight players with decent first-class experience. Its also why Kevin O’Brien failed after his day of glory against England. The combination of faulty technique and mental tiredness, coupled with the weight of expectation did for him.
For me, these issues are the problem with the ECB payments for playing age-bracket players. Some players acquire these skills fairly quickly, others later and some not at all. The history of the game is littered with late developers who became very good cricketers, but if we’re to effectively say “you’ve reached 23 without the necessary skillset – goodbye” we could miss out on a generation of talent.
Given the financial issues in the current game, few will get second chances and that’s quite sad.
In closing and on a lighter note, I read today that there were just 15 paying customers at the Kenya v Bangladesh World Cup game.
And we reckoned last year’s T20 attendances were disappointing?
PS I see Nottinghamshire have jetted out for the pre-season opener against the MCC. As ECB spokesman Fred Flintstone put it: “the pitches at Lords just now don’t allow for a good game of cricket, but those in Abu Dhabi do…”
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
On the pitch
On a cheerier note, it was good to see Derbyshire’s bowlers doing well against Hampshire in the Caribbean. Honours very much even on a day where they finished 320-9 and wickets for Messrs Needham (3) Smith (3) and Palladino (2).
Derbyshire will bat tomorrow and give people some much needed time in the middle.
The players will doubtless be frustrated that the cricket has been disrupted by rain, but they’ve still got far more from the past week than they would have in the indoor nets at Derby.
Closing on an inadvertent piece of humour, I was amused to read that Mitchell Johnson intends to target the ribs of Virender Sehwag in the imminent World Cup quarter final as “he doesn’t like it.”
Not many batsmen do, but based on his performances in the Ashes and the erratic nature of his bowling, he’s as likely to tickle the ribs of second slip as those of the mercurial Indian. While Brett Lee has lost his edge of pace but still bowls the right lines and the occasional quick ball, Johnson and Shaun Tait are still too erratic to be truly dangerous. While they will take wickets, they can also be very expensive.
I’m reminded of ex-Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire bowler Peter Hacker, who was capable of taking big wickets but could also go for plenty. An over could see two down either side of the wicket, an outrageous long hop and a belter that had the batsman in trouble every so often.
But not often enough.
India to win that one for me and I’ve still seen nothing to alter my pre-tournament assertion that either they or South Africa will be the eventual winners.
Derbyshire will bat tomorrow and give people some much needed time in the middle.
The players will doubtless be frustrated that the cricket has been disrupted by rain, but they’ve still got far more from the past week than they would have in the indoor nets at Derby.
Closing on an inadvertent piece of humour, I was amused to read that Mitchell Johnson intends to target the ribs of Virender Sehwag in the imminent World Cup quarter final as “he doesn’t like it.”
Not many batsmen do, but based on his performances in the Ashes and the erratic nature of his bowling, he’s as likely to tickle the ribs of second slip as those of the mercurial Indian. While Brett Lee has lost his edge of pace but still bowls the right lines and the occasional quick ball, Johnson and Shaun Tait are still too erratic to be truly dangerous. While they will take wickets, they can also be very expensive.
I’m reminded of ex-Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire bowler Peter Hacker, who was capable of taking big wickets but could also go for plenty. An over could see two down either side of the wicket, an outrageous long hop and a belter that had the batsman in trouble every so often.
But not often enough.
India to win that one for me and I’ve still seen nothing to alter my pre-tournament assertion that either they or South Africa will be the eventual winners.
More thoughts on a bad situation
Something that has really stunned me in the last couple of days has been the depth of positive feeling towards Don Amott since he announced his resignation. I knew Don was well liked but I’m sure that even he must have been overwhelmed by the response of supporters to his departure.
It is unprecedented in my following of local sport. A succession of Derby County chairmen were tolerated but not especially liked. Some were detested, to be quite honest and none attracted the depth of feeling that recent events have shown. In cricket circles Will Taylor kept the county club afloat for decades but probably never 'felt the love' expressed for our most recent chairman.
I’ve had a remarkable number of e mails and the recurring theme is “How do we get him back?” The simple retort, of course is whether he would wish to, certainly if the people he disagreed with are still involved.I still struggle to get my head around why the opinion of three people, even in senior roles, carries weight within a committee of fifteen unless too many just go with the flow. A committee is exactly that and everyone’s vote is (or should be) equal. Over the years at both hockey and cricket clubs I have been treasurer, secretary, match secretary, team captain and ordinary member and I have never known any variant to that.
