By any standards, this is a massive match. While Derbyshire failed to acquit themselves well in the corresponding fixture at Chesterfield, it is hard to believe that a competitive young side that has played aggressive championship cricket all summer will roll over at Headingley over the next four days.
There will also be weather interruptions, with Wednesday likely to lose a fair portion of the afternoon/evening sessions. There may well be enough time for a positive result though, as I find it hard to believe that Yorkshire will prepare anything other than a result pitch. Whether that means leaving grass on for the seamers, or shaving it off to aid spin as the match goes on is the question. In previous summers the latter was more likely, but our hosts will be wary of the abilities of Wainwright and Durston if the ball turns. Mind you, for all the fact that they have talented seamers of their own, they will be wary of the talents of Palladino and Groenewald with the new ball, along with whoever gets the nod from Clare, Turner and Footitt alongside them.
The table tells no lies and Derbyshire are top by virtue of having won more matches than anyone. It also tells that this success is down to the ability of the attack to take wickets, as no side has more bowling bonus points. Conversely, no side in the top half has less batting bonus points and the side needs to show a collective responsibility to run-scoring, led of course by the top order.
Indeed, if you combined Yorkshire's batting and our bowling it would be a side of serious talent, yet Yorkshire miss out on two of their best with Bairstow and Root on England duty. It still leaves a decent outfit in the following announced squad of twelve:
Andrew Gale (capt), Adam Lyth, Phil Jaques, Gary Ballance, Anthony
McGrath, Adil Rashid, Andrew Hodd (wk), Azeem Rafiq, Richard Pyrah, Ryan
Sidebottom, Steve Patterson and Moin Ashraf.
Hodd has arrived from Sussex as wicket-keeper till the season end, though the released Gerard Brophy would perhaps have lengthened the batting line-up more than the admittedly talented Hodd. IF we can make early inroads and get the ever-dangerous Ballance in against the new ball, winning the match will become a strong possibility. I'd see their final place between Pyrah, who would lengthen the batting and Ashraf, a talented seamer.
As for Derbyshire, the squad has still to be announced but there are concerns over the fitness of both Jonathan Clare and Richard Johnson. In a match of this importance, it is unlikely that Karl Krikken will take any risks, especially when he has more than adequate alternatives at his disposal. I would see Derbyshire lining up as follows - David Wainwright's sore shoulder notwithstanding:
Wayne Madsen, Matt Lineker, Usman Khawaja, Wes Durston, Dan Redfern, Ross Whiteley, David Wainwright, Tom Poynton, Tony Palladino, Tim Groenewald, Mark Turner
It will be a battle royal, but the weather may well have the final say. Derbyshire will be far from unhappy with a draw and are unlikely to give our northern rivals a sniff of a win if they can help it.
My money lies on points shared on Saturday night, but we need to ensure we are totally focussed and don't underestimate dangerous and worthy opponents.
By the same token we should be confident. Such an attitude has got us top of the pile and in five games time this young team can become club legends, way ahead of any schedule that most fans predicted.
Over to you, now boys...
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Ever so slightly amused and bemused...
Today's star prize in the "Diplomatic web entry" award category goes to the guys behind Derbyshire County Cricket Club's site.
As was written in their report of day one of the Second XI fixture against Essex, writing about Greg Smith:
"Smith departed the County Ground last term, however he has found difficulties in securing a regular middle order berth in a side packed with quality all-rounders. He will have been pleased to show his old employers just what has made him such a success at First-Class level, and he resumes his innings on day two 118 not out."
Well, he did progress to 150 today, but it was in stark contrast to a season in which he has averaged 17 with the bat and 58 with the ball (for six wickets) in their first team.
With such stats he'd have a struggle taking a middle order berth from me at my club. I don't think Ryan ten Doeschate will be losing a lot of sleep right now...
As was written in their report of day one of the Second XI fixture against Essex, writing about Greg Smith:
"Smith departed the County Ground last term, however he has found difficulties in securing a regular middle order berth in a side packed with quality all-rounders. He will have been pleased to show his old employers just what has made him such a success at First-Class level, and he resumes his innings on day two 118 not out."
Well, he did progress to 150 today, but it was in stark contrast to a season in which he has averaged 17 with the bat and 58 with the ball (for six wickets) in their first team.
With such stats he'd have a struggle taking a middle order berth from me at my club. I don't think Ryan ten Doeschate will be losing a lot of sleep right now...
Monday, 13 August 2012
Monday musings
A few years back, Elvis Costello had a decent-sized hit with the old George Jones country music classic "A Good Year for the Roses". That may well have been the case (and ours have been pretty good this summer, despite the rain) but its been a distinctly average one for overseas players.
I have always been firm about overseas players. For a batsman to justify the expense of bringing them over, an average of 45-50 HAS to be achieved. Forty is OK, but a decent county player can make 30-40 and I've never seen the point of bringing over someone who is little better than you already have. We had our share of under-achievers at Derbyshire, with Jon Moss being only average, Shahid Afridi poor and Michael Slater a major disappointment. Similarly, for bowlers wickets should be taken under 25 each, though a little give and take has to be allowed for unfavourable conditions.
Looking at the championship statistics, Martin Guptill is a standout among batsmen, averaging 50 from 600 runs. Chris Rogers has scored 770 runs at Middlesex, albeit at a lower average (40) than usual, Ashwell Prince has 877 runs at 46, while Ramnaresh Sarwan has 845 runs at 42 for Leicestershire. Most overseas batsmen have found this summer a challenge, with Simon Katich (40) Michael Klinger (29) and Alviro Petersen (21) much lower than might have been expected.
