Derbyshire 272-7 (Slater 148 not)
Northamptonshire 278-3 (Cobb 88, Duckett 70, Keogh 63 not)
Northamptonshire won by seven wickets
I feel sorry for Ben Slater tonight.
His third List A century of the summer should have been a springboard for a Derbyshire total in excess of 300 today, a masterful innings and new career-best. At 165-1 after 32 overs, that should have been a given, but the innings subsided and only 107 came from the last eighteen overs.
Despite Ben's heroics, it didn't look close to enough on a ground known for high scores and fast scoring. So it proved. Josh Cobb scored his regulation runs against us, Ben Duckett confirmed his talent and Rob Keogh finished things off nicely as the home side won with eight overs to spare.
It was disappointing and although tomorrow's game against Leicestershire is billed as a 'must win' we'd need a strange combination of circumstances, ones that I don't believe in, for us to sneak into fourth place. With rain forecast, it isn't really likely.
To be brutally honest, nor is it really deserved.
Sunday, 31 July 2016
Saturday, 30 July 2016
Northamptonshire v Derbyshire RLODC - Neesham in squad
Lose them both? Let's not consider that just now...
Having said that, John Sadler will have had to work to pick the side up after the last two defeats. As it happens, tomorrow's game is against a side that has had a very thin squad all summer and has patched up their players for the past few weeks. They have also heard today that highly-rated seamer Olly Stone is going to be playing at Warwickshire next summer, with several other players being keenly pursued by an array of suitors. Such is the lot of one of the game's poorer counties, but they have done astonishingly well this summer, especially in the one-day game.
No news on their side as yet, but it will be top heavy with powerful batsmen who, unless we bowl with discipline, will be setting us 300-plus. As for our team, the big news is that Hamish Rutherford has been replaced by Jimmy Neesham 'to provide additional bowling options'. It is a sensible move and means that if Wes Durston isn't fit to bowl, we have more than a straight five bowlers that limited us against Lancashire.
Our squad:
Wes Durston
Billy Godleman
Ben Slater
Chesney Hughes
Jimmy Neesham
Wayne Madsen
Neil Broom
Shiv Thakor
Alex Hughes
Alex Mellor
Matt Critchley
Tony Palladino
Ben Cotton
Will Davis
Neil Broom's return to form last night was welcome. A big game from him and Neesham would make such a difference.
I can't call this one, so won't.
Just go out and do us proud, lads.
T20 appraisal
There will be those who, after we failed to qualify from the T20 group again, say that it was the 'same old, same old'. Then there are the others, who take a closer look.
Our hopes went to the last over of the last game and we failed to qualify from a really tough group with plenty of Test-ground counties. We lost seven games, but three of them were by just one run and, for supporters used to seeing us hammered in these games, it was a refreshing change to see us compete - and compete well.
'We still lost' I hear one or two cry. Yes, but we are making progress, on the back of a lot of hard winter work on the key disciplines. We gave away few extras, held some blinding catches, dropped a few, but such is the game. The fielding stood up well to the pressure and only in a couple of matches did we let ourselves down.
A lot was pinned on the three New Zealanders, just as it was the previous year with Hashim Amla and Tillakaratne Dilshan. We were all excited about their involvement but the reality was that they didn't really deliver. Jimmy Neesham did best, producing a match-winning performance against Lancashire and being steady with bat and ball. Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom disappointed, playing cameos, rather than the match-defining innings that we needed and, to be fair, expect from that key role.
That is it with T20. 'Steady' isn't enough and, whoever we recruit for next season, they will stand or fall on their ability to win us matches. Reputations count for little in this game, as we know and Somerset found out. With Gayle and Jayawardene in their side, success had to follow, but they came bottom of their group having shelled out thousands.
Continued improvement depends on prudent winter signings. There is a strong nucleus of young local talent, while Wayne Madsen and Chesney Hughes provide more experience, but the need for three or four new recruits is strong. One has to be a batting wicket-keeper, while a reliable overseas bowler is essential, likewise a top order batsman or all-rounder.
There is no quick fix. No one can wave a magic wand and make us top of the group with a hundred per cent record. There is no getting away from the fact that our playing resources are still slim next to many clubs, but we punch above our weight at times. The right new men would make all the difference in landing the knock out blow.
I remain confident that we are on the right track and hope that the hard winter work, led by Graeme Welch and John Sadler, can be repeated to greater success next year.
In closing, I feel duty-bound to answer a question that has been asked several times in recent correspondence. Will Wes Durston be captain in 2017?
My answer is simple. Like any other professional sportsman, Wes knows that another contract depends on the club looking for and finding someone better. It hasn't been a vintage season for him and with only one score over fifty, as well as an injury, it didn't go to plan. If there's a better option out there, I am sure the club will pursue it, if not, he will be back for, I'd guess, another year next year. He has been a wonderful servant to the club, but won't look back on this as one of his best summers.
For what it is worth, unless we can recruit a real talisman to the club, I'd be inclined to give the one-day captaincy to Alex Hughes. He strikes me as a lad who thrives on opportunity and challenge and was coming in too late to make an impact in the T20.
He skippered in some of the more magical moments of this summer's campaign and expect him to make a good fist of things if offered the role for another year.
Makes a lot of sense to old Peakfan.
In closing tonight, I'd just like to wish James Pipe all the very best for the new role he has secured at Nottinghamshire CCC later this year.
He has a lot of friends at Derbyshire and always will have, testimony to his friendly persona and ever-present smile. He is one of the highest-rated men in the game and is destined to go far.
Our hopes went to the last over of the last game and we failed to qualify from a really tough group with plenty of Test-ground counties. We lost seven games, but three of them were by just one run and, for supporters used to seeing us hammered in these games, it was a refreshing change to see us compete - and compete well.
'We still lost' I hear one or two cry. Yes, but we are making progress, on the back of a lot of hard winter work on the key disciplines. We gave away few extras, held some blinding catches, dropped a few, but such is the game. The fielding stood up well to the pressure and only in a couple of matches did we let ourselves down.
A lot was pinned on the three New Zealanders, just as it was the previous year with Hashim Amla and Tillakaratne Dilshan. We were all excited about their involvement but the reality was that they didn't really deliver. Jimmy Neesham did best, producing a match-winning performance against Lancashire and being steady with bat and ball. Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom disappointed, playing cameos, rather than the match-defining innings that we needed and, to be fair, expect from that key role.
That is it with T20. 'Steady' isn't enough and, whoever we recruit for next season, they will stand or fall on their ability to win us matches. Reputations count for little in this game, as we know and Somerset found out. With Gayle and Jayawardene in their side, success had to follow, but they came bottom of their group having shelled out thousands.
Continued improvement depends on prudent winter signings. There is a strong nucleus of young local talent, while Wayne Madsen and Chesney Hughes provide more experience, but the need for three or four new recruits is strong. One has to be a batting wicket-keeper, while a reliable overseas bowler is essential, likewise a top order batsman or all-rounder.
There is no quick fix. No one can wave a magic wand and make us top of the group with a hundred per cent record. There is no getting away from the fact that our playing resources are still slim next to many clubs, but we punch above our weight at times. The right new men would make all the difference in landing the knock out blow.
I remain confident that we are on the right track and hope that the hard winter work, led by Graeme Welch and John Sadler, can be repeated to greater success next year.
In closing, I feel duty-bound to answer a question that has been asked several times in recent correspondence. Will Wes Durston be captain in 2017?
My answer is simple. Like any other professional sportsman, Wes knows that another contract depends on the club looking for and finding someone better. It hasn't been a vintage season for him and with only one score over fifty, as well as an injury, it didn't go to plan. If there's a better option out there, I am sure the club will pursue it, if not, he will be back for, I'd guess, another year next year. He has been a wonderful servant to the club, but won't look back on this as one of his best summers.
For what it is worth, unless we can recruit a real talisman to the club, I'd be inclined to give the one-day captaincy to Alex Hughes. He strikes me as a lad who thrives on opportunity and challenge and was coming in too late to make an impact in the T20.