Did Don jump ship too quickly without thinking it through? There were enough other people on the committee for the three amigos to be comfortably outvoted on their Baldrick-style cunning plans, unless of course they had played a flanker and got support for those plans without consulting Don. I find that very hard to believe, but you never know.
As someone mailed me last night, is our greater need (and I realise this is blunt) for an accountant, a chap who worked with the Co-op and someone who takes photographs, or a man who puts his own money into the organisation on a regular basis and offers interest-free loans when required? I realise this is perhaps unfair and that the people concerned do other things for the club, but in the current economic climate, as the Derby Telegraph points out today, Derbyshire need – really need - Don Amott.
It is not just about his money. It is his personality and easy way with people, always useful when you’re trying to persuade them to part with money. He is an imposing and impressive figurehead for the club and that never does any harm either. He’s unafraid to call it as it is too and has a great working relationship with both Keith Loring and John Morris.
This is another of my concerns. Don mentioned that John Morris came to them with a five-year plan and wanted to give John a one-year contract extension now. If an aspect of that plan was to bring in more youngsters, even at the expense of a few results here and there, then that would have been the right thing to do. I can understand a reluctance not to do that in some people after last year’s disappointments, but in Morris’ shoes I would be more likely to pack my side with experienced men and give myself a better chance of results and a contract extension, even if it cost the club a little more money. Inexperience has been the reason behind Derby County’s decline – there’s not enough people on the pitch who have been in the tough situations.
Now Don has told the world that the three committee members wanted to have a say in team selection WITHOUT consulting the Head of Cricket, there is sure to be an atmosphere of mistrust. How they go about rebuilding a relationship is paramount to where we go from here. Had Don Amott resigned as Chairman but stayed on the Committee he would have been in a position to oppose such plans, but my concerns now are that we have a well-paid man in charge of cricket who is potentially going to be told what to do by people who know nothing about it.
But not for long, would be my guess. As I said on Radio Derby last night, I have massive respect for John Morris as a former player, a coach and a man. I admire his honesty and his passion for Derbyshire cricket and I can’t see him being told what to do by mere amateurs – I wouldn’t, in his shoes.
IF – and we’ve still not heard the side of the three people concerned – there is truth in what Don Amott says, then those people should do the honourable thing and resign themselves. As I have said before, committee members are elected to represent the membership on matters pertaining to the club. They are not there to empire-build, form clandestine alliances and feather their own nests and sense of importance.
There’s an old saying that you don’t buy a dog and bark yourself. Neither do you appoint a man with good reputation as Head of Cricket and tell him how to do his job. If Don’s comments are true, we may soon have a team photograph taken by someone who sets the timer on the camera before going into it himself, resplendent in a club tracksuit…
You'll gather I'm not impressed.
It is unprecedented in my following of local sport. A succession of Derby County chairmen were tolerated but not especially liked. Some were detested, to be quite honest and none attracted the depth of feeling that recent events have shown. In cricket circles Will Taylor kept the county club afloat for decades but probably never 'felt the love' expressed for our most recent chairman.
I’ve had a remarkable number of e mails and the recurring theme is “How do we get him back?” The simple retort, of course is whether he would wish to, certainly if the people he disagreed with are still involved.I still struggle to get my head around why the opinion of three people, even in senior roles, carries weight within a committee of fifteen unless too many just go with the flow. A committee is exactly that and everyone’s vote is (or should be) equal. Over the years at both hockey and cricket clubs I have been treasurer, secretary, match secretary, team captain and ordinary member and I have never known any variant to that.
Did Don jump ship too quickly without thinking it through? There were enough other people on the committee for the three amigos to be comfortably outvoted on their Baldrick-style cunning plans, unless of course they had played a flanker and got support for those plans without consulting Don. I find that very hard to believe, but you never know.
As someone mailed me last night, is our greater need (and I realise this is blunt) for an accountant, a chap who worked with the Co-op and someone who takes photographs, or a man who puts his own money into the organisation on a regular basis and offers interest-free loans when required? I realise this is perhaps unfair and that the people concerned do other things for the club, but in the current economic climate, as the Derby Telegraph points out today, Derbyshire need – really need - Don Amott.