Mind you, Moises Henriques average of 5, batting at five in the early season, was a salutory lesson in taking a gamble at Glamorgan, while Jacques Rudolph's surprisingly low 22 was a disappointment at Surrey and highlights the difficulties of early season wickets, making Guptill's statistics all the more laudable.
Having cited the above, I'd have to say that Usman Khawaja owes us runs in our last championship matches, as he's been low on runs thus far on steadily improving tracks. A century against the Unicorns doesn't really count in my book and there have been few innings of note other than against his fellow countrymen. Usman came over to press his claims for the national side and at this stage hasn't done that. I hope he turns it around in the crucial matches to come as he is a popular and good cricketer, but the reality is that it hasn't gone for him so far.
The two standouts on the bowling front this summer have been Jeetan Patel (46 wickets at 22) for Warwickshire, a major factor in their fine season and Steve Magoffin at Sussex. The latter has 300 championship runs at 27 and 46 wickets at 18 and has proved a superb signing, one who may well get a contract for another summer.
Yet there are no guarantees in the game. Last summer Chaminda Vaas was a standout for Northamptonshire, a major factor in their promotion push with 70 wickets at 21 and 400 runs at 27. Yet this summer has been one too many for the 38 year old. I saw him in the early season at Derby, where he moved with the alacrity of an arthritic hippo, bowled gentle dobbers and looked fairly disinterested. Fast forward to August and he has averaged 6 with the bat and has six wickets at 47. "Vaas won't play again this season" said the headline the other day. I don't see him being missed, with those statistics...
Elsewhere, Gerard Brophy of Yorkshire has become the latest senior cricketer to be released. A solid county professional with a good record, he had several more summers in him, but the younger Andrew Bairstow will take the gloves there from now on - always assuming he doesn't become an England regular, of course.
Finally tonight, Leicestershire's dogged tailend resistance saw them prevent Northamptonshire from closely joining the pack chasing Derbyshire in division two. We're 41 points ahead of them and 26 clear of our nearest challengers, Hampshire and Yorkshire, with a game in hand on all of them.
We will never have a better chance of promotion than this summer, with 120 points to play for, while our opponents have only 96. A win at Headingley would go a long way to making this young squad only the fifth in our long history to win a trophy.
Now THAT'S something to shout about...
I have always been firm about overseas players. For a batsman to justify the expense of bringing them over, an average of 45-50 HAS to be achieved. Forty is OK, but a decent county player can make 30-40 and I've never seen the point of bringing over someone who is little better than you already have. We had our share of under-achievers at Derbyshire, with Jon Moss being only average, Shahid Afridi poor and Michael Slater a major disappointment. Similarly, for bowlers wickets should be taken under 25 each, though a little give and take has to be allowed for unfavourable conditions.
Looking at the championship statistics, Martin Guptill is a standout among batsmen, averaging 50 from 600 runs. Chris Rogers has scored 770 runs at Middlesex, albeit at a lower average (40) than usual, Ashwell Prince has 877 runs at 46, while Ramnaresh Sarwan has 845 runs at 42 for Leicestershire. Most overseas batsmen have found this summer a challenge, with Simon Katich (40) Michael Klinger (29) and Alviro Petersen (21) much lower than might have been expected.
Mind you, Moises Henriques average of 5, batting at five in the early season, was a salutory lesson in taking a gamble at Glamorgan, while Jacques Rudolph's surprisingly low 22 was a disappointment at Surrey and highlights the difficulties of early season wickets, making Guptill's statistics all the more laudable.
Having cited the above, I'd have to say that Usman Khawaja owes us runs in our last championship matches, as he's been low on runs thus far on steadily improving tracks. A century against the Unicorns doesn't really count in my book and there have been few innings of note other than against his fellow countrymen. Usman came over to press his claims for the national side and at this stage hasn't done that. I hope he turns it around in the crucial matches to come as he is a popular and good cricketer, but the reality is that it hasn't gone for him so far.
The two standouts on the bowling front this summer have been Jeetan Patel (46 wickets at 22) for Warwickshire, a major factor in their fine season and Steve Magoffin at Sussex. The latter has 300 championship runs at 27 and 46 wickets at 18 and has proved a superb signing, one who may well get a contract for another summer.
Yet there are no guarantees in the game. Last summer Chaminda Vaas was a standout for Northamptonshire, a major factor in their promotion push with 70 wickets at 21 and 400 runs at 27. Yet this summer has been one too many for the 38 year old. I saw him in the early season at Derby, where he moved with the alacrity of an arthritic hippo, bowled gentle dobbers and looked fairly disinterested. Fast forward to August and he has averaged 6 with the bat and has six wickets at 47. "Vaas won't play again this season" said the headline the other day. I don't see him being missed, with those statistics...
Elsewhere, Gerard Brophy of Yorkshire has become the latest senior cricketer to be released. A solid county professional with a good record, he had several more summers in him, but the younger Andrew Bairstow will take the gloves there from now on - always assuming he doesn't become an England regular, of course.
Finally tonight, Leicestershire's dogged tailend resistance saw them prevent Northamptonshire from closely joining the pack chasing Derbyshire in division two. We're 41 points ahead of them and 26 clear of our nearest challengers, Hampshire and Yorkshire, with a game in hand on all of them.
We will never have a better chance of promotion than this summer, with 120 points to play for, while our opponents have only 96. A win at Headingley would go a long way to making this young squad only the fifth in our long history to win a trophy.
