I'd have snatched your hand off if you'd offered me 245-8 before the game.
Wonderful batting, once again, from Wes Durston and Wayne Madsen, with good sensible support from Greg Smith. The commentators revised their 'good score' from 190 to 220 and we ended up with that.
Great, professional effort. The working around of the ball was an object lesson in one day batting and if we can bowl and field better than Yorkshire the win is there for taking.
Of course, that's what we now need to do, so lift it boys. Good work so far!
Monday, 2 May 2011
Fantasy Cricket
At Chris' request I've set up a league on the Telegraph site for all Derbyshire fans.
Its name is the IMWT and Peakfan Blog League
Pin number is 8000901
Join as soon as you can - look forward to seeing you there soon!
15 teams and we even get medals for the end of season - and only a fiver a go!
http://fantasycricket.telegraph.co.uk/
Its name is the IMWT and Peakfan Blog League
Pin number is 8000901
Join as soon as you can - look forward to seeing you there soon!
15 teams and we even get medals for the end of season - and only a fiver a go!
http://fantasycricket.telegraph.co.uk/
Sunday, 1 May 2011
And finally tonight...
Three years I've been doing this blog now and in the post-match euphoria of today I've been checking some statistics.
In the first year this site attracted 20,000 hits, in the second it increased 100% and had another 40,000.
Astonishingly, and proving that interest in Derbyshire cricket is global, this year again saw 100% growth and a further 80,000-plus hits.
I don't expect 100% growth again this year - 160,000 hits is asking quite a lot - but I'm thrilled by the fact that this blog has taken off so well and is read by Derbyshire fans in sixteen different countries at the last count.
Thanks to you all for your continued support and please keep your comments and e mails coming - I'm always delighted to hear from like-minded fans!
In the first year this site attracted 20,000 hits, in the second it increased 100% and had another 40,000.
Astonishingly, and proving that interest in Derbyshire cricket is global, this year again saw 100% growth and a further 80,000-plus hits.
I don't expect 100% growth again this year - 160,000 hits is asking quite a lot - but I'm thrilled by the fact that this blog has taken off so well and is read by Derbyshire fans in sixteen different countries at the last count.
Thanks to you all for your continued support and please keep your comments and e mails coming - I'm always delighted to hear from like-minded fans!
Yorkshire v Derbyshire preview
Another day, another match and the big question is this - can Derbyshire maintain the momentum of today, which probably fed off the euphoria of survival at Leicester.
You just can't tell, but if we turn up with the same attitude we can give them a run for their money.
Yorkshire have announced the following squad:
Andrew Gale (c), Adam Lyth, Joe Root, Anthony McGrath, Jonathan Bairstow, Gerard Brophy (wk), Richard Pyrah, Ajmal Shahzad, Adil Rashid, Ryan Sidebottom, Steve Patterson, Joe Sayers and David Wainwright.
Another side with plenty of international experience that should realistically beat us with some ease. Expecting otherwise would be rash, but as Master Villain points out elsewhere tonight, playing as a team is a route to success. Chasing 200? That's 20 each. Everyone do their bit and if a few exceed that we'll do just grand, thank you.
I doubt Yorkshire will allow Azeem Rafiq to play against them, so I would guess either Ross Whiteley, Tony Palladino or Mark Turner could replace him. Otherwise there should be few changes from today.
Should be a good 'un. I just hope Dr Jekyll's XI turns up again, rather than Mr Hyde's, especially in front of the cameras.
You just can't tell, but if we turn up with the same attitude we can give them a run for their money.
Yorkshire have announced the following squad:
Andrew Gale (c), Adam Lyth, Joe Root, Anthony McGrath, Jonathan Bairstow, Gerard Brophy (wk), Richard Pyrah, Ajmal Shahzad, Adil Rashid, Ryan Sidebottom, Steve Patterson, Joe Sayers and David Wainwright.
Another side with plenty of international experience that should realistically beat us with some ease. Expecting otherwise would be rash, but as Master Villain points out elsewhere tonight, playing as a team is a route to success. Chasing 200? That's 20 each. Everyone do their bit and if a few exceed that we'll do just grand, thank you.
I doubt Yorkshire will allow Azeem Rafiq to play against them, so I would guess either Ross Whiteley, Tony Palladino or Mark Turner could replace him. Otherwise there should be few changes from today.
Should be a good 'un. I just hope Dr Jekyll's XI turns up again, rather than Mr Hyde's, especially in front of the cameras.
Fantasy Cricket
As played by Derbyshire, of course...
Seriously, I've got my team in Fantasy cricket via the Telegraph again, Its only a fiver and we can get a Derbyshire fans league going as last year.
Go over to IMWT and register an interest!
Seriously, I've got my team in Fantasy cricket via the Telegraph again, Its only a fiver and we can get a Derbyshire fans league going as last year.
Go over to IMWT and register an interest!
Unfair...
I was having a look through recent posts on IMWT this afternoon and there had been a few premature and unfair comments about Azeem Rafiq. Why haven't those making the comments been back on to praise the lad's recent efforts?
In the carnage at Grace Road the lad bowled 36 overs for 108, a tidy if unsuccesful spell in which he was reportedly unlucky. Then he batted 122 balls and 105 minutes to save the game for us, aided by Tim Groenewald and Mark Turner, as well as Greg Smith.
Today? Seven overs for just 31 against a good side, his wicket being that of international Murray Goodwin, one of the best imports of the past ten years. He's also a tidy fielder and to have been made captain of his country at age group level suggests that he is a considerable talent who we are lucky to have.
The lad has only just turned 20, the same age as Chesney Hughes. I doubt the county have ever fielded a younger spin pairing in a first class match. If I had been capable of doing as 'badly' as Rafiq at 20 I would have been an extremely happy lad. Like others who have ever played the game he will learn to take the rough with the smooth of course and a salutory lesson came today at Edgbaston.
Yesterday at Leicester Claude Henderson, a very good cricketer, bowled 51 overs and took 3-84. Today in Birmingham he bowled 8 overs for 70. I'm not sure whether Azeem will develop into Rafiq the tweak or Rafiq the technique, but the lad is entitled to patience, understanding and respect from supporters while we have him, as he has a long apprenticeship ahead of him in a very difficult art.
Finally tonight, the Netherlands suffered their first defeat in the Pro 40, by one run against Middlesex at Lords when chasing 287 to win. Tom Cooper scored an unbeaten century for them (no doubt just like that...) and they came very close to a third straight win.
The moral of the story? They ain't no minnows, they're a very good, organised and competent side who took a fine Middlesex side to the wire. Perhaps we were all too harsh on our boys for losing to them last week.
Next year, please let us have Scotland...
In the carnage at Grace Road the lad bowled 36 overs for 108, a tidy if unsuccesful spell in which he was reportedly unlucky. Then he batted 122 balls and 105 minutes to save the game for us, aided by Tim Groenewald and Mark Turner, as well as Greg Smith.