It is not just about his money. It is his personality and easy way with people, always useful when you’re trying to persuade them to part with money. He is an imposing and impressive figurehead for the club and that never does any harm either. He’s unafraid to call it as it is too and has a great working relationship with both Keith Loring and John Morris.
This is another of my concerns. Don mentioned that John Morris came to them with a five-year plan and wanted to give John a one-year contract extension now. If an aspect of that plan was to bring in more youngsters, even at the expense of a few results here and there, then that would have been the right thing to do. I can understand a reluctance not to do that in some people after last year’s disappointments, but in Morris’ shoes I would be more likely to pack my side with experienced men and give myself a better chance of results and a contract extension, even if it cost the club a little more money. Inexperience has been the reason behind Derby County’s decline – there’s not enough people on the pitch who have been in the tough situations.
Now Don has told the world that the three committee members wanted to have a say in team selection WITHOUT consulting the Head of Cricket, there is sure to be an atmosphere of mistrust. How they go about rebuilding a relationship is paramount to where we go from here. Had Don Amott resigned as Chairman but stayed on the Committee he would have been in a position to oppose such plans, but my concerns now are that we have a well-paid man in charge of cricket who is potentially going to be told what to do by people who know nothing about it.
But not for long, would be my guess. As I said on Radio Derby last night, I have massive respect for John Morris as a former player, a coach and a man. I admire his honesty and his passion for Derbyshire cricket and I can’t see him being told what to do by mere amateurs – I wouldn’t, in his shoes.
IF – and we’ve still not heard the side of the three people concerned – there is truth in what Don Amott says, then those people should do the honourable thing and resign themselves. As I have said before, committee members are elected to represent the membership on matters pertaining to the club. They are not there to empire-build, form clandestine alliances and feather their own nests and sense of importance.
There’s an old saying that you don’t buy a dog and bark yourself. Neither do you appoint a man with good reputation as Head of Cricket and tell him how to do his job. If Don’s comments are true, we may soon have a team photograph taken by someone who sets the timer on the camera before going into it himself, resplendent in a club tracksuit…
You'll gather I'm not impressed.
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
So what is going on?
“That’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me into…”
Maybe Oliver Hardy knew more about the nonsense that has once again returned to Derbyshire cricket behind the scenes than he was letting on, but there can be little doubt that this is an unholy mess to be in on the verge of a new cricket season.
Now you pay your money and take your choice in so far as who you believe in this sorry episode and to be fair we have thus far only heard one side of the tale. Only committee members will know the true story, but so far as it goes, I think at this stage that we have shot ourselves in the foot once again and I’ll tell you why.
Only a few short weeks ago, Keith Loring, a man widely respected within the game for his financial acumen, was assuring supporters that we are well set for the future, despite a poor financial return for the past twelve months. Now all but one county have reported a trading loss, so we are far from alone in having a poor year in admittedly mitigating circumstances.
The ECB money, a not inconsiderable £300K that we will get later in the year for upgrading the ground, together with a rationalisation of playing staff that has seen the costs reduced already was a step in the right direction. Indeed, Loring was predicting a return to the positive balances to which we have become accustomed next year, as the result of this work and the ever improving income generation strands, especially from the new marquee.
The irony in all this, of course, is that Don Amott, with Keith Loring (and Tom Sears before him) has presided over Derbyshire’s best run of financial returns in their history. Why wouldn’t he? The man has built up a highly impressive business empire and has been both a major sponsor and benefactor to the club, something akin to £120,000 at present, according to Mark Eklid in the Derby Telegraph.
With respect to Phil Kirby, David Griffin and Malcolm Nicholas, who are they trying to kid in telling Don Amott how to run a business? I know little about them, but if they are trying to muscle in on the work that Amott and Loring have done then they are doing no one any favours. Anyone who can turn a little club like ours into a viable business model has to have a lot going for them. I have regarded Amott and Loring as a ‘dream team’ in so far as the running of a club is concerned and I am both saddened and angered at this turn of events.
It is the knock ons that concern me most. What about our business partners, many of them arisen through the inter-personal skills and contacts of Don Amott and Keith Loring? Will they still wish to be involved? Will Loring stay? If people who should know better start to stick their oar into the work of people of rare talent, we are on a very slippery slope indeed and they had better have a good plan B in hand.