Now THAT'S something to shout about...
Sunday, 12 August 2012
Kent v Derbyshire CB40
In the words of that legend of cricket writing, Elvis Presley, lawdy, lawdy. lawdy Miss Clawdy - we made a pig's ear of today.
Youngster Peter Burgoyne had a fine all-round match and can hold his head high, while Alex Hughes also bowled a tidy spell to confirm the good impression that he has made, but the rest...oh dear. One to forget - and quickly. While the skipper battled hard for nearly an hour, there was little support until Burgoyne's late cameo.
Full marks to Sam Billings, a batsman of genuine potential, for a remarkable century on a pitch where no one else really got going, but Derbyshire's batting again failed in a display as far removed from that against Sussex as is possible.
More tomorrow in Monday musings
Youngster Peter Burgoyne had a fine all-round match and can hold his head high, while Alex Hughes also bowled a tidy spell to confirm the good impression that he has made, but the rest...oh dear. One to forget - and quickly. While the skipper battled hard for nearly an hour, there was little support until Burgoyne's late cameo.
Full marks to Sam Billings, a batsman of genuine potential, for a remarkable century on a pitch where no one else really got going, but Derbyshire's batting again failed in a display as far removed from that against Sussex as is possible.
More tomorrow in Monday musings
Kent v Derbyshire CB40
I don't feel there's a lot of importance attached to this game today, as Derbyshire would need a strange combination of circumstances in which to qualify from the group, despite sitting in a more healthy third place.
Yet a win would be useful to keep momentum going and to keep Kent's heads down after a couple of poor results. It's a different competition, of course, but if we can help to mentally dissipate the championship aspirations of one of our rivals then it is no bad thing.
I would expect to see much the same side that played so well against Sussex at Derby, namely
Hughes, Khawaja, Durston, Madsen, Redfern, Whiteley, Hughes, Johnson, Wainwright, Groenewald, Turner.
More later
Yet a win would be useful to keep momentum going and to keep Kent's heads down after a couple of poor results. It's a different competition, of course, but if we can help to mentally dissipate the championship aspirations of one of our rivals then it is no bad thing.
I would expect to see much the same side that played so well against Sussex at Derby, namely
Hughes, Khawaja, Durston, Madsen, Redfern, Whiteley, Hughes, Johnson, Wainwright, Groenewald, Turner.
More later
Saturday, 11 August 2012
Selection oddities
Team selection is a funny thing, dependent on the level of the game.
At decent club level, there are selection meetings to discuss the relative merits of players and assess their form from the previous weekend (and in the nets) ahead of the weekend to come. Getting a blend of youth and experience can be important, as can making sure you have enough people who are happy to drive to that away fixture, which will take an hour or more to get to. So too can Bill's ability to stand his ground against the opposition's quick bowler from the sub-continent.
At the village level that I now play, other factors come into play. You have to pick Fred, as he prepares the ground, Charlie because he's fixtures secretary and Dave - well, you pick Dave because his wife always sends him away with the best array of comestibles in the club, bar none. Then you pick enough decent players to give you the chance of a competitive game and pray that none of them call in on the day of the game to say that their tortoise has died and a burial at sea is the only proper way to give the little critter a send-off...
All of which is a precursor to the top level of the game, where you assume that even-handedness would be de rigeur. But in some cases, it isn't.
Here in Scotland, for years there was a known east/west divide. The selectors of the national team were primarily based in Edinburgh and therefore saw more of cricket in the capital than elsewhere. Lo and behold, at team selections there were usually far more players from that neck of the woods, stretching parochial tendencies to the limit. Far too many good cricketers in and around Glasgow didn't get a national call, because they were rarely seen.
In the era before the First World War, England team selections often saw a local favourite brought in to boost the crowd. In between the wars, sides were increasingly selected by committees who were primarily based down south, so northern players were often perceived to require to be twice as good as their southern counterparts to gain selection. This attitude, of course, persisted into the 1950's, which is why Les Jackson was only selected twice for England, in 1947 and 1961, despite being widely regarded by players as the best seam bowler in the country. There were denials of bias, of course, but the feeling remains that Jackson was treated appallingly by the cricketing establishment. These were, presumably, the descendants of those who reputedly declined to pick the fine turn of the century Nottinghamshire bowler "Topsy" Wass for national duty on account of his appalling table manners...
Fast forward to the present day and thankfully such parochialism, snobbery and bias is a thing of the past, but selection curios still abound. Steve Kirby was still gaining selection for England Lions when past his 30th birthday, while James Tredwell emulated him last week by playing against Australia A when six months short of his 31st. What more do we hope to learn of them, or of Samit Patel? It seems strange, to me at least, that when we are incentivising counties to play under 23s and under 26s that we aren't looking at more of these age groups in such matches, instead bringing in Nick Compton, albeit in the form of his life, at 29. One could, of course, argue that a thousand runs at Taunton was worth 650 elsewhere, but that might be deemed churlish...
Which brings me neatly to my last selection curiosity and its time to take a bow for those at the helm of England Under-19s. Logic suggests that when you are playing in a World Cup you select your strongest side, unless having already qualified and needing to rest players. That being the case, logic suggested that Tom Knight of Derbyshire would be in the side for the first match. Sure, he'd had some long handle from Pakistan in one warm up match, but that sort of things happens to any bowler from time to time. That Knight followed it with collective figures of 4-7 in the two ensuing matches suggested that normal service had been resumed. The sort of service that saw him as a standout in the side's pre-tour matches against county Second XIs and a bowler who has shown that he can dismiss very good batsmen for Derbyshire's senior team.