Today? Seven overs for just 31 against a good side, his wicket being that of international Murray Goodwin, one of the best imports of the past ten years. He's also a tidy fielder and to have been made captain of his country at age group level suggests that he is a considerable talent who we are lucky to have.
The lad has only just turned 20, the same age as Chesney Hughes. I doubt the county have ever fielded a younger spin pairing in a first class match. If I had been capable of doing as 'badly' as Rafiq at 20 I would have been an extremely happy lad. Like others who have ever played the game he will learn to take the rough with the smooth of course and a salutory lesson came today at Edgbaston.
Yesterday at Leicester Claude Henderson, a very good cricketer, bowled 51 overs and took 3-84. Today in Birmingham he bowled 8 overs for 70. I'm not sure whether Azeem will develop into Rafiq the tweak or Rafiq the technique, but the lad is entitled to patience, understanding and respect from supporters while we have him, as he has a long apprenticeship ahead of him in a very difficult art.
Finally tonight, the Netherlands suffered their first defeat in the Pro 40, by one run against Middlesex at Lords when chasing 287 to win. Tom Cooper scored an unbeaten century for them (no doubt just like that...) and they came very close to a third straight win.
The moral of the story? They ain't no minnows, they're a very good, organised and competent side who took a fine Middlesex side to the wire. Perhaps we were all too harsh on our boys for losing to them last week.
Next year, please let us have Scotland...
Derbyshire v Sussex
As I've written before, you can never be sure which Derbyshire side will turn up, but when the team is on song they are a match for most sides out there.
Logically there was no way that 'lowly' Derbyshire should match Sussex with their international players. But we did, with a brilliant display in the field, some niggardly bowling and and one of the better run chases I've followed by a Derbyshire side.
How? Look at the innings record on Cricinfo. Strike being rotated, ones on a regular basis and enough hitting of the bad ball to keep ahead of the run rate after a brisk start which always makes such a difference.
Starting with the bowling and full marks for our spinners. 3-19 in eight overs from Chesney was a startling return, while Wes Durston and Azeem Rafiq bowled clever spells that helped to put the brakes on the visitors after a brisk start. There were perhaps too many wides for the perfectionist, but that was still a fine display, capped with two stumpings for Luke Sutton, a rarity in this day and age. Yes, we could also be accused of letting them off the hook from 131-8 to reach 193, but at the interval it seemed likely that it was within our compass.
Of course, it did last week too and we made a mess of it, but Hughes and Khawaja led off with 50 inside the first nine overs and although Usman again went when set, and Hughes and Smith were back in the pavilion before we reached three figures, there seemed little problem once Wes Durston and Wayne Madsen got together.
It was good, sensible, professional cricket. No need for big shots and finishing in a hurry and the two men who did well last week stepped up once more and were not found wanting a second time. Although Durston (who likes Sussex bowling and came to our attention after his hundred against them for the Unicorns last year) fell to another run out a la Chesney, there was plenty in hand when the admirable Madsen hit the winning runs in the 38th over.
Which I guess proves something. You can criticise our consistency and bemoan our lack of experience, but you can't say that the team lacks talent. Poor teams don't beat the likes of Sussex with relative ease.
We did. Bring on the Yorkies.
Logically there was no way that 'lowly' Derbyshire should match Sussex with their international players. But we did, with a brilliant display in the field, some niggardly bowling and and one of the better run chases I've followed by a Derbyshire side.
How? Look at the innings record on Cricinfo. Strike being rotated, ones on a regular basis and enough hitting of the bad ball to keep ahead of the run rate after a brisk start which always makes such a difference.
Starting with the bowling and full marks for our spinners. 3-19 in eight overs from Chesney was a startling return, while Wes Durston and Azeem Rafiq bowled clever spells that helped to put the brakes on the visitors after a brisk start. There were perhaps too many wides for the perfectionist, but that was still a fine display, capped with two stumpings for Luke Sutton, a rarity in this day and age. Yes, we could also be accused of letting them off the hook from 131-8 to reach 193, but at the interval it seemed likely that it was within our compass.
Of course, it did last week too and we made a mess of it, but Hughes and Khawaja led off with 50 inside the first nine overs and although Usman again went when set, and Hughes and Smith were back in the pavilion before we reached three figures, there seemed little problem once Wes Durston and Wayne Madsen got together.
It was good, sensible, professional cricket. No need for big shots and finishing in a hurry and the two men who did well last week stepped up once more and were not found wanting a second time. Although Durston (who likes Sussex bowling and came to our attention after his hundred against them for the Unicorns last year) fell to another run out a la Chesney, there was plenty in hand when the admirable Madsen hit the winning runs in the 38th over.
Which I guess proves something. You can criticise our consistency and bemoan our lack of experience, but you can't say that the team lacks talent. Poor teams don't beat the likes of Sussex with relative ease.
We did. Bring on the Yorkies.
Time for reflection
That's April done and dusted so how was it for you?
The low point was last week's loss to the Netherlands, a competent XI but one that we should have beaten, but otherwise we've done not too badly. We sit mid-table in the Championship having lost to Gloucestershire after one bad day, beaten Leicestershire easily and then plucked a draw from them with an outstanding display of tail end defiance. We also lost to Middlesex, but the early money is on them being the team to beat this year. With all of our bowlers fit I think we'd have won that one and could have been just behind them in the table in second place. The fact that they've breezed their other matches so far suggests we actually did quite well against them.
Consider these numbers: 75, 93, 52, 28, 58, 132, 261, 39, 58, 10, 11. That's the number of first class, four-day innings played by yesterday's side. For comparative purposes, Ed Joyce and Murray Goodwin of today's opponents Sussex have played almost as many between them. Inexperience costs you and you have to take the rough with the smooth. Conversely, experience costs money that we don't have. Like me, you may be astonished that Wes Durston is 30 but has only played 75 first class innings, while Usman Khawaja has only played 52. A few years back that was a season...
Logic suggests that there should be a few times this year we take a pasting. Today, for example, Sussex also bring England's Luke Wright and Monty Panesar to the County Ground and have other very talented cricketers, as befits a side from Division One. Yorkshire, tomorrow's opponents, are also from that level, so is the best we can hope for a competitive match, rather than a win?
I'm not so sure. While inexperienced, John Morris has assembled a squad of talent that, on their day, could play and compete against most sides. The infuriating thing is that you never know which team will turn up. The battling second innings performances against Gloucestershire and Middlesex and the pre-lunch display in the field against the latter suggested what this side is capable of, but the capitulation last Monday and the first innings against those sides was also indicative of naivety in the middle. Yesterday showed batsmen who could get in, get their feet moving and be nearly established before giving it away, although their team mates showed the fighting spirit is alive and well with that epic rearguard.
It will be a rollercoaster season in the absence of experienced men. If we had the money for, say, Usman Afzaal and Ricky Ponting in the batting line up we'd have breezed last week, but we don't and need to accept that. The side will inspire and infuriate in equal measure before September, but what we saw yesterday was a side that will give 100% and not just lie down and die like too many sides of my experience in Derbyshire colours.