I am especially concerned by suggestions that those named wanted an involvement in team affairs. By this, I assume that they want to tell John Morris that he has to pick a ‘financially viable’ team that will maximise our age-related income from the ECB but not necessarily be our strongest. I might be wrong, but that doesn’t sound like the road to success to me, especially for someone in the last year of a contract.
I would not expect John Morris to tolerate any interference in his selections and nor would I in his situation. He is paid to do a job and should be allowed to do so. He is a professional, he knows his job inside out, he knows the system and the way that it works. The others involved are, like me and I guess you, simply amateurs. We pick our fantasy teams and support the club but have no real idea of how the balance sheet and the pressures of constructing a competitive team works in reality. That is why most people with common sense are happy to leave it to the experts. Would you go to your doctor, tell him what’s wrong and ask him to sign the prescription you had self-diagnosed? Would you get a new boiler installed and tell the guy how to do it? Of course not.
The three people named above should be hanging their heads in shame tonight. There was little, if anything, wrong with Derbyshire cricket and most fans were anticipating a season of good, competitive cricket. Sure, a little more money would have been handy and might have led to our recruiting established names rather than ones with reputations to build. Yet the advent of Chris Grant, the reorganisation of the coaching staff and the winter recruitment, allied to the existing acumen of Don Amott and the off-field wizardry of the commercial team, suggested that better times lay ahead.
I suspect the repercussions of this will go on for some time. I certainly hope that the existing membership let the ‘players’ behind this scenario know that they have done the club a disservice. As committee members they have a duty to represent the fans, few of who would have either wanted or anticipated this turn of events. I could understand this more if it was a full committee decision, not the work of three men. What I'd like to know is whose idea it was. Will someone be big enough to stand up and admit it was them?
Look at how this club has been stabilised under Don Amott. How the financial issues have been largely addressed, how the County Ground has changed for the better, how cricket has returned to Chesterfield. Think of his entertaining chats in the commentary box on Radio Derby, when he was by a distance the strongest component.
With the forthcoming committee elections in tatters, maybe this is the time for a vote of no confidence. I can think of three people who could perhaps do the honourable thing and resign in between times and there will be others who would be prepared to stand, to represent their fellow members and to let people who know what they are doing get on with it, supporting them as and when required.
Phil Kirby, Dave Griffin and Malcolm Nicholas may well currently be committee members and office holders. But Derbyshire fans? If they are, they have a damn funny way of showing it and until we hear their side I will take some persuading otherwise.
As for fans, I've had a record amount of texts and e mails today, so I've reintroduced the poll. Let's see what you, the people that these guys represent, think about the situation.
Interesting reading no doubt...
Maybe Oliver Hardy knew more about the nonsense that has once again returned to Derbyshire cricket behind the scenes than he was letting on, but there can be little doubt that this is an unholy mess to be in on the verge of a new cricket season.
Now you pay your money and take your choice in so far as who you believe in this sorry episode and to be fair we have thus far only heard one side of the tale. Only committee members will know the true story, but so far as it goes, I think at this stage that we have shot ourselves in the foot once again and I’ll tell you why.
Only a few short weeks ago, Keith Loring, a man widely respected within the game for his financial acumen, was assuring supporters that we are well set for the future, despite a poor financial return for the past twelve months. Now all but one county have reported a trading loss, so we are far from alone in having a poor year in admittedly mitigating circumstances.
The ECB money, a not inconsiderable £300K that we will get later in the year for upgrading the ground, together with a rationalisation of playing staff that has seen the costs reduced already was a step in the right direction. Indeed, Loring was predicting a return to the positive balances to which we have become accustomed next year, as the result of this work and the ever improving income generation strands, especially from the new marquee.
The irony in all this, of course, is that Don Amott, with Keith Loring (and Tom Sears before him) has presided over Derbyshire’s best run of financial returns in their history. Why wouldn’t he? The man has built up a highly impressive business empire and has been both a major sponsor and benefactor to the club, something akin to £120,000 at present, according to Mark Eklid in the Derby Telegraph.