But no. The selectors decided that Knight was surplus to requirements for a game in which the Australian off spinner took three wickets and England were beaten with a piffling 89 balls remaining. As one of the more experienced members of the side, Knight should have been one of the first names on the team sheet, especially when his all-round efforts had got them out of a jam in a previous match.
I'm not going to suggest that the southern-based selection committee omitted the lad "because he is from Derbyshire", though it would be tempting and easy to do so. What I am going to say is that as a selection it is odd that preference was given to a lad with no first-class experience and a far inferior track record, albeit from a county with who the head coach has a thirty-year association...
Sorry, did I say odd?
I meant stupid.
At decent club level, there are selection meetings to discuss the relative merits of players and assess their form from the previous weekend (and in the nets) ahead of the weekend to come. Getting a blend of youth and experience can be important, as can making sure you have enough people who are happy to drive to that away fixture, which will take an hour or more to get to. So too can Bill's ability to stand his ground against the opposition's quick bowler from the sub-continent.
At the village level that I now play, other factors come into play. You have to pick Fred, as he prepares the ground, Charlie because he's fixtures secretary and Dave - well, you pick Dave because his wife always sends him away with the best array of comestibles in the club, bar none. Then you pick enough decent players to give you the chance of a competitive game and pray that none of them call in on the day of the game to say that their tortoise has died and a burial at sea is the only proper way to give the little critter a send-off...
All of which is a precursor to the top level of the game, where you assume that even-handedness would be de rigeur. But in some cases, it isn't.
Here in Scotland, for years there was a known east/west divide. The selectors of the national team were primarily based in Edinburgh and therefore saw more of cricket in the capital than elsewhere. Lo and behold, at team selections there were usually far more players from that neck of the woods, stretching parochial tendencies to the limit. Far too many good cricketers in and around Glasgow didn't get a national call, because they were rarely seen.
In the era before the First World War, England team selections often saw a local favourite brought in to boost the crowd. In between the wars, sides were increasingly selected by committees who were primarily based down south, so northern players were often perceived to require to be twice as good as their southern counterparts to gain selection. This attitude, of course, persisted into the 1950's, which is why Les Jackson was only selected twice for England, in 1947 and 1961, despite being widely regarded by players as the best seam bowler in the country. There were denials of bias, of course, but the feeling remains that Jackson was treated appallingly by the cricketing establishment. These were, presumably, the descendants of those who reputedly declined to pick the fine turn of the century Nottinghamshire bowler "Topsy" Wass for national duty on account of his appalling table manners...
Fast forward to the present day and thankfully such parochialism, snobbery and bias is a thing of the past, but selection curios still abound. Steve Kirby was still gaining selection for England Lions when past his 30th birthday, while James Tredwell emulated him last week by playing against Australia A when six months short of his 31st. What more do we hope to learn of them, or of Samit Patel? It seems strange, to me at least, that when we are incentivising counties to play under 23s and under 26s that we aren't looking at more of these age groups in such matches, instead bringing in Nick Compton, albeit in the form of his life, at 29. One could, of course, argue that a thousand runs at Taunton was worth 650 elsewhere, but that might be deemed churlish...
Which brings me neatly to my last selection curiosity and its time to take a bow for those at the helm of England Under-19s. Logic suggests that when you are playing in a World Cup you select your strongest side, unless having already qualified and needing to rest players. That being the case, logic suggested that Tom Knight of Derbyshire would be in the side for the first match. Sure, he'd had some long handle from Pakistan in one warm up match, but that sort of things happens to any bowler from time to time. That Knight followed it with collective figures of 4-7 in the two ensuing matches suggested that normal service had been resumed. The sort of service that saw him as a standout in the side's pre-tour matches against county Second XIs and a bowler who has shown that he can dismiss very good batsmen for Derbyshire's senior team.
But no. The selectors decided that Knight was surplus to requirements for a game in which the Australian off spinner took three wickets and England were beaten with a piffling 89 balls remaining. As one of the more experienced members of the side, Knight should have been one of the first names on the team sheet, especially when his all-round efforts had got them out of a jam in a previous match.
I'm not going to suggest that the southern-based selection committee omitted the lad "because he is from Derbyshire", though it would be tempting and easy to do so. What I am going to say is that as a selection it is odd that preference was given to a lad with no first-class experience and a far inferior track record, albeit from a county with who the head coach has a thirty-year association...
Sorry, did I say odd?
I meant stupid.
Derbyshire v South Africa day 2
In the end, as it was always likely to be, the game ended in a draw, but a young Derbyshire side were far from disgraced.
Indeed, two telling performances came today from players who have had their struggles this season, but may yet have a major contribution to make to the campaign.
Ross Whiteley hadn't hit a fifty since the opening game, but doing so today from a good South African attack, will do him the world of good after his return from injury. He appeared to be hitting the ball well and, with a potential ten innings left this summer in the four-day game, that can only be good news.
As for Mark Footitt, he showed - albeit against the Saffer tail - that he is a quick and awkward bowler. Very few lower order batsmen like quick bowling and when it is coming from the left hander's angle it is especially difficult to face when the line is right. On the quicker, end of season pitches, I have a feeling that a major contribution from Footitt isn't far away. Following on from a five wicket haul against Scotland A, Footitt's return to form and fitness is exactly at the right time for Karl Krikken, who has a full hand of seamers to choose from ahead of the visit next week to Headingley.