At the end of the day, as fans we can ask no more than that.
The low point was last week's loss to the Netherlands, a competent XI but one that we should have beaten, but otherwise we've done not too badly. We sit mid-table in the Championship having lost to Gloucestershire after one bad day, beaten Leicestershire easily and then plucked a draw from them with an outstanding display of tail end defiance. We also lost to Middlesex, but the early money is on them being the team to beat this year. With all of our bowlers fit I think we'd have won that one and could have been just behind them in the table in second place. The fact that they've breezed their other matches so far suggests we actually did quite well against them.
Consider these numbers: 75, 93, 52, 28, 58, 132, 261, 39, 58, 10, 11. That's the number of first class, four-day innings played by yesterday's side. For comparative purposes, Ed Joyce and Murray Goodwin of today's opponents Sussex have played almost as many between them. Inexperience costs you and you have to take the rough with the smooth. Conversely, experience costs money that we don't have. Like me, you may be astonished that Wes Durston is 30 but has only played 75 first class innings, while Usman Khawaja has only played 52. A few years back that was a season...
Logic suggests that there should be a few times this year we take a pasting. Today, for example, Sussex also bring England's Luke Wright and Monty Panesar to the County Ground and have other very talented cricketers, as befits a side from Division One. Yorkshire, tomorrow's opponents, are also from that level, so is the best we can hope for a competitive match, rather than a win?
I'm not so sure. While inexperienced, John Morris has assembled a squad of talent that, on their day, could play and compete against most sides. The infuriating thing is that you never know which team will turn up. The battling second innings performances against Gloucestershire and Middlesex and the pre-lunch display in the field against the latter suggested what this side is capable of, but the capitulation last Monday and the first innings against those sides was also indicative of naivety in the middle. Yesterday showed batsmen who could get in, get their feet moving and be nearly established before giving it away, although their team mates showed the fighting spirit is alive and well with that epic rearguard.
It will be a rollercoaster season in the absence of experienced men. If we had the money for, say, Usman Afzaal and Ricky Ponting in the batting line up we'd have breezed last week, but we don't and need to accept that. The side will inspire and infuriate in equal measure before September, but what we saw yesterday was a side that will give 100% and not just lie down and die like too many sides of my experience in Derbyshire colours.
At the end of the day, as fans we can ask no more than that.
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Leicestershire v Derbyshire day 4
It didn't change, but they managed to bowl straight and had two class bowlers in Claude Henderson and Matthew Hoggard, as well as a rapidly improving one in Jigar Naik (26). Conversely our off spinner is 20 and had no such bowler of quality to bowl with and learn from. As I wrote the other day, Henderson is a class act, a far better bowler than he was five years ago and proving the merits of experience to that art. Anyone who can't see that substantial difference between the two sides is having a laugh.
Full credit to Azeem Rafiq though, who used up 122 balls this afternoon in a fantastic effort to follow a tidy one with the ball, while one has also to pay credit to Tim Groenewald (again!) for lasting 87 balls and Mark Turner for his unbeaten knock that ensured we took unexpected points from the game. If nothing else, their efforts highlighted an excellent spirit in the camp and it is good to see us to do Leicestershire what they have done to us in the past.
By the same token, I'd regard today's play as disappointing. We should have been capable of batting out the day with ease after they made 500-5 yesterday. All the batsmen got starts and then got out when they should have been on the verge of an innings that would have made a difference. Much as in the first game at Bristol, we let ourselves down and the only thing you can say is that it was poor batting. All reports acknowledged it was spinning but it was slow and shouldn't have been that big an issue. Goodness knows how we'd do on an old sticky after some rain...
16, 45, 35 and 25 are Usman Khawaja's scores so far and anyone who has seen the genial Aussie will vouch for his obvious talent. For all that, as the hired import he will need to start going on to the big scores sometime soon, as such scores are the preserve of a player of only modest talent, something that he isn't. For all the fact that he has had an injury, a fragile batting line up like ours needs a steady, regular contributor, as we've had in recent seasons from Chris Rogers and Simon Katich before him. I'm well aware of his relative inexperience, but as Australia's brightest batting hope he will need to turn those starts into bigger contributions in the near future.
English conditions are completely different to those in Australia and you probably need to work harder for longer. Perhaps Khawaja needs to remember that, but I'm still confident that this talented young man will come good soon. So confident that he's in my Telegraph Fantasy team. Rating him a 2 is a bit of a joke...
The team? They have some work to do, but I'd have expected Groenewald and Turner to have walked into a dressing room tonight where at least one player was bouncing a ball off a wall and catching it in a baseball mitt.
The Great Escape? You better believe it. We have to do better, but you can't fault the commitment. That at least is cause for optimism.
Friday, 29 April 2011
Leicestershire v Derbyshire day 3
As I suggested last night, today was largely one of leather-chasing for Derbyshire and Leicestershire declared with a lead of 200. I should have picked my lottery numbers while I was in such a vein of form...
Apart from two quick wickets in the afternoon for Mark Turner, both to catches by Usman Khawaja, the cricket suggested that the perils of the first two days were a thing of the past.
That being the case, there should be no reason why we cannot bat out tomorrow and get a draw from this game. I accept that in Matthew Hoggard and Claude Henderson Leicestershire have the two best bowlers in the match, but I can't believe that our bowlers are as innocuous as they have appeared over the past two days. To be fair they stuck to their task well and only went for three an over, but a few averages went downhill in that innings. Good game for Tony Palladino to miss, methinks...
Can we bat all day tomorrow? I hope so and think so. We can bat down to number ten and all they need to do is stay in. Runs don't matter - leave anything wide and just play the ones you need to and hit the bad ones. The field will be close set but the hosts will realise that once we get past their lead the game is dying on its feet and each run effectively counts double.
If we don't manage to bat out the day I may need to reassess our chances for the season, but I'm confident that our batting is capable of holding out against their bowling, unless the game recommences with heavy cloud cover.
Don't let me down now lads.
Apart from two quick wickets in the afternoon for Mark Turner, both to catches by Usman Khawaja, the cricket suggested that the perils of the first two days were a thing of the past.
That being the case, there should be no reason why we cannot bat out tomorrow and get a draw from this game. I accept that in Matthew Hoggard and Claude Henderson Leicestershire have the two best bowlers in the match, but I can't believe that our bowlers are as innocuous as they have appeared over the past two days. To be fair they stuck to their task well and only went for three an over, but a few averages went downhill in that innings. Good game for Tony Palladino to miss, methinks...
Can we bat all day tomorrow? I hope so and think so. We can bat down to number ten and all they need to do is stay in. Runs don't matter - leave anything wide and just play the ones you need to and hit the bad ones. The field will be close set but the hosts will realise that once we get past their lead the game is dying on its feet and each run effectively counts double.