He skippered in some of the more magical moments of this summer's campaign and expect him to make a good fist of things if offered the role for another year.
Makes a lot of sense to old Peakfan.
In closing tonight, I'd just like to wish James Pipe all the very best for the new role he has secured at Nottinghamshire CCC later this year.
He has a lot of friends at Derbyshire and always will have, testimony to his friendly persona and ever-present smile. He is one of the highest-rated men in the game and is destined to go far.
Friday, 29 July 2016
Durham v Derbyshire T20
Durham 193-2 (MacLeod 83, Stoneman 82 not, Neesham 1-25)
Derbyshire 180-9 (Broom 68, Durston 44, Borthwick 3-33)
Durham won by 13 runs
Alas, at the end of it all, came disappointment.
There wasn't a point tonight at which I thought 'yeah, we can win this', despite a fine effort from Neil Broom, an innings that hinted of vintage Wes Durston and a brief flurry from Shiv Thakor that took us from 'no chance' to 'maybe'.
The side's weakness was well revealed tonight, as Mark Stoneman and Calum MacLeod put our young attack to the sword. Jimmy Neesham bowled an exemplary spell to finish a solid, if not spectacular spell as overseas specialist, but the rest went for ten an over and we're not that good a batting side that two hundred falls easily within our compass.
All a little frustrating really, as Warwickshire (or Birmingham) failed to chase 125 to win at Old Trafford, showing that it really is a tight group where any side can beat another on a given night and four points separated fourth place qualifying and bottom of the table. We went from verge of qualification to third bottom with one defeat, despite a T20 summer in which we played much better cricket than previous years.
'A game of extremely fine margins and we need to get on the right side of them, fast' tweeted chairman Chris Grant tonight. He's absolutely right and if we could have found an extra 5% this summer we would be in the quarter-finals, without doubt.
A young team has potential, though some may not get to the promised land alongside them. Winter recruitment will be key to that - but there's a piece for another day.
Attention now turns to the last rolls of the dice in the RLODC.
Can we win two from two? On recent evidence, I have my doubts.
So go prove me wrong.
Derbyshire 180-9 (Broom 68, Durston 44, Borthwick 3-33)
Durham won by 13 runs
Alas, at the end of it all, came disappointment.
There wasn't a point tonight at which I thought 'yeah, we can win this', despite a fine effort from Neil Broom, an innings that hinted of vintage Wes Durston and a brief flurry from Shiv Thakor that took us from 'no chance' to 'maybe'.
The side's weakness was well revealed tonight, as Mark Stoneman and Calum MacLeod put our young attack to the sword. Jimmy Neesham bowled an exemplary spell to finish a solid, if not spectacular spell as overseas specialist, but the rest went for ten an over and we're not that good a batting side that two hundred falls easily within our compass.
All a little frustrating really, as Warwickshire (or Birmingham) failed to chase 125 to win at Old Trafford, showing that it really is a tight group where any side can beat another on a given night and four points separated fourth place qualifying and bottom of the table. We went from verge of qualification to third bottom with one defeat, despite a T20 summer in which we played much better cricket than previous years.
'A game of extremely fine margins and we need to get on the right side of them, fast' tweeted chairman Chris Grant tonight. He's absolutely right and if we could have found an extra 5% this summer we would be in the quarter-finals, without doubt.
A young team has potential, though some may not get to the promised land alongside them. Winter recruitment will be key to that - but there's a piece for another day.
Attention now turns to the last rolls of the dice in the RLODC.
Can we win two from two? On recent evidence, I have my doubts.
So go prove me wrong.
Thursday, 28 July 2016
Durham v Derbyshire T20
Will they? That's a more complex question, but I think they will.
There's been a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth today and I get the reason why. We should have beaten Lancashire and probably would from that position seven times in ten. The other three is why supporting the club is such a roller coaster ride, because you can never call it with total confidence.
It's done now, the impact will be seen by Monday and we must accept that. All we can do is aim to win all the games from here and see if other results go our way. If we lose them, then we just need to go again another year. Life goes on and, disappointing as it is, there are more things in life to worry about.
This evening the club announced the signing of Warwickshire wicket-keeper Alex Mellor (pictured keeping wicket) on an initial month's loan. He's a Staffordshire lad who has played most of his cricket for Leek, so I have no doubt that Kim Barnett's counsel has been sought on his worth. The lad can obviously play, as he got a double century for Staffordshire last year, as well as taking eleven catches in the same match. He's got some good runs for them this year and another left-hander down the order is never a bad thing
He should not be confused with the target for next year, in my opinion, as I think the club will aim for am established county professional for a pivotal role in the side. If we can get a keeper who is capable of batting in the top five, especially in one-day games, it would balance the side and allow us to recruit a bowler that we badly need.
We will go through if we win and either Birmingham or Yorkshire lose, but our bit is the focus. I don't see many changes, as we are fast running out of players, but the batting will be worthy of consideration. Would Chesney Hughes or Neil Broom strengthen the line-up? I see them coming in for Ben Slater and Billy Godleman as the changes, as well as Mellor for Harvey Hosein, who was never going to be fit for three games in four days. There was perhaps discussion on Wayne Madsen getting the gloves, but for a man with little experience in the role, that's asking a lot at short notice.
Jimmy Neesham is a strong addition to the side, of course and a big performance from him would help us immensely.
My team:
Rutherford
Durston
Hughes (C)
Madsen
Broom
Neesham
Thakor
Hughes (A)
Critchley
Mellor
Cotton
Two final points tonight. Andy Carter signing for Hampshire to the end of the season...that surprised me. Will he take division one wickets? Based on what we saw, no, but cricket is a funny game and a change of environment can sometimes work for players.
Finally, thanks for the continued support of the blog. Last month set a new record for visits with almost thirty thousand. This month will go past forty thousand tomorrow, a figure that tells its own tale on the interest in the club, irrespective of results.
Long may that continue!
No news on either squad at present, but Phil Mustard is on loan at Gloucestershire and that can only help our cause. Having said that, they have some dangerous batsmen and could easily put the game out of our reach if we don't hit lines and lengths from the off.
I'll be back tomorrow night with my comments on the game and hope for an improved performance - and result...
The morning after...
Grrrrr....
Just when you think we are starting to get somewhere, a reversion to the 'old days' threatens to de-rail the hopes of qualification from the RLODC group stages.
I saw none of the Lancashire innings, due to that pesky little thing called work, but after dinner settled down to watch a Derbyshire reply that was progressing smoothly, after the loss of Ben Slater. Billy Godleman looked good, Hamish Rutherford was composed and we passed the hundred with few alarms and at five an over.
In these days of twenty-over obsession...sorry...dominance of world schedules, I find it useful to break down an innings in the longer format into bite-sized chunks. A hundred off twenty left 180 off thirty at a run-a-ball. Sixty off the next ten leaves you 120 from twenty overs. We were at that stage last night and should we be chasing such a total on Friday at Durham, might you not fancy the chances, with most of the batting in hand?
Of course you would. All it needs is a cool head. Knock it into space, take the twos where you can, put the bad ball away, job's a good 'un. Except it wasn't.
As he has done too many times this summer, Hamish Rutherford gave it away when set with a poor shot that hinted at a loss of concentration. Disappointing, but it brought in Wayne Madsen and when we passed 170 and needed seven an over to win, I was mentally composing a victory blog that referred to a 'professional run chase'.
Then those wheels came off. Wayne had struggled for timing but it was unusual to see him give it away so carelessly, then the dismissal of Billy Godleman, after a splendid innings, left the new men to rebuild.
It was still very possible, but Wes Durston didn't look fit to me last night and was out of sorts at the crease. Whether going in at five 'threw' him I don't know, but nine off seventeen balls was not part of the script and was pretty much diametrically opposed to the Wes we have grown to love. Shiv Thakor, who scores quickly most of the time, played a horrid shot that can only be part of the village green coaching manual.