As things stand, I might be inclined to go for either Mark Turner or Mark Footitt ahead of Jonathan Clare at this stage. Their extra pace may be handy, as Turner showed at Chesterfield when he ripped the Yorkshire middle/lower order apart. With Ross Whiteley able to bowl a few overs too (how big a confidence boost is bowling Amla?) there are plenty of options for Krikk ahead of the big one.
Indeed, two telling performances came today from players who have had their struggles this season, but may yet have a major contribution to make to the campaign.
Ross Whiteley hadn't hit a fifty since the opening game, but doing so today from a good South African attack, will do him the world of good after his return from injury. He appeared to be hitting the ball well and, with a potential ten innings left this summer in the four-day game, that can only be good news.
As for Mark Footitt, he showed - albeit against the Saffer tail - that he is a quick and awkward bowler. Very few lower order batsmen like quick bowling and when it is coming from the left hander's angle it is especially difficult to face when the line is right. On the quicker, end of season pitches, I have a feeling that a major contribution from Footitt isn't far away. Following on from a five wicket haul against Scotland A, Footitt's return to form and fitness is exactly at the right time for Karl Krikken, who has a full hand of seamers to choose from ahead of the visit next week to Headingley.
As things stand, I might be inclined to go for either Mark Turner or Mark Footitt ahead of Jonathan Clare at this stage. Their extra pace may be handy, as Turner showed at Chesterfield when he ripped the Yorkshire middle/lower order apart. With Ross Whiteley able to bowl a few overs too (how big a confidence boost is bowling Amla?) there are plenty of options for Krikk ahead of the big one.
If...
I've never been one for counting chickens before they are hatched, to use the old and time-honoured phrase, but there will be more than a few Derbyshire fans out there right now wondering if this is really to be our year.
As always, I will be perfectly honest and say that for us not to go up this summer, as champions, would now be a major disappointment. We control our own destiny, it is as simple as that. Twenty-six points clear and a game in hand on all of our rivals is a position that most sides would love and the truth is that such a position is deserved and the result of some high quality performances.
Winning is a nice habit to have and I got the impression, watching Derbyshire's body language against previously unbeaten Sussex in the week, that they believe in themselves. They have proved their ability against weaker and stronger sides in the division and need only to retain that belief and keep doing the right things over the next twenty days of championship cricket and we will be crossing that finishing line in first place.
Next week's game at Headingley is massive for me. A win there and even the sceptics will be convinced. A draw would do us nicely. Defeat? No, let's not think about that at this stage...
Should Derbyshire go up to the top division, of course, there would be a sea change in public opinion. Fans would be ecstatic, a few cynics would shut up (temporarily, at least) and the astonishing work that has gone on at the club would come to wider notice.
Yet the work would really start there. What we do not want at Derbyshire is a replication of Derby County when they went into the Premiership, becoming the laughing stock of the country. I don't think that would happen, because we have some very good players who can pit their talents against supposed betters, as we showed against Sussex. We will need an injection of new blood though, people who can provide us with a genuine top-class squad, as opposed to a good first eleven with seven players in reserve.
How we go about that from a financial perspective is a matter I will leave to Messrs Grant and Storey, better qualified than I (or anyone else reading this, I'd wager) to work out what we can afford, but the reality is that Derbyshire need new personnel in key areas to make a serious impact on the top division.
First, for all the talent in our seam attack, I think we need another proven performer, a wicket-taking bowler who can ideally contribute with the bat. Groenewald and Palladino are the real deal, quality performers who will either take wickets or keep it quiet, but can we expect them to stay fit, season after season though? Jon Clare is capable of good spells too, though his bowling seems less penetrative of late and his batting hasn't really progressed. Mark Turner has and while still prone to erratic spells, is a much better bowler than the one that arrived at the county, while Mark Footitt is seriously quick but still with question marks over his ability to stay fit over the season. For me, another, proven performer would be required for us to make a sustained impact, a player who has shown that he can take regular wickets at county level to put pressure on the regulars and ideally become just that himself.
The spin bowling is in good hands with David Wainwright, and Tom Knight will come increasingly into the mix. Wes Durston is a useful backup, as is Chesney Hughes, though I'd sooner the latter rediscover his batting mojo than become a bit-part player. Peter Burgoyne may also come through and I have few qualms about that facet of our game.
Another wicket-keeper would be an asset too, as competition for places is a factor in success. Tom Poynton has had a pretty good first season, but we need a second man of confirmed county standard to keep him on his toes. I am a big fan of Richard Johnson, who has done little wrong in his stint at the County Ground, but time will tell if we are able to move for the player on a permanent basis.
Which brings us to the batting. I think we need a couple of players, one of who will be our overseas, and I would personally like to see Wayne Madsen open again next summer. I think he is the best opener on the staff and as such should, captaincy pressures notwithstanding, be opening the batting. With Durston, Redfern and Whiteley in the middle order, along with Hughes, we have a solid look, but an established first wicket down player and an opener, alongside Madsen, would for me head the winter shopping list.
I covered this in detail back at the start of June and haven't changed my mind since then. Next summer will prove extraordinarily difficult for the recruitment of overseas stars and, with only Zimbabwe clear of overseas tours to the four corners of the earth (aside from the ICC Trophy) Brendan Taylor is a standout cricketer. A dynamic batsman, fine fielder, useful spinner and solid wicket-keeper, as well as his country's skipper, he is exactly the sort of player that a county should be looking at. Taylor can either open or go in at three, something that holds considerable appeal, and his dynamic batting would be an asset in all forms of the game.