If we don't manage to bat out the day I may need to reassess our chances for the season, but I'm confident that our batting is capable of holding out against their bowling, unless the game recommences with heavy cloud cover.
Don't let me down now lads.
Book review - Cricket Wonderful Cricket by John Duncan
Thanks to everyone for your continued support which has apparently made this blog number seventeen in the Google world rankings. I still struggle to get my head around the success of something that I started as a bit of fun, but I'm nonetheless very grateful.Last week I received an e mail from John Blake Publishing asking if I would be interested in doing a review of a new cricket book and as someone who has read a few thousand over the years I was delighted to say yes.
I am pleased to say that the book did not disappoint. The premise - getting well-known cricket fans from culture, business and politics to talk about the game - is a sound one and the list of those involved is impressive. From the Duke of Edinburgh, Sir Michael Parkinson, Rory Bremner and Tim Rice through Chris Tarrant, Ainsley Harriott, Bill Wyman, Alan Davies and many more, those involved share their anecdotes and memories of the game in a book which is a joy from start to finish.
Part of the success is that the author, John Duncan, is a former broadcaster and cricket commentator and manages to put the interviews across in a way that makes you feel you are sitting across a coffee table listening to them. We all have our cricket stories but the author has managed to extract some pertinent and amusing stuff from his 'cast list.'
So we hear of the celebrity who was responsible for ex-Derbyshire player Fred Rumsey losing four teeth in a charity match ("you haven't lost them Fred, I've got some of them here...") and the former England legend who thought John Alderton was Graham Gooch. There are tales of Shane Warne showing kids how to bowl leg breaks in the nets when he could have mingled with the rich and famous and of the Duke of Edinburgh agreeing to play a charity match and being given out lbw first ball! How many of us would like to have been Ainsley Harriott, playing cricket with Lance Gibbs and Clive Lloyd in his back garden as a child, or Nicholas Parsons, with a claim to fame of having clean bowled Denis Lillee?
There are plenty of laugh out loud moments, from Allan Lamb's tendency to malapropisms "be careful with him, he doesn't take any pensioners" to David Lloyd's encounter with Jeff Thomson's fastest delivery in the nether regions "everything that was supposed to be inside the box had come outside - through the air holes." Ouch!
It was fascinating to hear how Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber once wrote a thirty minute mini operetta called Cricket, which was staged before a small private audience including the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. There were plans to record it but several tunes were used in The Phantom of the Opera and Aspects of Love. The hero's big song in Cricket was All I Ask of Life,sung as the batsman is being battered by a West Indian fast bowler. It later became All I Ask of You in Phantom of the Opera and did rather well...
In short, this book is 267 pages of pleasure. A word too for the publishers who have done the author proud. I have lost count in recent years of the number of books ruined by poor proof reading and people not doing their homework. John Wright's amusing autobiography disappointingly contained several references to his Derbyshire team mate "Fred Swarbrick" and such carelessness must irk others as it does me. Another I read recently had so many mis-spelt names that I was compelled to write to the publishers in frustration.
This book is a perfect union between an author who knows his subject and can write, coupled with a publisher who does all the rest to the highest possible standard. Given that you can pick this up on Amazon for £6.59 (£9.99 in book shops) there's a big incentive to buy, especially with all profits going to the Lords Taverners charity.
Excellent job Mr Duncan. The best cricket book I've read this year.
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Leicestershire v Derbyshire day 2
Last night I said that I couldn't comment on a game until I saw how the second innings had gone, but once I'd seen Leicestershire's reply to our innings I'd tell you how it was looking.
The answer is, sadly, down a barrel.
Unless we take quick wickets tomorrow we could be facing a first innings deficit of 200 and a battle on the last day against Claude Henderson, who I currently rate the best slow left armer on the county circuit. Will Jefferson made a fine century, something that none of our batsmen managed and we need to show all of our battling qualities tomorrow to keep in the match.
I'm not sure what's happened. By most accounts the wicket was playing a lot of tricks and batting would continue to be tricky. Yet at 201-2 and counting, Leicestershire are currently ahead of the game and must fancy their position tonight. There was a steady spell by Azeem Rafiq and an unsuccesful shout for a caught and bowled from Jefferson, but apart from that the home side seemed largely untroubled through the afternoon.
Earlier Dan Redfern and Luke Sutton did well, but the tail fell away and we were short of what seemed possible in a somewhat lacklustre day.
Here's hoping for better tomorrow.
The answer is, sadly, down a barrel.
Unless we take quick wickets tomorrow we could be facing a first innings deficit of 200 and a battle on the last day against Claude Henderson, who I currently rate the best slow left armer on the county circuit. Will Jefferson made a fine century, something that none of our batsmen managed and we need to show all of our battling qualities tomorrow to keep in the match.
I'm not sure what's happened. By most accounts the wicket was playing a lot of tricks and batting would continue to be tricky. Yet at 201-2 and counting, Leicestershire are currently ahead of the game and must fancy their position tonight. There was a steady spell by Azeem Rafiq and an unsuccesful shout for a caught and bowled from Jefferson, but apart from that the home side seemed largely untroubled through the afternoon.
Earlier Dan Redfern and Luke Sutton did well, but the tail fell away and we were short of what seemed possible in a somewhat lacklustre day.
Here's hoping for better tomorrow.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Leicestershire v Derbyshire day 1
While a number of batsmen got a start but didn't go on to something really worthwhile, the real significance of our efforts today won't be known until our innings is finished and the opposition bat.
238-5 must have been a heavy going day for all concerned, but that score is only ten short of the best from four innings in Leicestershire's first home match. If we could push on over 300 towards 350 tomorrow we could be nicely in the box seat, assuming we bowl well.
Three wickets for Claude Henderson suggests spin will play a part as the game progresses and Azeem Rafiq may enjoy his first Championship bowl for us in due course. Pride of place today goes to Dan Redfern, whose unbeaten 58 in 2 and three-quarter hours was just reward for a lot of hard work over the winter months. I hope he keeps his head down and goes on to the big one tomorrow, something that would give me great pleasure.
It was a good team effort though. I've never judged any innings until we see how the opponents handle conditions and won't break that habit now. One can only admire the determination showed today and hope that the players continue in similar vein tomorrow.
In closing, special mention for the skipper, whose partnership with young Mr Redfern could be very important in the context of the match. At 174-5 we were rocking. 238-5 seems much more solid and gives us something to build on.
Thumbs up (cautiously) from me after day one.
238-5 must have been a heavy going day for all concerned, but that score is only ten short of the best from four innings in Leicestershire's first home match. If we could push on over 300 towards 350 tomorrow we could be nicely in the box seat, assuming we bowl well.
Three wickets for Claude Henderson suggests spin will play a part as the game progresses and Azeem Rafiq may enjoy his first Championship bowl for us in due course. Pride of place today goes to Dan Redfern, whose unbeaten 58 in 2 and three-quarter hours was just reward for a lot of hard work over the winter months. I hope he keeps his head down and goes on to the big one tomorrow, something that would give me great pleasure.