It spiralled from there and we all know the result. The injury to Harvey Hosein highlighted the importance of a quality wicket-keeper batsman for next summer, in that we can't assume a young lad of talent will get through a summer unscathed. We were a bowler short too, making the decision of Wes not to turn his arm over puzzling. For Lancashire, Kyle Jarvis looked the 'go to' bowler of quality that I have previously suggested we need for another year and rendered our final power play effort as effective as a fly swatter for a swarm of bees.
Time to regroup, clear heads, focus. I accept it is easy from the boundary edge or armchair to criticise, but the players work on scenarios and situations all winter and in training. They should be prepared for and be better able to handle, those like last night, which too often happen in front of TV cameras.
It leaves a big job in restoring confidence for John Sadler over the next two days. Finding a wicket-keeper is number one, because I find it hard to believe, despite last night's piece in the Derby Telegraph, that a lad who can only hold a bat with one hand on Wednesday night will be fit for three big games on Friday, Sunday and Monday.
I don't suppose Quinton de Kock is visiting his granny in Crich, by any chance?
Just when you think we are starting to get somewhere, a reversion to the 'old days' threatens to de-rail the hopes of qualification from the RLODC group stages.
I saw none of the Lancashire innings, due to that pesky little thing called work, but after dinner settled down to watch a Derbyshire reply that was progressing smoothly, after the loss of Ben Slater. Billy Godleman looked good, Hamish Rutherford was composed and we passed the hundred with few alarms and at five an over.
In these days of twenty-over obsession...sorry...dominance of world schedules, I find it useful to break down an innings in the longer format into bite-sized chunks. A hundred off twenty left 180 off thirty at a run-a-ball. Sixty off the next ten leaves you 120 from twenty overs. We were at that stage last night and should we be chasing such a total on Friday at Durham, might you not fancy the chances, with most of the batting in hand?
Of course you would. All it needs is a cool head. Knock it into space, take the twos where you can, put the bad ball away, job's a good 'un. Except it wasn't.
As he has done too many times this summer, Hamish Rutherford gave it away when set with a poor shot that hinted at a loss of concentration. Disappointing, but it brought in Wayne Madsen and when we passed 170 and needed seven an over to win, I was mentally composing a victory blog that referred to a 'professional run chase'.
Then those wheels came off. Wayne had struggled for timing but it was unusual to see him give it away so carelessly, then the dismissal of Billy Godleman, after a splendid innings, left the new men to rebuild.
It was still very possible, but Wes Durston didn't look fit to me last night and was out of sorts at the crease. Whether going in at five 'threw' him I don't know, but nine off seventeen balls was not part of the script and was pretty much diametrically opposed to the Wes we have grown to love. Shiv Thakor, who scores quickly most of the time, played a horrid shot that can only be part of the village green coaching manual.
It spiralled from there and we all know the result. The injury to Harvey Hosein highlighted the importance of a quality wicket-keeper batsman for next summer, in that we can't assume a young lad of talent will get through a summer unscathed. We were a bowler short too, making the decision of Wes not to turn his arm over puzzling. For Lancashire, Kyle Jarvis looked the 'go to' bowler of quality that I have previously suggested we need for another year and rendered our final power play effort as effective as a fly swatter for a swarm of bees.
Time to regroup, clear heads, focus. I accept it is easy from the boundary edge or armchair to criticise, but the players work on scenarios and situations all winter and in training. They should be prepared for and be better able to handle, those like last night, which too often happen in front of TV cameras.
It leaves a big job in restoring confidence for John Sadler over the next two days. Finding a wicket-keeper is number one, because I find it hard to believe, despite last night's piece in the Derby Telegraph, that a lad who can only hold a bat with one hand on Wednesday night will be fit for three big games on Friday, Sunday and Monday.
I don't suppose Quinton de Kock is visiting his granny in Crich, by any chance?
Wednesday, 27 July 2016
Derbyshire v Lancashire RLODC
Lancashire 281-8 (Livingstone 98, Croft 68, Cotton 3-62)
Derbyshire 254-9 (Godleman 91, Rutherford 47)
Lancashire won by 27 runs
Irrespective of what happens in the last two games, Derbyshire's players will look at this as the one that got away. Or more to the point, was given away.
Putting not too fine a point on it, we should have breezed that. We needed 168 from 28 overs when Hamish Rutherford perished to a poor shot, then 105 in 15 when Wayne Madsen, most uncharacteristically, did the same after almost being out in the same place the ball before. When Billy Godleman effectively yorked himself, the writing was on the wall.
The normally classical Shiv Thakor played a village green shot and while Alex Hughes was a little unlucky, his hand was forced by that stage.
In any T20, if you needed 105 in fifteen overs with seven wickets in hand (I discount the injured Hosein) you would fancy your chances. We may pay the ultimate penalty for our profligacy when the qualifying places are being sorted.
I wasn't impressed by Wes Durston tonight. The slow bowlers were hard to get away, yet he didn't bowl, while he looked leaden-footed and awkward at the crease. If he wasn't fit enough to bowl, he shouldn't have played, as Chesney could have done the same job while Alex Hughes skippered the side. Not a good night for the skipper, I'm afraid.
It was all a shame for Harvey Hosein and his fractured thumb will rule him out for several weeks and require a quick search of available replacements. It was also hard luck on Billy Godleman, who played a fine hand and timed the ball as well as anyone on a surface where the ball never seemed to come on to the bat as they would have wished.
More to the point, it was a shame for the club, because they threw away a gilt-edged opportunity to get two points in a game they worked hard to win, but ultimately threw away like we did in some of the bad old days.
More from me tomorrow.
Derbyshire 254-9 (Godleman 91, Rutherford 47)
Lancashire won by 27 runs
Irrespective of what happens in the last two games, Derbyshire's players will look at this as the one that got away. Or more to the point, was given away.
Putting not too fine a point on it, we should have breezed that. We needed 168 from 28 overs when Hamish Rutherford perished to a poor shot, then 105 in 15 when Wayne Madsen, most uncharacteristically, did the same after almost being out in the same place the ball before. When Billy Godleman effectively yorked himself, the writing was on the wall.
The normally classical Shiv Thakor played a village green shot and while Alex Hughes was a little unlucky, his hand was forced by that stage.
In any T20, if you needed 105 in fifteen overs with seven wickets in hand (I discount the injured Hosein) you would fancy your chances. We may pay the ultimate penalty for our profligacy when the qualifying places are being sorted.
I wasn't impressed by Wes Durston tonight. The slow bowlers were hard to get away, yet he didn't bowl, while he looked leaden-footed and awkward at the crease. If he wasn't fit enough to bowl, he shouldn't have played, as Chesney could have done the same job while Alex Hughes skippered the side. Not a good night for the skipper, I'm afraid.
It was all a shame for Harvey Hosein and his fractured thumb will rule him out for several weeks and require a quick search of available replacements. It was also hard luck on Billy Godleman, who played a fine hand and timed the ball as well as anyone on a surface where the ball never seemed to come on to the bat as they would have wished.
More to the point, it was a shame for the club, because they threw away a gilt-edged opportunity to get two points in a game they worked hard to win, but ultimately threw away like we did in some of the bad old days.
More from me tomorrow.
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Derbyshire v Lancashire RLODC preview
Well, Leicestershire did it today, so let's hope that Derbyshire can emulate them, beat Lancashire tomorrow and put one foot in the Royal London One-Day Cup knock-out stages.
In fact, our East Midlands rivals trounced them and if we go into tomorrow's game with the level of commitment and focus that has characterised most of our one-day cricket this summer, we can get the points.
With Warwickshire handing out a good hiding to Northamptonshire, the game offers us a chance to put daylight between us and the chasing pack ahead of the games against Northamptonshire and Leicestershire. It goes without saying, in such a tough group, that qualification would be an impressive achievement.
There have been plenty of pictures from today's training, with Dominic Cork involved with the bowlers and turning his arm over himself. He still looks fit enough to be playing, though the fielding might catch him out a bit these days. I can relate to that...