A county that aims to make a mark next summer, like Derbyshire, has to get in early for a top overseas player, rather than rooting around for scraps once the ICC Trophy squads have been announced. Throw in another overseas batsman for the T20 - the bowlers aren't the problem - and we would be in good shape for 2013. With two good T20 batsmen we could make an impact in that form of the game. The reality is that this summer we effectively played without one.
Time for a few car boot sales to raise the cash, methinks...
As always, I will be perfectly honest and say that for us not to go up this summer, as champions, would now be a major disappointment. We control our own destiny, it is as simple as that. Twenty-six points clear and a game in hand on all of our rivals is a position that most sides would love and the truth is that such a position is deserved and the result of some high quality performances.
Winning is a nice habit to have and I got the impression, watching Derbyshire's body language against previously unbeaten Sussex in the week, that they believe in themselves. They have proved their ability against weaker and stronger sides in the division and need only to retain that belief and keep doing the right things over the next twenty days of championship cricket and we will be crossing that finishing line in first place.
Next week's game at Headingley is massive for me. A win there and even the sceptics will be convinced. A draw would do us nicely. Defeat? No, let's not think about that at this stage...
Should Derbyshire go up to the top division, of course, there would be a sea change in public opinion. Fans would be ecstatic, a few cynics would shut up (temporarily, at least) and the astonishing work that has gone on at the club would come to wider notice.
Yet the work would really start there. What we do not want at Derbyshire is a replication of Derby County when they went into the Premiership, becoming the laughing stock of the country. I don't think that would happen, because we have some very good players who can pit their talents against supposed betters, as we showed against Sussex. We will need an injection of new blood though, people who can provide us with a genuine top-class squad, as opposed to a good first eleven with seven players in reserve.
How we go about that from a financial perspective is a matter I will leave to Messrs Grant and Storey, better qualified than I (or anyone else reading this, I'd wager) to work out what we can afford, but the reality is that Derbyshire need new personnel in key areas to make a serious impact on the top division.
First, for all the talent in our seam attack, I think we need another proven performer, a wicket-taking bowler who can ideally contribute with the bat. Groenewald and Palladino are the real deal, quality performers who will either take wickets or keep it quiet, but can we expect them to stay fit, season after season though? Jon Clare is capable of good spells too, though his bowling seems less penetrative of late and his batting hasn't really progressed. Mark Turner has and while still prone to erratic spells, is a much better bowler than the one that arrived at the county, while Mark Footitt is seriously quick but still with question marks over his ability to stay fit over the season. For me, another, proven performer would be required for us to make a sustained impact, a player who has shown that he can take regular wickets at county level to put pressure on the regulars and ideally become just that himself.
The spin bowling is in good hands with David Wainwright, and Tom Knight will come increasingly into the mix. Wes Durston is a useful backup, as is Chesney Hughes, though I'd sooner the latter rediscover his batting mojo than become a bit-part player. Peter Burgoyne may also come through and I have few qualms about that facet of our game.
Another wicket-keeper would be an asset too, as competition for places is a factor in success. Tom Poynton has had a pretty good first season, but we need a second man of confirmed county standard to keep him on his toes. I am a big fan of Richard Johnson, who has done little wrong in his stint at the County Ground, but time will tell if we are able to move for the player on a permanent basis.
Which brings us to the batting. I think we need a couple of players, one of who will be our overseas, and I would personally like to see Wayne Madsen open again next summer. I think he is the best opener on the staff and as such should, captaincy pressures notwithstanding, be opening the batting. With Durston, Redfern and Whiteley in the middle order, along with Hughes, we have a solid look, but an established first wicket down player and an opener, alongside Madsen, would for me head the winter shopping list.
I covered this in detail back at the start of June and haven't changed my mind since then. Next summer will prove extraordinarily difficult for the recruitment of overseas stars and, with only Zimbabwe clear of overseas tours to the four corners of the earth (aside from the ICC Trophy) Brendan Taylor is a standout cricketer. A dynamic batsman, fine fielder, useful spinner and solid wicket-keeper, as well as his country's skipper, he is exactly the sort of player that a county should be looking at. Taylor can either open or go in at three, something that holds considerable appeal, and his dynamic batting would be an asset in all forms of the game.
A county that aims to make a mark next summer, like Derbyshire, has to get in early for a top overseas player, rather than rooting around for scraps once the ICC Trophy squads have been announced. Throw in another overseas batsman for the T20 - the bowlers aren't the problem - and we would be in good shape for 2013. With two good T20 batsmen we could make an impact in that form of the game. The reality is that this summer we effectively played without one.
Time for a few car boot sales to raise the cash, methinks...
Derbyshire v South Africa day 1
As I wrote last night, a good work out for both sides, with South Africa not unduly worried by Derbyshire's secnd string attack and Derbyshire replying well through Wayne Madsen and Usman Khawaja. Both have a lot to prove in this game and we can expect more of the same tomorrow, assuming batting conditions remain favourable.
The best news of the day came from Essex's game against Kent, where the latter went down to a second successive defeat. Derbyshire are now 26 points clear of the three nearest chasing counties with a match in hand, a wonderful position to be in as we approach the business end of the season.
I fully expect Yorkshire to prepare a result pitch at Headingley, as they cannot afford to not win the game. A draw would suit us just fine, but a win would, for me, come close to sealing a promotion place if not, at that stage, the title.
Yorkshire will be missing Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow (both playing form England Lions v Australia A in the second unofficial Test) and Derbyshire need have no fears going into this massive match - which I will preview in due course.
For now - sleep well. Sorry about the late blog tonight, but we drove back late from Blackpool this evening so it's time for bed chez Peakfan right now.