It was a good team effort though. I've never judged any innings until we see how the opponents handle conditions and won't break that habit now. One can only admire the determination showed today and hope that the players continue in similar vein tomorrow.
In closing, special mention for the skipper, whose partnership with young Mr Redfern could be very important in the context of the match. At 174-5 we were rocking. 238-5 seems much more solid and gives us something to build on.
Thumbs up (cautiously) from me after day one.
Random thoughts
In reply to a couple of comments received recently, I understand that Jake Needham currently needs a little time to work on his technique after a winter in South Africa. It’s nothing serious and nothing new – plenty of young players, faced with modifications in their game, need time to assimilate the changes. There’s no point in Needham being exposed to doing that in the first team and it makes much more sense for him to try things out at a lower level. I’m sure he’ll come back the better for it, as Phil Russell, who worked with him in the winter, is an especially good coach of bowlers.
As for Azeem Rafiq replacing him, the lad was good enough to be England under-19 skipper, which suggests he has talent. We needed a spinner, Rafiq was the best available and we’ve got him. If it doesn’t come off, at least we’ve tried something, rather than sighing and bemoaning our fate. As I’ve written before, top class spinners aren’t exactly lying by roadsides awaiting pickup at the moment…
As for Tony Palladino’s absence, thanks for the tip that he now has a Twitter account and told the world it was a hamstring tweak. Nothing serious, but better to rest it now with all the cricket ahead. Shame about the timing though, the lad’s been on fire.
Changing tack, for the first time in a while I deleted a couple of comments this morning, which from the look of them were written by someone in the grip of alcohol around midnight last night and not by any standards a fan...
As you will realise from comments attached to previous articles, I have no problem with people whose opinion differs from mine. Nor do I have issues with anyone who wants to criticise events on or off the pitch, as long as they draw short of personal comment. Such nonsense has long been the preserve of 606 and is why there are few tears shed round these parts at its imminent passing.
As I’ve said before, I write this blog as a Derbyshire fan and as such take the rough with the smooth, albeit not so easily. However badly the team do, I try to remember that they are still OUR team, are trying their best and that whatever I write may be read by them or someone close to them. Reading that young player X and Y and committee member Z are ‘whatever’ is not nice, not constructive and not clever. If it was your son, husband or brother would you like it? What about if it was you?
I put my picture on the blog because I have no issue with people knowing who I am when I am making comments. If I make critical ones I feel they are justified and sometimes will subsequently qualify them if I feel I acted in haste, although I try not to do that. Anonymous bile serves no purpose and I won’t have my name or this blog associated with it.
Given that I can delete it far more quickly than it took to write, I wouldn’t waste your time in future. Thanks to all the rest of you though for your excellent, thought provoking and worthwhile comments. For last night’s correspondent, as we approach the Eurovision Song Contest, null points from the Peakfan jury.
Finally, closing on a positive note, I’d echo the comments regarding the club site’s match reports from the Second XI and Academy. I hope that they feature throughout the season as the signs are there is real talent emerging. Their development can only be accelerated by playing against experienced club (and former county) players and they will bond so much better as a unit.
Nice work guys!
As for Azeem Rafiq replacing him, the lad was good enough to be England under-19 skipper, which suggests he has talent. We needed a spinner, Rafiq was the best available and we’ve got him. If it doesn’t come off, at least we’ve tried something, rather than sighing and bemoaning our fate. As I’ve written before, top class spinners aren’t exactly lying by roadsides awaiting pickup at the moment…
As for Tony Palladino’s absence, thanks for the tip that he now has a Twitter account and told the world it was a hamstring tweak. Nothing serious, but better to rest it now with all the cricket ahead. Shame about the timing though, the lad’s been on fire.
Changing tack, for the first time in a while I deleted a couple of comments this morning, which from the look of them were written by someone in the grip of alcohol around midnight last night and not by any standards a fan...
As you will realise from comments attached to previous articles, I have no problem with people whose opinion differs from mine. Nor do I have issues with anyone who wants to criticise events on or off the pitch, as long as they draw short of personal comment. Such nonsense has long been the preserve of 606 and is why there are few tears shed round these parts at its imminent passing.
As I’ve said before, I write this blog as a Derbyshire fan and as such take the rough with the smooth, albeit not so easily. However badly the team do, I try to remember that they are still OUR team, are trying their best and that whatever I write may be read by them or someone close to them. Reading that young player X and Y and committee member Z are ‘whatever’ is not nice, not constructive and not clever. If it was your son, husband or brother would you like it? What about if it was you?
I put my picture on the blog because I have no issue with people knowing who I am when I am making comments. If I make critical ones I feel they are justified and sometimes will subsequently qualify them if I feel I acted in haste, although I try not to do that. Anonymous bile serves no purpose and I won’t have my name or this blog associated with it.
Given that I can delete it far more quickly than it took to write, I wouldn’t waste your time in future. Thanks to all the rest of you though for your excellent, thought provoking and worthwhile comments. For last night’s correspondent, as we approach the Eurovision Song Contest, null points from the Peakfan jury.
Finally, closing on a positive note, I’d echo the comments regarding the club site’s match reports from the Second XI and Academy. I hope that they feature throughout the season as the signs are there is real talent emerging. Their development can only be accelerated by playing against experienced club (and former county) players and they will bond so much better as a unit.
Nice work guys!
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Leicestershire v Derbyshire preview
Disappointing as it was, yesterday’s defeat to Netherlands was just one match, just one defeat. Contrary to the belief of some, it doesn’t end our season but highlights the fact – as if we needed it - that our young squad has a long way to go.
There were grumblings on IMWT last night about the absence of Groenewald, Palladino, Clare and Khawaja but that is patently unfair. The first two had a lot of bowling against Middlesex and the signs are that they will be the focal point of our attack this season. We need to treat them well and give them breaks when the coaching and fitness staff – the professionals – think they are needed.
Jon Clare and Usman Khawaja are both carrying injuries. Clare missed the crucial second innings and it was obvious against Middlesex that Khawaja is currently unable to sprint. That is less of a problem in four-day cricket where he can stand at slip and jog between the wickets, but more of an issue in the one-day game, where there is no hiding place. For me, resting him in a game that we should have won made sense – it was the batsmen that played, Durston and Madsen apart, who let us down. Eight, maybe nine times out of ten, a team chasing seven an over from the last ten with seven wickets in hand would stroll to victory. It just needs a bit of common sense.
There were also comments about the injudicious use of the reverse sweep yesterday. When it goes wrong, a batsman can scarcely look more ungainly, but at the end of the day, it is down to personal judgement as to the right time to play it. Wayne Madsen’s hockey background usually helps him look one of the more adept at the shot, but if it costs a wicket too frequently, a batsman has to make a decision on a stroke. The great England opener Herbert Sutcliffe cut out the hook shot after a few too many dismissals playing it, despite scoring a lot of runs in between times with the stroke. Together with the ramp, the reverse sweep is one of the new shots that batsmen have at their disposal and, like all the others, there are times they work and times they don’t.