Tomorrow he will back behind the microphone and maintaining impartiality as best he can for Sky. John Sadler has named a fourteen that shouldn't see much change, in the final eleven, from Sunday at Welbeck. From reports we did little wrong there but ran into a very good side on a good day. For us to realistically entertain hopes of beating such sides, someone has to produce something special and hope for an off-day from the opposition.
Our unchanged squad:
Wes Durston
Billy Godleman
Ben Slater
Chesney Hughes
Hamish Rutherford
Wayne Madsen
Neil Broom
Shiv Thakor
Alex Hughes
Harvey Hosein
Matt Critchley
Tony Palladino
Ben Cotton
Will Davis
The big decision, I would think, is who misses out among the batsmen. Chesney and Billy did at Welbeck, but Neil Broom needs to deliver sometime soon to keep gaining selection ahead of them. It is a dilemma to have to consider dropping a man who, although on a British passport, is essentially an overseas player with international experience and a good track record. Yet it hasn't really happened for Neil (or Hamish Rutherford) this year. Might this be 'the one' where it does?
I'm sure we all hope so.
Lancashire's side today, presumably similar to tomorrow, was:
Smith, Petersen, Brown, Procter, Livingstone, Croft, Clark, Moores, Parry, Jarvis, Buck
Alviro Petersen is the key man, but there are some dangerous players in the side and we will need to be at our best to come out on top.
I think we will. There appears to be a good 'vibe' around the club at present and, even in front of TV cameras, I think we can deliver the type of performance that can maintain our place in the top four.
And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, winning the toss tomorrow will help our cause immensely.
Good luck lads. Do us proud.
In fact, our East Midlands rivals trounced them and if we go into tomorrow's game with the level of commitment and focus that has characterised most of our one-day cricket this summer, we can get the points.
With Warwickshire handing out a good hiding to Northamptonshire, the game offers us a chance to put daylight between us and the chasing pack ahead of the games against Northamptonshire and Leicestershire. It goes without saying, in such a tough group, that qualification would be an impressive achievement.
There have been plenty of pictures from today's training, with Dominic Cork involved with the bowlers and turning his arm over himself. He still looks fit enough to be playing, though the fielding might catch him out a bit these days. I can relate to that...
Tomorrow he will back behind the microphone and maintaining impartiality as best he can for Sky. John Sadler has named a fourteen that shouldn't see much change, in the final eleven, from Sunday at Welbeck. From reports we did little wrong there but ran into a very good side on a good day. For us to realistically entertain hopes of beating such sides, someone has to produce something special and hope for an off-day from the opposition.
Our unchanged squad:
Wes Durston
Billy Godleman
Ben Slater
Chesney Hughes
Hamish Rutherford
Wayne Madsen
Neil Broom
Shiv Thakor
Alex Hughes
Harvey Hosein
Matt Critchley
Tony Palladino
Ben Cotton
Will Davis
The big decision, I would think, is who misses out among the batsmen. Chesney and Billy did at Welbeck, but Neil Broom needs to deliver sometime soon to keep gaining selection ahead of them. It is a dilemma to have to consider dropping a man who, although on a British passport, is essentially an overseas player with international experience and a good track record. Yet it hasn't really happened for Neil (or Hamish Rutherford) this year. Might this be 'the one' where it does?
I'm sure we all hope so.
Lancashire's side today, presumably similar to tomorrow, was:
Smith, Petersen, Brown, Procter, Livingstone, Croft, Clark, Moores, Parry, Jarvis, Buck
Alviro Petersen is the key man, but there are some dangerous players in the side and we will need to be at our best to come out on top.
I think we will. There appears to be a good 'vibe' around the club at present and, even in front of TV cameras, I think we can deliver the type of performance that can maintain our place in the top four.
And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, winning the toss tomorrow will help our cause immensely.
Good luck lads. Do us proud.
Monday, 25 July 2016
Monday Musings
It was good to listen to Dominic Cork on Radio Derby tonight.
I will give him his due, he has remained a Derbyshire fan, even before he came back into the fold and has always spoken up for us on Sky, an oasis of sanity in the desert of 'Derbys' 'Madsdens' and at times patronising nonsense.
It was especially good to hear that the approach came from John Sadler and that puts my mind at ease a little. Both Kevin Dean and Kim Barnett are offering assistance, as and when required, but staying at arm's length, which is the way it should be. We are doing OK just now and the big danger is in the 'too many cooks spoiling the broth' malarkey.
John has done well and despite a few losses in his tenure, the side has shown fight and tenacity. I have seen enough Derbyshire sides go down with a whimper over the years and the current batch are, in their spirit, a throw back to better times. They are playing some very good cricket too, individually and collectively.
It was obvious again yesterday that a great need for next summer is a 'go to' bowler for whichever captain and format. Kim Barnett had it with Michael Holding, an experienced man who could bowl a tight over or two, maybe nick a wicket. Charl Langeveldt fulfilled a similar role over a shorter period and it is so important for any skipper.
When a batsman is going well, as Rikki Wessels was yesterday, as a captain you look at your resources and wonder who can make a difference. Such players can do that and find the lines and lengths required as a matter of course. They command respect on reputation, but follow it through with their deeds.
I wouldn't be averse to Jimmy Neesham again in T20, though I suspect the bigger fish of IPL will command his attention next year, if he stays fit. He averages 28 with the bat and is top wicket-taker with 14, albeit at nearly ten runs an over. He's bowled the key top and tail spells though, something he hasn't often done in the past and has performed steadily, if not spectacularly. That 'go to' bowler would help him too.
Tomorrow night I will be looking at Wednesday's game against Lancashire, who we have already proved we can beat this season. If we can get back to winning ways in that one, it sets us up royally for our big weekend.
The key to the biggest week the club has had in recent times will be in keeping the players relaxed but maintaining focus. If we can go out and play with maximum intensity, we can give anyone a good game and can beat a lot of sides. When Mick Newell says that his side produced a '9.5 out of ten' performance yesterday, but we were far from disgraced, it speaks volumes for the potential in a young team.
These are heady times, as exemplified by the visitors to this blog. There have been five thousand views over the last two days, as the blog has hit a new high in readership with a week of the month still to go.
Please do keep checking in and making comments. As long as I can understand them and they're not filed under 'personal attacks' they will be live pretty quickly!
Thanks for your interest.
I will give him his due, he has remained a Derbyshire fan, even before he came back into the fold and has always spoken up for us on Sky, an oasis of sanity in the desert of 'Derbys' 'Madsdens' and at times patronising nonsense.
It was especially good to hear that the approach came from John Sadler and that puts my mind at ease a little. Both Kevin Dean and Kim Barnett are offering assistance, as and when required, but staying at arm's length, which is the way it should be. We are doing OK just now and the big danger is in the 'too many cooks spoiling the broth' malarkey.
John has done well and despite a few losses in his tenure, the side has shown fight and tenacity. I have seen enough Derbyshire sides go down with a whimper over the years and the current batch are, in their spirit, a throw back to better times. They are playing some very good cricket too, individually and collectively.
It was obvious again yesterday that a great need for next summer is a 'go to' bowler for whichever captain and format. Kim Barnett had it with Michael Holding, an experienced man who could bowl a tight over or two, maybe nick a wicket. Charl Langeveldt fulfilled a similar role over a shorter period and it is so important for any skipper.
When a batsman is going well, as Rikki Wessels was yesterday, as a captain you look at your resources and wonder who can make a difference. Such players can do that and find the lines and lengths required as a matter of course. They command respect on reputation, but follow it through with their deeds.
I wouldn't be averse to Jimmy Neesham again in T20, though I suspect the bigger fish of IPL will command his attention next year, if he stays fit. He averages 28 with the bat and is top wicket-taker with 14, albeit at nearly ten runs an over. He's bowled the key top and tail spells though, something he hasn't often done in the past and has performed steadily, if not spectacularly. That 'go to' bowler would help him too.