Until the next time - tomorrow!
The best news of the day came from Essex's game against Kent, where the latter went down to a second successive defeat. Derbyshire are now 26 points clear of the three nearest chasing counties with a match in hand, a wonderful position to be in as we approach the business end of the season.
I fully expect Yorkshire to prepare a result pitch at Headingley, as they cannot afford to not win the game. A draw would suit us just fine, but a win would, for me, come close to sealing a promotion place if not, at that stage, the title.
Yorkshire will be missing Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow (both playing form England Lions v Australia A in the second unofficial Test) and Derbyshire need have no fears going into this massive match - which I will preview in due course.
For now - sleep well. Sorry about the late blog tonight, but we drove back late from Blackpool this evening so it's time for bed chez Peakfan right now.
Until the next time - tomorrow!
Thursday, 9 August 2012
Derbyshire v South Africa preview
A proud day for Wayne Madsen tomorrow, as he captains a Derbyshire side against his fellow countrymen for the first time.
The first choice Derbyshire batting will play, while the attack will be led by Mark Footitt, Ally Evans and Alex Hughes. With Robin Peterson returning to Derbyshire for the first time, there will be plenty to enjoy in a two-day match that will be a good run out for both sides. The result, however, is largely irrelevant.
Elsewhere in cricket, Hampshire could only draw against Gloucestershire, while Kent are in grave danger of going down to Essex. This could see us in the very strong position of 26 points clear WITH A GAME IN HAND...
Sleep well on that my friends. I'm in Blackpool right now, so its off with the "Kiss Me Quick" hat and goodnight from me...
The first choice Derbyshire batting will play, while the attack will be led by Mark Footitt, Ally Evans and Alex Hughes. With Robin Peterson returning to Derbyshire for the first time, there will be plenty to enjoy in a two-day match that will be a good run out for both sides. The result, however, is largely irrelevant.
Elsewhere in cricket, Hampshire could only draw against Gloucestershire, while Kent are in grave danger of going down to Essex. This could see us in the very strong position of 26 points clear WITH A GAME IN HAND...
Sleep well on that my friends. I'm in Blackpool right now, so its off with the "Kiss Me Quick" hat and goodnight from me...
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Derbyshire v Sussex
"Are you sure they're not a good one-day side Dad? They look pretty good to me."
Thus spoke Peakfan junior at the County Ground this evening, as he watched, seriously impressed, as Derbyshire easily beat the previously undefeated Sussex in a 40-over game.
You will have seen it on Sky, no doubt (and so avoided the sunburn I got...) and hopefully were as impressed as we were by a brilliant Derbyshire fielding display in which Ross Whiteley and Wes Durston were excellent. So too, apart from one early fumble, was wicket-keeper Richard Johnson, who showed a good pair of hands and an alert mind, especially with the unusual but brilliant stumping of Machan. Durston again showed his value with the ball, while David Wainwright showed why his new four-year contract represents another highly encouraging move by the county with a lovely spell of slow left arm. The lad is a class act and for me there are few better spinners in the country. James Tredwell, for some reason currently playing for England Lions, isn't in the same league, quite frankly.
Usman Khawaja was also in good fielding form on the boundary with some agile work and it was such a shame when he was needlessly run out from the first ball of Derbyshire's reply. Chesney Hughes played a couple of firm strokes without suggesting permanence against the hostile pace of Amjad Khan and the game was in the balance when Wayne Madsen joined Wes Durston. The latter played beautifully once more before being strangled down the leg side, having looked in little trouble, but his dismissal brought in the sumptuously talented Dan Redfern, like Wainwright justifiably awarded his county cap today.
Redfern was in great touch and hits the ball so cleanly that Derbyshire were always up with the asking rate. Meanwhile, Wayne Madsen at the other end played a captain's innings, watchful at first but then opening out with some delightful strokes. Redfern went for 49 just before the end, but Derbyshire were clear and worthy winners in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd.
The positive atmosphere around the club was almost tangible tonight, with the team buzzing after the championship win against Kent. Mark Turner and Tim Groenewald both bowled well with the new ball, Turner being especially quick while Groenewald did what he always does - bowling accurately and with decent pace. They are fine bowlers and I was also impressed by young Alex Hughes, who is a busy bowler, nipping it around off the seam and causing problems for all the batsmen. For me, he is one to watch and I wouldn't be surprised to see him progress from a summer contract to a full time deal next year. After his batting at Chesterfield, Hughes looks a cricketer with a future.
It was, in short, a fine team performance and the only pity is that we didn't produce such excellent all-round cricket earlier in the one-day campaign. When you're good enough to beat - with ease - a top of the table, unbeaten side like Sussex, fans have a right to wonder "if only".
This team can, on the basis of tonight's performance, play one-day cricket. Next summer we need to show that we can do so on a regular basis, especially in front of TV cameras.
Next, the South Africans. Then back to the championship and Yorkshire at Headingley. The climax to the season is bubbling up nicely...
Thus spoke Peakfan junior at the County Ground this evening, as he watched, seriously impressed, as Derbyshire easily beat the previously undefeated Sussex in a 40-over game.
You will have seen it on Sky, no doubt (and so avoided the sunburn I got...) and hopefully were as impressed as we were by a brilliant Derbyshire fielding display in which Ross Whiteley and Wes Durston were excellent. So too, apart from one early fumble, was wicket-keeper Richard Johnson, who showed a good pair of hands and an alert mind, especially with the unusual but brilliant stumping of Machan. Durston again showed his value with the ball, while David Wainwright showed why his new four-year contract represents another highly encouraging move by the county with a lovely spell of slow left arm. The lad is a class act and for me there are few better spinners in the country. James Tredwell, for some reason currently playing for England Lions, isn't in the same league, quite frankly.