With respect to Phil Kirby, David Griffin and Malcolm Nicholas, who are they trying to kid in telling Don Amott how to run a business? I know little about them, but if they are trying to muscle in on the work that Amott and Loring have done then they are doing no one any favours. Anyone who can turn a little club like ours into a viable business model has to have a lot going for them. I have regarded Amott and Loring as a ‘dream team’ in so far as the running of a club is concerned and I am both saddened and angered at this turn of events.
It is the knock ons that concern me most. What about our business partners, many of them arisen through the inter-personal skills and contacts of Don Amott and Keith Loring? Will they still wish to be involved? Will Loring stay? If people who should know better start to stick their oar into the work of people of rare talent, we are on a very slippery slope indeed and they had better have a good plan B in hand.
I am especially concerned by suggestions that those named wanted an involvement in team affairs. By this, I assume that they want to tell John Morris that he has to pick a ‘financially viable’ team that will maximise our age-related income from the ECB but not necessarily be our strongest. I might be wrong, but that doesn’t sound like the road to success to me, especially for someone in the last year of a contract.
I would not expect John Morris to tolerate any interference in his selections and nor would I in his situation. He is paid to do a job and should be allowed to do so. He is a professional, he knows his job inside out, he knows the system and the way that it works. The others involved are, like me and I guess you, simply amateurs. We pick our fantasy teams and support the club but have no real idea of how the balance sheet and the pressures of constructing a competitive team works in reality. That is why most people with common sense are happy to leave it to the experts. Would you go to your doctor, tell him what’s wrong and ask him to sign the prescription you had self-diagnosed? Would you get a new boiler installed and tell the guy how to do it? Of course not.
The three people named above should be hanging their heads in shame tonight. There was little, if anything, wrong with Derbyshire cricket and most fans were anticipating a season of good, competitive cricket. Sure, a little more money would have been handy and might have led to our recruiting established names rather than ones with reputations to build. Yet the advent of Chris Grant, the reorganisation of the coaching staff and the winter recruitment, allied to the existing acumen of Don Amott and the off-field wizardry of the commercial team, suggested that better times lay ahead.
I suspect the repercussions of this will go on for some time. I certainly hope that the existing membership let the ‘players’ behind this scenario know that they have done the club a disservice. As committee members they have a duty to represent the fans, few of who would have either wanted or anticipated this turn of events. I could understand this more if it was a full committee decision, not the work of three men. What I'd like to know is whose idea it was. Will someone be big enough to stand up and admit it was them?
Look at how this club has been stabilised under Don Amott. How the financial issues have been largely addressed, how the County Ground has changed for the better, how cricket has returned to Chesterfield. Think of his entertaining chats in the commentary box on Radio Derby, when he was by a distance the strongest component.
With the forthcoming committee elections in tatters, maybe this is the time for a vote of no confidence. I can think of three people who could perhaps do the honourable thing and resign in between times and there will be others who would be prepared to stand, to represent their fellow members and to let people who know what they are doing get on with it, supporting them as and when required.
Phil Kirby, Dave Griffin and Malcolm Nicholas may well currently be committee members and office holders. But Derbyshire fans? If they are, they have a damn funny way of showing it and until we hear their side I will take some persuading otherwise.
As for fans, I've had a record amount of texts and e mails today, so I've reintroduced the poll. Let's see what you, the people that these guys represent, think about the situation.
Interesting reading no doubt...
Monday, 21 March 2011
Don Amott - update
I've been asked to do an interview about Don Amott's departure tomorrow morning on Radio Derby.
At this stage I know no more than that it will be sometime between 7am and 9am.
If that's too early, I'm sure you can get it later on BBC i player if you're interested!
At this stage I know no more than that it will be sometime between 7am and 9am.
If that's too early, I'm sure you can get it later on BBC i player if you're interested!
The tour thus far
In short, pretty good.
We have won two matches and lost one in conditions that favoured the side winning the toss. Most of the players have had a run out so far and most have made a positive contribution. You can't ask for more in pre-season matches.
Sure, we lost a final last night but in the grand scheme of things that wasn't so important. Dan Redfern and Ross Whitely made good contributions, while throughout the tournament, particularly with the bat, Jon Clare was a revelation. He biffed conclusive boundaries in the first match, gave late impetus in the second and smashed a brisk fifty in the third. All were impressive and valuable contributions, suggesting that he is close to being back to his best. We'll all hope for that, as a fully fit Clare has international potential.