Tomorrow night I will be looking at Wednesday's game against Lancashire, who we have already proved we can beat this season. If we can get back to winning ways in that one, it sets us up royally for our big weekend.
The key to the biggest week the club has had in recent times will be in keeping the players relaxed but maintaining focus. If we can go out and play with maximum intensity, we can give anyone a good game and can beat a lot of sides. When Mick Newell says that his side produced a '9.5 out of ten' performance yesterday, but we were far from disgraced, it speaks volumes for the potential in a young team.
These are heady times, as exemplified by the visitors to this blog. There have been five thousand views over the last two days, as the blog has hit a new high in readership with a week of the month still to go.
Please do keep checking in and making comments. As long as I can understand them and they're not filed under 'personal attacks' they will be live pretty quickly!
Thanks for your interest.
Sunday, 24 July 2016
Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire RLODC
Nottinghamshire 340-7 (Wessels 114, Read 59 not, Thakor 3-78)
Derbyshire 275 (Slater 51, Critchley 43, Hosein 41, Gurney 3-47)
Nottinghamshire won by 65 runs
Local cricket fans had a good day at Welbeck today, with 600 runs scored and good entertainment enjoyed by all.
Realistically, the result was as one might expect, as a team full of international experience overcame a young Derbyshire side. For us to compete, one of our internationals had to deliver a big innings and sadly, both Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom went for 20s, which has sadly become a season average.
The omission of Chesney Hughes was a pre-game talking point and whether he may have done better than the struggling Broom is a moot point, but the decision was made and there's no point wondering at this juncture.
Derbyshire's main contributors were youngsters, who all showed a spirit that was impressive and bodes well for the future. Matt Critchley had a good game with bat and ball and has made major one-day strides this summer, while Harvey Hosein showed that he will, given time, be a very good all-round player for us. Meanwhile Ben Slater led off the innings with an array of shots that suggested a one-day role may become a regular occurrence in the near future. Ben can graft away in the four-day game, but with two centuries and a fifty in his last three List A games, he seems to have got his head around the one-day stuff quite nicely now.
Nottinghamshire's win was largely down to the late assault by Chris Read and Steve Mullaney. How they will eventually replace Read is a moot point, as he turned what looked like a sub-300 score into a very competitive one. A hundred runs from the last ten overs took it to nose bleed territory, this after Derbyshire had come back well in the middle overs. Rikki Wessels sizzling century helped them recover from the loss of two wickets to Shiv Thakor and such an innings had to be played at the top of our innings for us to get close.
Despite the best efforts of Slater, no one else in the top order got going and it was left to the two teenagers to give it their best shot.
Critchley had earlier been the most economical of the bowlers, even on a small ground. While four-day wickets will take him a while to get to grips with, he has done an astonishing one-day job this summer and can be proud of his progress.
So while we are off the top of the group, we control our own destiny. The Northamptonshire game, against a side just below us in the table, is a biggie, but we also play Lancashire and Leicestershire, the bottom two in the group.
A favourable finish, but most of us have seen Derbyshire stumble against sides that should be beaten.
Two wins from three will do it and a repeat of the recent win against Lancashire, on Wednesday, will send us into next weekend in fine fettle.
One final point...has there ever been a bigger weekend, finals excepted, in our history? Durham in the T20 on Friday, Northamptonshire on Sunday in the RLODC, then Leicestershire in the same competition on Monday.
Keep them calm and keep them focused John.
If they produce their best, they can do this.
Derbyshire 275 (Slater 51, Critchley 43, Hosein 41, Gurney 3-47)
Nottinghamshire won by 65 runs
Local cricket fans had a good day at Welbeck today, with 600 runs scored and good entertainment enjoyed by all.
Realistically, the result was as one might expect, as a team full of international experience overcame a young Derbyshire side. For us to compete, one of our internationals had to deliver a big innings and sadly, both Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom went for 20s, which has sadly become a season average.
The omission of Chesney Hughes was a pre-game talking point and whether he may have done better than the struggling Broom is a moot point, but the decision was made and there's no point wondering at this juncture.
Derbyshire's main contributors were youngsters, who all showed a spirit that was impressive and bodes well for the future. Matt Critchley had a good game with bat and ball and has made major one-day strides this summer, while Harvey Hosein showed that he will, given time, be a very good all-round player for us. Meanwhile Ben Slater led off the innings with an array of shots that suggested a one-day role may become a regular occurrence in the near future. Ben can graft away in the four-day game, but with two centuries and a fifty in his last three List A games, he seems to have got his head around the one-day stuff quite nicely now.
Nottinghamshire's win was largely down to the late assault by Chris Read and Steve Mullaney. How they will eventually replace Read is a moot point, as he turned what looked like a sub-300 score into a very competitive one. A hundred runs from the last ten overs took it to nose bleed territory, this after Derbyshire had come back well in the middle overs. Rikki Wessels sizzling century helped them recover from the loss of two wickets to Shiv Thakor and such an innings had to be played at the top of our innings for us to get close.
Despite the best efforts of Slater, no one else in the top order got going and it was left to the two teenagers to give it their best shot.
Critchley had earlier been the most economical of the bowlers, even on a small ground. While four-day wickets will take him a while to get to grips with, he has done an astonishing one-day job this summer and can be proud of his progress.
So while we are off the top of the group, we control our own destiny. The Northamptonshire game, against a side just below us in the table, is a biggie, but we also play Lancashire and Leicestershire, the bottom two in the group.
A favourable finish, but most of us have seen Derbyshire stumble against sides that should be beaten.
Two wins from three will do it and a repeat of the recent win against Lancashire, on Wednesday, will send us into next weekend in fine fettle.
One final point...has there ever been a bigger weekend, finals excepted, in our history? Durham in the T20 on Friday, Northamptonshire on Sunday in the RLODC, then Leicestershire in the same competition on Monday.
Keep them calm and keep them focused John.
If they produce their best, they can do this.
Cork back in consultancy role
Interesting news breaking today in that club legend Dominic Cork is with the side at Welbeck for the game against Nottinghamshire.
Cork will be working under John Sadler on an occasional consultancy basis over the next few weeks and, of course, brings a lot of experience with him into the role. Not to mention his expertise and personality, which brought a never-say-die attitude into the Derbyshire dressing room of the time and makes him one of the most listenable commentators and experts on television.
No problem whatsoever on on this one, as long as Sadler gets to make the decisions and calls on Cork and anyone else required for advice, as and when required.
It is, in fact a sound move and having someone of such reputation, both on and off the pitch, involved in the club is good thinking.
We have got to an exciting position in both one-day competitions and any little extra that we can bring in to get a few per cent more from the players and team can only be seen as a positive and worthwhile move.
Thumbs up from me.
Cork will be working under John Sadler on an occasional consultancy basis over the next few weeks and, of course, brings a lot of experience with him into the role. Not to mention his expertise and personality, which brought a never-say-die attitude into the Derbyshire dressing room of the time and makes him one of the most listenable commentators and experts on television.
No problem whatsoever on on this one, as long as Sadler gets to make the decisions and calls on Cork and anyone else required for advice, as and when required.
It is, in fact a sound move and having someone of such reputation, both on and off the pitch, involved in the club is good thinking.
We have got to an exciting position in both one-day competitions and any little extra that we can bring in to get a few per cent more from the players and team can only be seen as a positive and worthwhile move.
Thumbs up from me.
More match tickets available - Northamptonshire v Derbyshire
Adam has been winning a few competitions lately and this time has two tickets for the RLODC match at Northampton next Sunday available, that he cannot use.
First person to mail me with their address details can get them, free of charge.
Thanks again to Adam for getting in touch and next time you are doing the lottery, drop me a note of your numbers, mate!
Update - now gone...
First person to mail me with their address details can get them, free of charge.
Thanks again to Adam for getting in touch and next time you are doing the lottery, drop me a note of your numbers, mate!
Update - now gone...