Anyway, that was yesterday and, slipping seamlessly into my best Scarlett O’Hara impression, tomorrow is another day. We can make amends with a good performance against Leicestershire.
The following squad has been announced:
Madsen
Durston
Khawaja
Hughes
Redfern
Smith
Sutton
Clare
Rafiq
Groenewald
Jones
Knight
Turner
So Clare was injured, but is fit, while Palladino was supposedly rested but isn’t in the squad. One assumes a niggle, sustained in training, keeps him out, while Mark Footitt probably needs some bowling in the Seconds. Presumably there will be a late test on Jon Clare and if he is fit, logic suggests Tom Knight will miss out, with Jones and Turner then vying for one place.
Azeem Rafiq should certainly play. If Grace Road sticks to tradition, there will be early movement and then the wicket will increasingly aid spin as the match progresses. ‘Rafiq the Tweak’ will have to match the bowling of 'the lion tamer' Henderson (Claude). It is big challenge for the youngster, but he gives the ball a rip, has the doosra in his armoury and bats well enough to have a first class century to his name.
Should Knight also play I’d venture that it is the youngest spin pairing we have ever fielded and the ECB age payment will need to be transported guarded by armoured cars…
It is hard to see Leicestershire being as poor as they seemed at times in Derby and we will need to play much better collectively than we did on Monday to get anything but a good hiding.
We must keep it in perspective. Somerset have had a nightmare start but they are from being a poor team. We’re not in their class but I’m prepared to see yesterday as an unfortunate blip on an otherwise competitive start to the season. I still think we’ll have our good and bad days in equal measure.
The players will prove or disprove that one in the near future.
There were grumblings on IMWT last night about the absence of Groenewald, Palladino, Clare and Khawaja but that is patently unfair. The first two had a lot of bowling against Middlesex and the signs are that they will be the focal point of our attack this season. We need to treat them well and give them breaks when the coaching and fitness staff – the professionals – think they are needed.
Jon Clare and Usman Khawaja are both carrying injuries. Clare missed the crucial second innings and it was obvious against Middlesex that Khawaja is currently unable to sprint. That is less of a problem in four-day cricket where he can stand at slip and jog between the wickets, but more of an issue in the one-day game, where there is no hiding place. For me, resting him in a game that we should have won made sense – it was the batsmen that played, Durston and Madsen apart, who let us down. Eight, maybe nine times out of ten, a team chasing seven an over from the last ten with seven wickets in hand would stroll to victory. It just needs a bit of common sense.
There were also comments about the injudicious use of the reverse sweep yesterday. When it goes wrong, a batsman can scarcely look more ungainly, but at the end of the day, it is down to personal judgement as to the right time to play it. Wayne Madsen’s hockey background usually helps him look one of the more adept at the shot, but if it costs a wicket too frequently, a batsman has to make a decision on a stroke. The great England opener Herbert Sutcliffe cut out the hook shot after a few too many dismissals playing it, despite scoring a lot of runs in between times with the stroke. Together with the ramp, the reverse sweep is one of the new shots that batsmen have at their disposal and, like all the others, there are times they work and times they don’t.
Anyway, that was yesterday and, slipping seamlessly into my best Scarlett O’Hara impression, tomorrow is another day. We can make amends with a good performance against Leicestershire.
The following squad has been announced:
Madsen
Durston
Khawaja
Hughes
Redfern
Smith
Sutton
Clare
Rafiq
Groenewald
Jones
Knight
Turner
So Clare was injured, but is fit, while Palladino was supposedly rested but isn’t in the squad. One assumes a niggle, sustained in training, keeps him out, while Mark Footitt probably needs some bowling in the Seconds. Presumably there will be a late test on Jon Clare and if he is fit, logic suggests Tom Knight will miss out, with Jones and Turner then vying for one place.
Azeem Rafiq should certainly play. If Grace Road sticks to tradition, there will be early movement and then the wicket will increasingly aid spin as the match progresses. ‘Rafiq the Tweak’ will have to match the bowling of 'the lion tamer' Henderson (Claude). It is big challenge for the youngster, but he gives the ball a rip, has the doosra in his armoury and bats well enough to have a first class century to his name.
Should Knight also play I’d venture that it is the youngest spin pairing we have ever fielded and the ECB age payment will need to be transported guarded by armoured cars…
It is hard to see Leicestershire being as poor as they seemed at times in Derby and we will need to play much better collectively than we did on Monday to get anything but a good hiding.
We must keep it in perspective. Somerset have had a nightmare start but they are from being a poor team. We’re not in their class but I’m prepared to see yesterday as an unfortunate blip on an otherwise competitive start to the season. I still think we’ll have our good and bad days in equal measure.
The players will prove or disprove that one in the near future.
Monday, 25 April 2011
Derbyshire v Netherlands
After the encouraging performance against Middlesex, a depleted Derbyshire slipped back into old ways with a disappointing defeat to the Netherlands this afternoon.
While Khawaja, Clare, Palladino and Groenewald would probably have made a big difference to the final result, we should still have been capable of beating a team who are regarded as minnows in the world game. Having said that, they would appear to have been toughened up by their recent World Cup exploits, even in defeat, as their bowlers have now shown twice that they are a match for county sides.
Indeed, much of the side is made up of nationals from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand and in Peter Borren, the skipper, they have a good all round cricketer, capable of scoring quick runs and bowling tight overs. No side can ask for more - we could have done with such a player ourselves when it mattered today.
Similarly Shane Mott and Mudassar Bukhari showed themselves to be bowlers capable of keeping a tight line and length and both returned exemplary figures against a side supposedly their superiors.
Having made a dreadful start to our innings it appeared that Wes Durston and Wayne Madsen had steered us to calm waters and a push to victory, but when Durston was dismissed after a stand of 117 in 22 overs the wheels came off, four wickets going down for just twenty runs in five overs at a time when we were meant to be accelerating. Make no bones about it, 69 from the last ten overs with seven wickets in hand should have been a walk in the park.
That only two batsmen made it to double figures in the innings before Steffan Jones late onslaught brought respectability to the score tells its own sorry story. But the fact that we cling tonight to 'respectability' rather than a win says it all really.
This result doesn't end our CB 40 season (despite what some gloom and doom merchants are bound to be saying tonight) but we simply have to do better than this.
Poor. Sorry, there's no other word for it. I hope that this proves to be the low point of the season
While Khawaja, Clare, Palladino and Groenewald would probably have made a big difference to the final result, we should still have been capable of beating a team who are regarded as minnows in the world game. Having said that, they would appear to have been toughened up by their recent World Cup exploits, even in defeat, as their bowlers have now shown twice that they are a match for county sides.
Indeed, much of the side is made up of nationals from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand and in Peter Borren, the skipper, they have a good all round cricketer, capable of scoring quick runs and bowling tight overs. No side can ask for more - we could have done with such a player ourselves when it mattered today.