The side in the final was well short of our T20 strongest. There was no Madsen, Groenewald or Footitt, no Khawaja or Guptill. Yet they posted a decent total and made a good game of it when at 40-5 some might have thought them dead and buried.
Like all teams, in the coming season Derbyshire will possibly delight and infuriate in equal measure. I've seen enough winning positions blown in recent years to realise that goes with the territory. Yet the last couple of days have suggested there might be more positive ones than we have been used to.
I'm looking forward to seeing if that is the case.
We have won two matches and lost one in conditions that favoured the side winning the toss. Most of the players have had a run out so far and most have made a positive contribution. You can't ask for more in pre-season matches.
Sure, we lost a final last night but in the grand scheme of things that wasn't so important. Dan Redfern and Ross Whitely made good contributions, while throughout the tournament, particularly with the bat, Jon Clare was a revelation. He biffed conclusive boundaries in the first match, gave late impetus in the second and smashed a brisk fifty in the third. All were impressive and valuable contributions, suggesting that he is close to being back to his best. We'll all hope for that, as a fully fit Clare has international potential.
The side in the final was well short of our T20 strongest. There was no Madsen, Groenewald or Footitt, no Khawaja or Guptill. Yet they posted a decent total and made a good game of it when at 40-5 some might have thought them dead and buried.
Like all teams, in the coming season Derbyshire will possibly delight and infuriate in equal measure. I've seen enough winning positions blown in recent years to realise that goes with the territory. Yet the last couple of days have suggested there might be more positive ones than we have been used to.
I'm looking forward to seeing if that is the case.
Don Amott - an appreciation
I think there is a natural assumption for people, aware of the track record Derbyshire cricket has for discord, strife and Macchiavellian intrigue behind the scenes, to put two and two together and come up with five, six or even seven in the light of Don Amott's resignation as Chairman of the club.
Some are sure to see this as being the result of another power struggle beind the scenes. It could be, of course, and I know no more than anyone else about the machinations at committee level. My best guess is that Don has decided it is time to step aside for personal reasons - neither he nor his wife have enjoyed the best of health in recent months - or that he has stepped aside to allow Chris Grant free rein as heir apparent to the role.
Mr Grant has come into the club and paid for Tom Poynton to go to Australia this winter and contributed half of the cost for the current Barbados trip. I'll be honest, if I had the money and was asked to put money into a club I would want to do so from a position of strength within that organisation where I was best placed to influence affairs on and off pitch. Maybe that is a condition of Mr Grant's continued involvement - maybe Don Amott has stepped aside to allow him a free run at the role, rather than seeing divided loyalties compromise a vote at the forthcoming committee elections.
As I say, I don't know. But what I do know is that Derbyshire cricket owes a huge debt of gratitude to Don Amott. He has provided genuine leadership since 2005 and has always been a man of great dignity and affability. He has always had time to speak to people, has been approachable at all times and has been a steady hand on the tiller. There is no coincidence that Derbyshire's improved financial position in recent seasons has coincided with Amott's tenure, allied to Keith Loring coming in as Chief Executive.
His financial acumen is there for all to see, having built up a nationally known business with its heartbeat within the county. His friendship with John Morris is well known and some will now start rumours of changes at that level too. I'm not so sure. Morris' contract is up at the end of the season and whoever takes over from Don Amott would be silly to do anything before then. The signs are that Morris has again recruited soundly this winter in difficult times and the club may enjoy an improved summer. September will be the time to judge that and to judge John Morris, not before.
As for Don Amott, there is no question that he has been a massive asset to Derbyshire cricket. Whatever the reasons behind his departure, the club are sure to miss him immensely. On behalf of all fans of the county, I'd like to say a big thank you to him for his efforts and hope that we still see him on a regular basis at the County Ground, Chesterfield and beyond.
Some are sure to see this as being the result of another power struggle beind the scenes. It could be, of course, and I know no more than anyone else about the machinations at committee level. My best guess is that Don has decided it is time to step aside for personal reasons - neither he nor his wife have enjoyed the best of health in recent months - or that he has stepped aside to allow Chris Grant free rein as heir apparent to the role.