Saturday, 23 July 2016
Knight and Elstone released by Derbyshire
The news of the release of young cricketers is always sad, because it is seen by many as the end of a potential career in the first-class game.It isn't always so and there are plenty of players who were originally released by their counties, only to prove them wrong and go on to long careers. Colin Tunnicliffe and Tony Borrington were two such players at Derbyshire who spring immediately to mind, while Paul Taylor and Wayne White forged good county careers elsewhere.
Scott Elstone played a few good knocks for the county in both one and four-day cricket, the highlight being a last day century against Glamorgan last summer, albeit when the game was in its dying throes. He could score quickly but was vulnerable early at top level, which often proved his undoing. He will, however, be remembered as one of the best three outfielders I have seen in Derbyshire colours, which in almost fifty years is quite an accolade.
The case for Tom Knight is nowhere near so clear cut.
Let's keep in mind that at the age of 19 he was the best young spinner in England, taking wickets in the under-19 national side and looking to be on the verge of something special. He worked hard on his fielding, having come into the side as a schoolboy carrying puppy fat and became one of the best in the club. He worked impressively on his batting, to the extent that over the two summers prior to this one, he passed a thousand runs in the second team in all matches. He scored quickly too and translated that into the first team on occasion. Few will forget his assault on David Willey in 2014, striking the now-England man for three successive sixes on his way to 44 from 18 balls. He averaged mid-twenties with the bat, at a strike rate of 137, impressive for one who only got in during the closing overs.
Then there is his bowling.
Tom bowled at fair pace for a spinner and fizzed it in. He was hard to get away and in one-day cricket he took key scalps. Adam Voges of Nottinghamshire on his debut, Ian Blackwell in his second game, Solanki, Kervezee and Shakib in his fourth. Then there was Collingwood, Stokes and Smith of Durham in a forty-over game. Things were going well in the short formats, the bowler going for only seven an over on average. In short, he looked the business.
When Graeme Welch and Ant Botha came in, it was felt that he needed his action 'deconstructed' to help him to bowl sides out in the longer game. A laudable concept, if it worked, though many felt that, with limited over cricket being increasingly important, Knight could have become the Derbyshire Steven Parry, firing it in, keeping it tight, reaping the rewards. With his batting and fielding, he would have been a heck of a player.
He still might, but to watch him over the last two summers, as I did, was worrying. His smooth action, the result of a number of years of muscle memory, had gone and while the new look was, in fairness, more classical and aesthetically pleasing, everything was seemingly in a different place and there was no run up. As a result, Knight could no longer control line and length. He didn't even bowl in league cricket and this year in the seconds, strangely, batted at seven or eight, despite rarely being asked to bowl and being a leading batsman for the previous two summers. For me, the writing was on the wall.
Now, he finds himself released and I think he has been hard done by. The club coaches have done good work in many areas, but the previous regime made an unholy mess of Tom's fledgling career. According to good, experienced coaches that I have spoken to, small tweaks are required at times, things that then enable bowlers to work things out themselves. Yet to pretty much change EVERYTHING on a bowler runs a monumental risk of failure, especially when he is not doing badly to start with. If you are trying to remember where your feet, hips, head, shoulders and hand should be as you run in, letting go of the ball is something of an afterthought, with a nigh-inevitable consequence.
It is deeply disappointing, yet the key to it all is how the player reacts to it. I'd like to see him go back to basics, bowl as he always did and get back into league cricket next summer, maybe minor counties, and force a way back. He is young enough to do so at 23 and if it turns out that opportunity knocks elsewhere, so be it. If he recovers his old bowling style, there's a very fine young all-rounder waiting to be signed by someone. I have said over the past few seasons that Tom reminds me of Ian Blackwell and if he had 'only' got to that standard we wouldn't have complained. He still might, with the right attitude and the right coach.
One thing is for sure though. A county that, with justification, prides itself on its development and treatment of young players has badly let down one of its most talented. At a time when decent spinners are as rare as a steak on a broken cooker, we completely messed up one half of a young and exciting spin bowling duo.
Nothing to be proud of there, whatsoever.
Derbyshire video footage
I've had an enquiry from Jonathan, who is wanting to be put in contact with anyone who has video footage of Derbyshire cricket matches of the past that they would be happy to share/copy.
If you can help him with anything, please drop me an email and I will put you in touch.
If you can help him with anything, please drop me an email and I will put you in touch.
Last copies of Edwin Smith book available
If you are interested in one, either mail me at the usual address that you will find on the left hand side of the blog as you scroll down, or go on to ebay, search under 'Edwin Smith cricket book' and order it from there.
The book is £14 plus £2.80 post and packing. Once these are gone, that's it!
In other news, I will be at the Leicestershire RLODC game a week on Monday, selling and signing copies of my latest post-war history of the club 'In Their Own Words: Derbyshire Cricketers in Conversation'.
There's a lovely review of the launch event at Chesterfield on the publisher's website and I am extremely grateful for a succession of favourable reviews for the new book, just as I was with last year's book on Edwin. With such a stellar cast of former and current heroes, it is hopefully both a funny and informative book that you will enjoy reading and will want to go back to.
I hope that you will take advantage of my flying visit a week on Monday to come and say hello, as well as to buy a copy of a book that should keep you warm and interested in the club over the winter months.
More in due course, but thanks for your continued interest!
Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire RLODC
My biggest wish, ahead of this game, is that the real Derbyshire turn up.
We didn't for the T20 game at Derby a few weeks back and produced one of our more limp efforts of an increasingly encouraging season. A good barometer of the side's form is the interest in this blog and yesterday saw 2,500 visits to it. So...
We did well last night against a good Worcestershire side that play excellent one-day cricket. With the right winter recruitment we can push on next year and if we can emerge from two tough groups to the knock out stages of either one-day trophy we will have done very well indeed.
Tomorrow's game is one I would have loved to attend but domestic needs dictate otherwise, so I must follow from afar. While Derby is more intimate than most, there is something cosy, fun and typically English about a game at an out ground and the Welbeck Colliery venue looks quite splendid, from what I have seen.
There will be some tough decisions in the selection, with Ben Slater's form, with centuries in the last two List A matches he has played, pushing him for a recall. Were he to come in to the side, it would have to be at the expense of Neil Broom on current form, but the Kiwi's record suggests that when he strikes top nick he could be a destructive asset. Do you pick a young lad in good touch or an experienced player who might only be an innings away from it?
For what its worth, I would reward Slater and go with:
Slater
Godleman
Rutherford
Hughes (C)
Madsen
Thakor
Hughes (A)
Critchley
Hosein
Palladino
Cotton
Mind you, if Wes Durston is fit to play, the selection process gets ever more complicated! Another sign of a side playing good cricket...
Nottinghamshire have a strong side and will start favourites in a competition where they racked up 400 in the first half of the season. Dan Christian has proved a solid overseas player for them and their side needs no introduction, whichever eleven takes the field. Our best chance will still be in chasing a total, despite last night's excellent effort.
Two wins from our last four games should take us through to the knock out stage of the competition and there is talent enough in this squad to do that.
Tomorrow will be the toughest of those games, but we have shown we can match some very good sides this season.
I hope tomorrow is no exception.
We didn't for the T20 game at Derby a few weeks back and produced one of our more limp efforts of an increasingly encouraging season. A good barometer of the side's form is the interest in this blog and yesterday saw 2,500 visits to it. So...
We did well last night against a good Worcestershire side that play excellent one-day cricket. With the right winter recruitment we can push on next year and if we can emerge from two tough groups to the knock out stages of either one-day trophy we will have done very well indeed.
Tomorrow's game is one I would have loved to attend but domestic needs dictate otherwise, so I must follow from afar. While Derby is more intimate than most, there is something cosy, fun and typically English about a game at an out ground and the Welbeck Colliery venue looks quite splendid, from what I have seen.