Similarly Shane Mott and Mudassar Bukhari showed themselves to be bowlers capable of keeping a tight line and length and both returned exemplary figures against a side supposedly their superiors.
Having made a dreadful start to our innings it appeared that Wes Durston and Wayne Madsen had steered us to calm waters and a push to victory, but when Durston was dismissed after a stand of 117 in 22 overs the wheels came off, four wickets going down for just twenty runs in five overs at a time when we were meant to be accelerating. Make no bones about it, 69 from the last ten overs with seven wickets in hand should have been a walk in the park.
That only two batsmen made it to double figures in the innings before Steffan Jones late onslaught brought respectability to the score tells its own sorry story. But the fact that we cling tonight to 'respectability' rather than a win says it all really.
This result doesn't end our CB 40 season (despite what some gloom and doom merchants are bound to be saying tonight) but we simply have to do better than this.
Poor. Sorry, there's no other word for it. I hope that this proves to be the low point of the season
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Derbyshire v Netherlands preview
While the visitors acquitted themselves well in the recent World Cup, Alex Kervezee is back with Worcestershire and Essex all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate doesn't play for them in this competition. Fast bowler Mark Jonkman, who bowled well last year, has been undergoing remedial work on a suspect action and is also out. Nor is there any sign of former Sussex veteran Baz Zuiderent in their travelling squad, which is:
Peter Borren (c), Wesley Barresi (wk), Eric Szwarczynski , Tom Cooper , Tom Whol ,Bradley Kruger , Mudassar Bukhari , Pieter Seelaar , Wilfred Diepeveen , Tom Heggelman , Berend Westdijk , Michael Swart, Shane Mott (overseas, Australia).
So no Michael Dighton either, after his heroics that resulted in last year's embarrassing defeat at the County Ground. The visitors have Australian grade cricketer Shane Mott, a left arm seamer and hard hitting batsman as their overseas player for the first four games of the campaign. He played his cricket in Huddersfield last year for Scholes, taking 52 wickets at 22 and scoring 602 runs at 33. Decent figures, but there's a big difference between Aussie first grade and county cricket.
As for Derbyshire, John Morris is likely to be missing Jon Clare and Usman Khawaja, while Tony Palladino may be rested after his efforts against Middlesex. Garry Park will surely come in after his outstanding knock in the Seconds last week, while there is a debut for Yorkshire loanee Azeem Rafiq (pictured). I'm not sure if Ross Whiteley's injury is serious or not, but I'd expect tomorrow's side to line up along these lines, with Luke Sutton suggesting on Twitter that he'll be fit:
Wes Durston
Chesney Hughes
Garry Park
Wayne Madsen
Greg Smith
Dan Redfern
Luke Sutton
Ross Whiteley/Tim Groenewald
Azeem Rafiq
Steffan Jones
Mark Turner
I don't think that will be too far away. We start a Championship game at Leicester on Wednesday and John Morris will want his first choice seamers fit and rested if at all possible. I'd guess that Groenewald would also be putting his feet up in an ideal situation.
My forecast? Surely a win. I'll be very disappointed otherwise.
Postscript: Mind you, as Yorkshire are finding today, you take these teams lightly at your peril. I can't decide whether the Netherlands are improving or Yorkshire are going through a nightmare since their collapse against Nottinghamshire.
I'll stand by my assertion though - if we are to be taken seriously by people in the press and media, we need to beat these sides.
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Derbyshire v Middlesex day 4
So, at the end of it all there was a second defeat of the season for Derbyshire, but anyone expecting gloom and doom chez Peak will be disappointed.
This game was a magnificent advert for county cricket. It ebbed and flowed like the tide and Derbyshire were very unlucky not to win. Had Jon Clare not missed the entire second innings, Luke Sutton most of the match and Ross Whiteley the final session we could easily have ended up victors.
Of course, to do so more often there is something we need to learn fast - how to bat well in two innings. Scoring under 200 in the first innings of a four day game will always put you on the back foot and there were a few players who contributed to their own downfall with poor shot selection.
Yet there were positives. A lovely knock from Wes Durston, an encouraging one from Dan Redfern and some interesting cameos from Ross Whiteley with bat and ball. I was also encouraged by the performance of Tom Poynton behind the stumps, who seemed tidy and alert, always geeing up the side. The Derbyshire XI were more 'chirpy' in a nice sense of the word than I have seen, while the fielding was of a very high standard, some fine catches being held.
One concern is the fitness of Usman Khawaja, whose leg injury seems to be a major hindrance. At one point today he chased a ball to the boundary at a pace I'm used to seeing my club team mates do, though a pulled muscle that you don't want to aggravate will do that to you.
Conversely, I was very impressed by Tony Palladino. With a lithe, lively action that gathers pace from a smooth run up, Dino looks an outstanding signing by John Morris. That he can bat is an added bonus, but how Essex could afford to let him go is beyond me. We've won the lottery with this lad, mark my words.
Speaking of which, we've now picked up Yorkshire all rounder Azeem Rafiq for a month, which I would again suggest a very shrewd piece of business. Aside from his Twitter issue, which earned the boy unfortunate press, he is a player of talent who suffers in playing in a side that also has Rashid and Wainwright to choose from. As a former England Under-19 skipper and still only 20, Rafiq offers talent with bat and ball, already having a first class century to his name.
The signing suggests that all is not well with Jake Needham's technique after his South African winter, but John Morris may even think of a double-pronged spin attack. While we have Tom Knight in the Academy, it would be asking a lot of a 17-year old to step into first class cricket on a regular basis. Rafiq would offer balance to the side and is better than what we have. While Wes Durston bowled tidily today, neither he nor Chesney Hughes look like they might run through sides on a helpful track.
Anyway, that's it for now. I got back this evening after a four-and-a-half hour drive and Mrs P thought I'd been in the Caribbean. "No" I replied, "I've been in Derbados." That line would have been even better had I thought of it myself, but full credit goes to Luke Sutton for coining the phrase on his Twitter account.
It was a lovely few days. The weather was spectacular, the cricket excellent and the company convivial - thanks to all who made it so. If you've not had the pleasure, Derbyshire have some very affable players and a Chairman who is passionate about the place. In answer to a reply from the other night, I'll not blog what Chris Grant told me as it was between us and I don't break confidences. Suffice to say that if his plans for the club come to fruition the future is so bright we'll all need to wear shades.
Now, where's that after sun? That's not the northern lights you see, its the glow from my sun burned left ear...
This game was a magnificent advert for county cricket. It ebbed and flowed like the tide and Derbyshire were very unlucky not to win. Had Jon Clare not missed the entire second innings, Luke Sutton most of the match and Ross Whiteley the final session we could easily have ended up victors.
Of course, to do so more often there is something we need to learn fast - how to bat well in two innings. Scoring under 200 in the first innings of a four day game will always put you on the back foot and there were a few players who contributed to their own downfall with poor shot selection.