Mr Grant has come into the club and paid for Tom Poynton to go to Australia this winter and contributed half of the cost for the current Barbados trip. I'll be honest, if I had the money and was asked to put money into a club I would want to do so from a position of strength within that organisation where I was best placed to influence affairs on and off pitch. Maybe that is a condition of Mr Grant's continued involvement - maybe Don Amott has stepped aside to allow him a free run at the role, rather than seeing divided loyalties compromise a vote at the forthcoming committee elections.
As I say, I don't know. But what I do know is that Derbyshire cricket owes a huge debt of gratitude to Don Amott. He has provided genuine leadership since 2005 and has always been a man of great dignity and affability. He has always had time to speak to people, has been approachable at all times and has been a steady hand on the tiller. There is no coincidence that Derbyshire's improved financial position in recent seasons has coincided with Amott's tenure, allied to Keith Loring coming in as Chief Executive.
His financial acumen is there for all to see, having built up a nationally known business with its heartbeat within the county. His friendship with John Morris is well known and some will now start rumours of changes at that level too. I'm not so sure. Morris' contract is up at the end of the season and whoever takes over from Don Amott would be silly to do anything before then. The signs are that Morris has again recruited soundly this winter in difficult times and the club may enjoy an improved summer. September will be the time to judge that and to judge John Morris, not before.
As for Don Amott, there is no question that he has been a massive asset to Derbyshire cricket. Whatever the reasons behind his departure, the club are sure to miss him immensely. On behalf of all fans of the county, I'd like to say a big thank you to him for his efforts and hope that we still see him on a regular basis at the County Ground, Chesterfield and beyond.
Derbyshire lose
Derbyshire were beaten by Warwickshire in the final of the T20 last night in Barbados, after posting a useful 140-7 in their innings, recovering from 40-5 at one stage.
Jon Clare hit four sixes in a 32-ball fifty and had good support from Dan Redfern and Ross Whitely, but conditions became increasingly difficult as dew fell following heavy rain. With the ball increasingly resembling a bar of soap, Warwickshire ran out victors by eight wickets.
It was a young Derbyshire side in the final, with no Madsen, Groenewald or Footitt, but the players can be proud of their efforts over the first few days of what will be a long season.
More later, but on this evidence we will battle this year.
Jon Clare hit four sixes in a 32-ball fifty and had good support from Dan Redfern and Ross Whitely, but conditions became increasingly difficult as dew fell following heavy rain. With the ball increasingly resembling a bar of soap, Warwickshire ran out victors by eight wickets.
It was a young Derbyshire side in the final, with no Madsen, Groenewald or Footitt, but the players can be proud of their efforts over the first few days of what will be a long season.
More later, but on this evidence we will battle this year.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Update
Derbyshire 137 in their 20 overs. UWI 75-3 in 13 overs (63 to win in 7)
UWI star batsman Nekoli Paris is still in, so very open at present
Update:
79-5 now. Two wickets for Wes Durston who also scored 50
Update
Favourable comments about Luke Sutton's captaincy as Derbyshire win comfortably!
Yorkshire or Warwickshire in the final later on tonight!
UWI star batsman Nekoli Paris is still in, so very open at present
Update:
79-5 now. Two wickets for Wes Durston who also scored 50
Update
Favourable comments about Luke Sutton's captaincy as Derbyshire win comfortably!
Yorkshire or Warwickshire in the final later on tonight!
Update
Derbyshire have drawn the University of the West Indies in the semi finals of the 20 over competition having beaten Essex yesterday.
The game starts around now (1pm UK time) and the loser will play in the Plate Final at 8pm our time, with the winner playing the final which starts at 23.30pm
Yorkshire and Warwickshire contest the other semi final.
The game starts around now (1pm UK time) and the loser will play in the Plate Final at 8pm our time, with the winner playing the final which starts at 23.30pm
Yorkshire and Warwickshire contest the other semi final.
First win
Essex 104-6 in rain reduced 14 overs v Derbyshire
Derbyshire won off the last ball! As reported on IMWT, so far it's Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Univ of West Indies in today's Finals Day.
On his Twitter feed, Luke Sutton reports Derbyshire as 'pumped' after the win and that the semi final takes place this morning.
More news as it breaks.
Derbyshire won off the last ball! As reported on IMWT, so far it's Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Univ of West Indies in today's Finals Day.
On his Twitter feed, Luke Sutton reports Derbyshire as 'pumped' after the win and that the semi final takes place this morning.
More news as it breaks.
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