There will be some tough decisions in the selection, with Ben Slater's form, with centuries in the last two List A matches he has played, pushing him for a recall. Were he to come in to the side, it would have to be at the expense of Neil Broom on current form, but the Kiwi's record suggests that when he strikes top nick he could be a destructive asset. Do you pick a young lad in good touch or an experienced player who might only be an innings away from it?
For what its worth, I would reward Slater and go with:
Slater
Godleman
Rutherford
Hughes (C)
Madsen
Thakor
Hughes (A)
Critchley
Hosein
Palladino
Cotton
Mind you, if Wes Durston is fit to play, the selection process gets ever more complicated! Another sign of a side playing good cricket...
Nottinghamshire have a strong side and will start favourites in a competition where they racked up 400 in the first half of the season. Dan Christian has proved a solid overseas player for them and their side needs no introduction, whichever eleven takes the field. Our best chance will still be in chasing a total, despite last night's excellent effort.
Two wins from our last four games should take us through to the knock out stage of the competition and there is talent enough in this squad to do that.
Tomorrow will be the toughest of those games, but we have shown we can match some very good sides this season.
I hope tomorrow is no exception.
Andy Carter leaves
The news of Andy Carter's departure from Derbyshire, announced today, doesn't come as a surprise.The player signed a two-year deal at the 3aaa County Ground and I had high hopes that, despite a career blighted by injury, he would be a competent replacement for Mark Footitt. Nowhere near the pace, of course, but hostile enough to be awkward and, based on his efforts for Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire last year, felt he could be a leader of the attack.
The truth is that he wasn't. I just got the impression that he was bowling differently and the new regulations on the toss didn't help him. Nor did they help Luke Fletcher, an old sparring partner across the East Midlands, when they briefly teamed up at the start of the season. Neither took many wickets, nor, truth be told, did they really look like doing so on wickets that were far too much in the batsman's favour for any meaningful cricket to be played.
Six wickets in four matches at an average of 73 in the first-class game. There were too many 'four balls' and he seemed some way removed from his best. He clumped away merrily as a tail end batsman, but that was always a bonus and the core need of the team wasn't fulfilled as many of us had hoped. At 27, playing in the second team was no more use to Carter than it was for the club and merely replicated last year when we had Jon Clare and David Wainwright in the second team. Their salary dictated that they should - needed to be - in the first eleven, but performances required otherwise and so it was with Carter.
The Derby Telegraph reported that he wanted to play red ball cricket and that prompted a fall out with John Sadler. The truth is that selection for any senior team has to be performance-based and Carter's returns in neither first nor second team made a strong case for inclusion on merit.
He did better in the one-day competitions, but again not well enough to suggest him an automatic pick in the side. Supporters felt we would get as much, quite likely more, from Ben Cotton or Tony Palladino and the emergence of Will Davis in recent weeks suggested that Carter would struggle for a first-team place next year, even before the club embarked on winter strengthening that may include an overseas bowler.
In short, it was a good idea that didn't work out for player or county and the parting of ways, a year early, is best for both.
I wish Andy well in future pursuits, whether that is inside or outside the game.
Friday, 22 July 2016
Derbyshire v Worcestershire T20
Derbyshire 192-5 (Rutherford 64, Madsen 50 not)
Worcestershire 163 (D'Oliveira 44, Critchley 3-36, Cotton 2-24, Thakor 2-29)
Derbyshire won by 29 runs
Well done lads!
A stirring win tonight - batting first - saw us enter the last round of matches next week within touching distance of the knockout stage.
IF we beat Durham at the Riverside and Lancashire beat Warwickshire at Old Trafford, we will qualify. Alternatively, if we win and Northamptonshire beat Yorkshire at Wantage Road, it will come down to net run rate. The bottom line is we need to do our stuff and let the rest take care of itself.
They couldn't have done more tonight. It is important to take advantage of the Power play and we did, thanks to Hamish Rutherford's early assault. His innings was well-paced and quick enough to see us to 128 in the fourteenth over when he was out.
At that point we could have imploded and been rolled over for 160, but Wayne Madsen nursed the closing overs beautifully and reached fifty in the final over. Jimmy Neesham played another brisk and important cameo, while Shiv Thakor hit one of the three balls he faced for six, to take us to an impressive 192.
It was good to see Ben Cotton back in the starting eleven in this competition and he led the attack to fulfil the other need of this format - taking early wickets. The first three were back in the pavilion before the end of the Powerplay, by which time Derbyshire were firm favourites and the visitors on the back foot.
There appeared a slight wobble when Ross Whiteley joined Brett D'Oliveira and they added 38 in three overs, but brave and inspired captaincy saw Wes Durston bring Matt Critchley on and he removed the former Derbyshire man. Two overs later, Matt took the scalps of D'Oliveira and Ben Cox in successive balls after taking a little stick and it was effectively all over. Three for 36 was another fine effort by the young leg spinner, as was the continued discipline by the side in the field, conceding only seven extras.
The whole attack did well. Neesham and Cotton did well at the top of the innings, Alex Hughes bowled his usual tight spell in the middle, while Wes nicked in with the wicket of his opposite number, Mitchell, one of three catches for Chesney Hughes.
It was a good effort and showed sound thought processes and execution. Too often we have over-reached and lost too many wickets up top, yet tonight the innings was well placed and the catches were held.
Whatever happens next week, supporters must realise there's been an improvement in our T20 disciplines this year. Graeme Welch and John Sadler did excellent work over the winter and the genial Sadler deserves every credit for inspiring some excellent cricket from his young side since he took over.
Nottinghamshire at Welbeck Colliery on Sunday, then Lancashire at Derby, both in the RLODC. Then that big game at the Riverside. It is a long time since we were in such a healthy position in the one-day game and I hope you all enjoy it, like I am.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and especially comments of those who were there tonight.
Come on you Falcons!
Worcestershire 163 (D'Oliveira 44, Critchley 3-36, Cotton 2-24, Thakor 2-29)
Derbyshire won by 29 runs
Well done lads!
A stirring win tonight - batting first - saw us enter the last round of matches next week within touching distance of the knockout stage.
IF we beat Durham at the Riverside and Lancashire beat Warwickshire at Old Trafford, we will qualify. Alternatively, if we win and Northamptonshire beat Yorkshire at Wantage Road, it will come down to net run rate. The bottom line is we need to do our stuff and let the rest take care of itself.
They couldn't have done more tonight. It is important to take advantage of the Power play and we did, thanks to Hamish Rutherford's early assault. His innings was well-paced and quick enough to see us to 128 in the fourteenth over when he was out.
At that point we could have imploded and been rolled over for 160, but Wayne Madsen nursed the closing overs beautifully and reached fifty in the final over. Jimmy Neesham played another brisk and important cameo, while Shiv Thakor hit one of the three balls he faced for six, to take us to an impressive 192.
It was good to see Ben Cotton back in the starting eleven in this competition and he led the attack to fulfil the other need of this format - taking early wickets. The first three were back in the pavilion before the end of the Powerplay, by which time Derbyshire were firm favourites and the visitors on the back foot.
There appeared a slight wobble when Ross Whiteley joined Brett D'Oliveira and they added 38 in three overs, but brave and inspired captaincy saw Wes Durston bring Matt Critchley on and he removed the former Derbyshire man. Two overs later, Matt took the scalps of D'Oliveira and Ben Cox in successive balls after taking a little stick and it was effectively all over. Three for 36 was another fine effort by the young leg spinner, as was the continued discipline by the side in the field, conceding only seven extras.
The whole attack did well. Neesham and Cotton did well at the top of the innings, Alex Hughes bowled his usual tight spell in the middle, while Wes nicked in with the wicket of his opposite number, Mitchell, one of three catches for Chesney Hughes.
It was a good effort and showed sound thought processes and execution. Too often we have over-reached and lost too many wickets up top, yet tonight the innings was well placed and the catches were held.
Whatever happens next week, supporters must realise there's been an improvement in our T20 disciplines this year. Graeme Welch and John Sadler did excellent work over the winter and the genial Sadler deserves every credit for inspiring some excellent cricket from his young side since he took over.