Yet there were positives. A lovely knock from Wes Durston, an encouraging one from Dan Redfern and some interesting cameos from Ross Whiteley with bat and ball. I was also encouraged by the performance of Tom Poynton behind the stumps, who seemed tidy and alert, always geeing up the side. The Derbyshire XI were more 'chirpy' in a nice sense of the word than I have seen, while the fielding was of a very high standard, some fine catches being held.
One concern is the fitness of Usman Khawaja, whose leg injury seems to be a major hindrance. At one point today he chased a ball to the boundary at a pace I'm used to seeing my club team mates do, though a pulled muscle that you don't want to aggravate will do that to you.
Conversely, I was very impressed by Tony Palladino. With a lithe, lively action that gathers pace from a smooth run up, Dino looks an outstanding signing by John Morris. That he can bat is an added bonus, but how Essex could afford to let him go is beyond me. We've won the lottery with this lad, mark my words.
Speaking of which, we've now picked up Yorkshire all rounder Azeem Rafiq for a month, which I would again suggest a very shrewd piece of business. Aside from his Twitter issue, which earned the boy unfortunate press, he is a player of talent who suffers in playing in a side that also has Rashid and Wainwright to choose from. As a former England Under-19 skipper and still only 20, Rafiq offers talent with bat and ball, already having a first class century to his name.
The signing suggests that all is not well with Jake Needham's technique after his South African winter, but John Morris may even think of a double-pronged spin attack. While we have Tom Knight in the Academy, it would be asking a lot of a 17-year old to step into first class cricket on a regular basis. Rafiq would offer balance to the side and is better than what we have. While Wes Durston bowled tidily today, neither he nor Chesney Hughes look like they might run through sides on a helpful track.
Anyway, that's it for now. I got back this evening after a four-and-a-half hour drive and Mrs P thought I'd been in the Caribbean. "No" I replied, "I've been in Derbados." That line would have been even better had I thought of it myself, but full credit goes to Luke Sutton for coining the phrase on his Twitter account.
It was a lovely few days. The weather was spectacular, the cricket excellent and the company convivial - thanks to all who made it so. If you've not had the pleasure, Derbyshire have some very affable players and a Chairman who is passionate about the place. In answer to a reply from the other night, I'll not blog what Chris Grant told me as it was between us and I don't break confidences. Suffice to say that if his plans for the club come to fruition the future is so bright we'll all need to wear shades.
Now, where's that after sun? That's not the northern lights you see, its the glow from my sun burned left ear...
Friday, 22 April 2011
Derbyshire v Middlesex day 3
A day to go in an absorbing match. Who's your money on?
I suppose Middlesex are slight favourites with eight wickets in hand, but the thing about this game has been the movement in the first session, generally when the most wickets have gone down. Cloudy conditions forecast tomorrow, so we can still win this.
Of course, we need to bowl the right line and length as we did first innings but apparently did less well today. We're also a bowler light, which could be a deciding factor. The final morning promises to be absorbing though and Mrs Peakfan was her usual understanding self when I phoned home this evening.
"You'll be staying on tomorrow given the state of the game?" she said, impressing me with her knowledge of things once more. Apparently she's taking my mother in law for a new washing machine. Sounds like a good swap...boom, boom!
Yes, I'll be there tomorrow to see the denouement and whatever the result this has been an enthralling game of cricket. We could win tomorrow and I'll float back to Scotland, or we could lose and it will be a somewhat longer drive. Irrespective, I've seen enough from the side in this game to encourage me for the rest of the season.
The second innings batting was again excellent, down the order. If we can sort out the first dig we could do well in the Championship - certainly better than last year. Good to see Dan Redfern in the runs and the form of both he and Wes Durston has been a plus from this match.
Will we win? Not sure just now. Can we win? Most definitely.
I suppose Middlesex are slight favourites with eight wickets in hand, but the thing about this game has been the movement in the first session, generally when the most wickets have gone down. Cloudy conditions forecast tomorrow, so we can still win this.
Of course, we need to bowl the right line and length as we did first innings but apparently did less well today. We're also a bowler light, which could be a deciding factor. The final morning promises to be absorbing though and Mrs Peakfan was her usual understanding self when I phoned home this evening.
"You'll be staying on tomorrow given the state of the game?" she said, impressing me with her knowledge of things once more. Apparently she's taking my mother in law for a new washing machine. Sounds like a good swap...boom, boom!
Yes, I'll be there tomorrow to see the denouement and whatever the result this has been an enthralling game of cricket. We could win tomorrow and I'll float back to Scotland, or we could lose and it will be a somewhat longer drive. Irrespective, I've seen enough from the side in this game to encourage me for the rest of the season.
The second innings batting was again excellent, down the order. If we can sort out the first dig we could do well in the Championship - certainly better than last year. Good to see Dan Redfern in the runs and the form of both he and Wes Durston has been a plus from this match.
Will we win? Not sure just now. Can we win? Most definitely.
Seconds success
A great win for the Seconds at Belper. Chasing Yorkshire's target of 275, we won by one wicket with Garry Park batting through for a superb unbeaten 166.By any standards that is an impressive knock and, as usual, people have been too quick to write off the talented all-rounder. As Wes Durston amply showed yesterday, talent will always out and Park should have plenty of opportunities this season to showcase his skills.
Indeed, I'd be surprised if he wasn't recalled for Monday's game against the Netherlands, certainly watching Usman Khawaja's running yesterday. I don't think John Morris will risk aggravating a problem in a game that realistically we should win anyway. There's plenty of talent in that Derbyshire side and while the visitors beat us last year, thanks to Michael Dighton's century, having seen their capabilities yesterday I would be very surprised if that was repeated.
Yesterday's display, hopefully replicated over the next two, was a clear indication of a united dressing room with eleven players - young ones mind - all pulling together. It was a pleasure to watch and I would urge anyone to go and see them as the season progresses. Positive and purposeful, in the field we looked on a different level and although we were a bowler down, our lads hit better lines than a side which, on paper at least, has one of the better attacks in the division.
Keep in mind the youth. There was promising bowling from Ross Whiteley to follow his batting of the previous day, while Tom Poynton kept wicket very tidily. Later in the day Chesney Hughes and Dan Redfern showed composure in seeing us through to the end of the day with fielders close around them. It crossed my mind as Chesney unleashed a trademark booming drive that silly point was perhaps the most appositely named position on a cricket field, especially when the affable West Indian is letting go...
With Paul Borrington and Mark Footitt fit in the next couple of weeks, Matt Higginbottom taking three wickets yesterday, Ben Slater and Hamza Siddique doing well for university sides and Jake Needham and Tom Knight there for spin options, John Morris is getting close to having good options for the side.
If they can replicate yesterday on a regular basis and enjoy the rub of the green with injuries there'll be some mighty fine cricket down Derby way this season.
Get yourself down there - and get behind them!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)