Nottinghamshire at Welbeck Colliery on Sunday, then Lancashire at Derby, both in the RLODC. Then that big game at the Riverside. It is a long time since we were in such a healthy position in the one-day game and I hope you all enjoy it, like I am.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and especially comments of those who were there tonight.
Come on you Falcons!
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Derbyshire v Worcestershire T20 preview
Just a short preview from me tonight, after another long and hectic day that started at 5am.
I'm not convinced that winning the last two games in this competition by a gazillion runs would see us qualify, but win them we must, if only to make it our best T20 summer in a long time. We would have perhaps made it through to the knock outs, if we'd finished on the right side of too many close finishes, but we are getting there. Slowly but surely.
The great thing is that pretty much any side COULD qualify except Lancashire, whose chances are slightly less than that of Lord Lucan riding into the ground on Shergar tomorrow night...
John Sadler has named the following squad for the game, which largely equates to anyone fit enough to play and will likely result in a largely unchanged side:
Wes Durston
Billy Godleman
Ben Slater
Chesney Hughes
Hamish Rutherford
Wayne Madsen
Neil Broom
Jimmy Neesham
Shiv Thakor
Alex Hughes
Harvey Hosein
Matt Critchley
Tony Palladino
Ben Cotton
Will Davis
I don't see much change from the usual side, except Ben Cotton, or perhaps Tony Palladino for the missing Andy Carter.
The visitors haven't named their side but have some real talent in there. They have missed Mitchell Santner this year after his broken finger but will be a stern test.
And yet we have beaten them twice recently and can do again.
If we win the toss and bowl, I will fancy our chances.
What do you think?
I'm not convinced that winning the last two games in this competition by a gazillion runs would see us qualify, but win them we must, if only to make it our best T20 summer in a long time. We would have perhaps made it through to the knock outs, if we'd finished on the right side of too many close finishes, but we are getting there. Slowly but surely.
The great thing is that pretty much any side COULD qualify except Lancashire, whose chances are slightly less than that of Lord Lucan riding into the ground on Shergar tomorrow night...
John Sadler has named the following squad for the game, which largely equates to anyone fit enough to play and will likely result in a largely unchanged side:
Wes Durston
Billy Godleman
Ben Slater
Chesney Hughes
Hamish Rutherford
Wayne Madsen
Neil Broom
Jimmy Neesham
Shiv Thakor
Alex Hughes
Harvey Hosein
Matt Critchley
Tony Palladino
Ben Cotton
Will Davis
I don't see much change from the usual side, except Ben Cotton, or perhaps Tony Palladino for the missing Andy Carter.
The visitors haven't named their side but have some real talent in there. They have missed Mitchell Santner this year after his broken finger but will be a stern test.
And yet we have beaten them twice recently and can do again.
If we win the toss and bowl, I will fancy our chances.
What do you think?
Keeper role crucial to continued county development
The retirement of Tom Poynton has left one very obvious area for Derbyshire to strengthen in the coming winter.
For me, recruiting a wicket-keeper who can bat high in the order is important, as it is no longer a case that high quality glove work alone is enough, In days gone by, the likes of Bob Taylor and Harry Elliott offered exemplary service behind the stumps, but rarely did more than chip in with the bat. The role has changed, along with the game itself.
When Derbyshire won the Sunday League in 1990 (Pro 40 was its name, I think, at the time), part of the success was down to Peter Bowler taking the wicket-keeping gloves, thus allowing the selection of an extra batsman or bowler, depending on conditions. Peter was no wicket-keeper in the finest sense, but did a competent job and it improved the balance of the side.
So will getting the right man now. As I have written previously, I think Harvey Hosein has every chance of being a first-choice wicket-keeper for a long time, but the mental and physical demands of modern first-class cricket mean that any expectation of a 19-year old doing it all season is unrealistic.
Around the current county game, there are, from admittedly very quick research, four wicket-keeper/batsmen of quality whose contracts are up at the summer's end. They are:
Steven Davies - no longer keeping wicket for Surrey, would he like the idea of doing so again and moving back up north? Davies is a fine batsman and kept well up to England level, but his salary will probably be the biggest stumbling block to a move.
Adam Rossington - a very good keeper/batsman from Middlesex, now plying his trade for Northamptonshire. Like Davies, he rarely gets the gloves as Ben Duckett is the preferred option. He could be persuaded, at 23, as there is international potential in a young man who is professional behind the stumps and devastating in front of them. A powerful hitter of the ball, there is much to like.
Phil Mustard - it has already been announced he is leaving Durham as part of a cost-cutting measure, suggesting that he is one of their biggest earners. Whether he is prepared to take a drop to what I assume is a different salary structure is a moot point, but he could be a big signing for Derbyshire, a dynamic batsman and very reliable wicket-keeper. According to the Northern Chronicle, Durham offered him the chance to take up another opportunity now, which would do our RLODC qualification chances no harm, though the player has opted, at this stage, to stay with his home county.
Interestingly, another local newspaper suggests that Yorkshire could pursue him, with Jonny Bairstow seemingly established in the England side. That might open the door for a move for Andy Hodd, who started out at Sussex and has performed very steadily for Yorkshire. Perhaps not as dynamic a batsman as those named above, but probably doesn't need another two years in a second team at the start of his thirties.
There may be others, but they are the obvious ones. For me, Rossington and Mustard would be the first choice and I would be happy if we ended up with either, another piece in a slowly evolving jigsaw.
What do you think?
For me, recruiting a wicket-keeper who can bat high in the order is important, as it is no longer a case that high quality glove work alone is enough, In days gone by, the likes of Bob Taylor and Harry Elliott offered exemplary service behind the stumps, but rarely did more than chip in with the bat. The role has changed, along with the game itself.
When Derbyshire won the Sunday League in 1990 (Pro 40 was its name, I think, at the time), part of the success was down to Peter Bowler taking the wicket-keeping gloves, thus allowing the selection of an extra batsman or bowler, depending on conditions. Peter was no wicket-keeper in the finest sense, but did a competent job and it improved the balance of the side.
So will getting the right man now. As I have written previously, I think Harvey Hosein has every chance of being a first-choice wicket-keeper for a long time, but the mental and physical demands of modern first-class cricket mean that any expectation of a 19-year old doing it all season is unrealistic.
Around the current county game, there are, from admittedly very quick research, four wicket-keeper/batsmen of quality whose contracts are up at the summer's end. They are:
Steven Davies - no longer keeping wicket for Surrey, would he like the idea of doing so again and moving back up north? Davies is a fine batsman and kept well up to England level, but his salary will probably be the biggest stumbling block to a move.
Adam Rossington - a very good keeper/batsman from Middlesex, now plying his trade for Northamptonshire. Like Davies, he rarely gets the gloves as Ben Duckett is the preferred option. He could be persuaded, at 23, as there is international potential in a young man who is professional behind the stumps and devastating in front of them. A powerful hitter of the ball, there is much to like.
Phil Mustard - it has already been announced he is leaving Durham as part of a cost-cutting measure, suggesting that he is one of their biggest earners. Whether he is prepared to take a drop to what I assume is a different salary structure is a moot point, but he could be a big signing for Derbyshire, a dynamic batsman and very reliable wicket-keeper. According to the Northern Chronicle, Durham offered him the chance to take up another opportunity now, which would do our RLODC qualification chances no harm, though the player has opted, at this stage, to stay with his home county.
Interestingly, another local newspaper suggests that Yorkshire could pursue him, with Jonny Bairstow seemingly established in the England side. That might open the door for a move for Andy Hodd, who started out at Sussex and has performed very steadily for Yorkshire. Perhaps not as dynamic a batsman as those named above, but probably doesn't need another two years in a second team at the start of his thirties.
There may be others, but they are the obvious ones. For me, Rossington and Mustard would be the first choice and I would be happy if we ended up with either, another piece in a slowly evolving jigsaw.
What do you think?
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