Usman Khawaja was also in good fielding form on the boundary with some agile work and it was such a shame when he was needlessly run out from the first ball of Derbyshire's reply. Chesney Hughes played a couple of firm strokes without suggesting permanence against the hostile pace of Amjad Khan and the game was in the balance when Wayne Madsen joined Wes Durston. The latter played beautifully once more before being strangled down the leg side, having looked in little trouble, but his dismissal brought in the sumptuously talented Dan Redfern, like Wainwright justifiably awarded his county cap today.
Redfern was in great touch and hits the ball so cleanly that Derbyshire were always up with the asking rate. Meanwhile, Wayne Madsen at the other end played a captain's innings, watchful at first but then opening out with some delightful strokes. Redfern went for 49 just before the end, but Derbyshire were clear and worthy winners in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd.
The positive atmosphere around the club was almost tangible tonight, with the team buzzing after the championship win against Kent. Mark Turner and Tim Groenewald both bowled well with the new ball, Turner being especially quick while Groenewald did what he always does - bowling accurately and with decent pace. They are fine bowlers and I was also impressed by young Alex Hughes, who is a busy bowler, nipping it around off the seam and causing problems for all the batsmen. For me, he is one to watch and I wouldn't be surprised to see him progress from a summer contract to a full time deal next year. After his batting at Chesterfield, Hughes looks a cricketer with a future.
It was, in short, a fine team performance and the only pity is that we didn't produce such excellent all-round cricket earlier in the one-day campaign. When you're good enough to beat - with ease - a top of the table, unbeaten side like Sussex, fans have a right to wonder "if only".
This team can, on the basis of tonight's performance, play one-day cricket. Next summer we need to show that we can do so on a regular basis, especially in front of TV cameras.
Next, the South Africans. Then back to the championship and Yorkshire at Headingley. The climax to the season is bubbling up nicely...
Funny game, cricket
As clear an illustration of the "charm" of cricket comes from Australia, where Tom Knight is plying his trade and twirling his spin for England Under-19s.
One day after registering figures of 5-0-56-0 against Pakistan (albeit mainly down to getting serious stick in the last over) Knight was back in all-round form last night.
With his side in trouble at 104-7 at one point, Knight's 26 at number ten helped them to 220 all out, before he enjoyed a brief bowl and figures of 1.2-0-1-2 as Bangladesh crumbled to 89 all out.
As Jimmy Greaves once said about football, it's a funny old game...
One day after registering figures of 5-0-56-0 against Pakistan (albeit mainly down to getting serious stick in the last over) Knight was back in all-round form last night.
With his side in trouble at 104-7 at one point, Knight's 26 at number ten helped them to 220 all out, before he enjoyed a brief bowl and figures of 1.2-0-1-2 as Bangladesh crumbled to 89 all out.
As Jimmy Greaves once said about football, it's a funny old game...
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
Derbyshire v Sussex CB40 preview
Have to say that old Peakfan is looking forward to a trip to the County Ground tomorrow night to see this one, not least because my son is coming along for his first taste of county cricket action in some time (and quite likely his first taste of Theakston's in the bar...)
I would love to see Derbyshire produce a good display against the table-toppers, but I will reserve judgement on that one. We need to make a good fist of batting, as our bowling is largely taking care of itself. Few teams have really collared us this summer, but the concern is usually whether the batting will implode in chasing a target.
Derbyshire have announced the following squad for the game:
Chesney Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Wes Durston, Wayne Madsen (Captain), Dan Redfern, Ross Whiteley, Richard Johnson (Wicketkeeper), Alex Hughes, Jonathan Clare, David Wainwright, Tony Palladino, Tim Groenewald and Mark Turner.
My guess would be that Jonathan Clare and Tony Palladino may miss out, the latter to give him a breather after his heroics against Kent and in the light of his non-appearance in one-day matches this summer. That leaves a long batting order, good bowling options and enough talent to give the unbeaten league leaders a game. I think we would have beaten them earlier in the summer had the weather not intervened, so the game need not be a foregone conclusion, especially with Derbyshire buoyant after the stunning championship win.
I'll hopefully see you down there!
I would love to see Derbyshire produce a good display against the table-toppers, but I will reserve judgement on that one. We need to make a good fist of batting, as our bowling is largely taking care of itself. Few teams have really collared us this summer, but the concern is usually whether the batting will implode in chasing a target.
Derbyshire have announced the following squad for the game:
Chesney Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Wes Durston, Wayne Madsen (Captain), Dan Redfern, Ross Whiteley, Richard Johnson (Wicketkeeper), Alex Hughes, Jonathan Clare, David Wainwright, Tony Palladino, Tim Groenewald and Mark Turner.
My guess would be that Jonathan Clare and Tony Palladino may miss out, the latter to give him a breather after his heroics against Kent and in the light of his non-appearance in one-day matches this summer. That leaves a long batting order, good bowling options and enough talent to give the unbeaten league leaders a game. I think we would have beaten them earlier in the summer had the weather not intervened, so the game need not be a foregone conclusion, especially with Derbyshire buoyant after the stunning championship win.
I'll hopefully see you down there!
Monday, 6 August 2012
Fingers crossed for young tyro
Fingers crossed for the immensely talented young Derbyshire spinner Tom Knight, who plays his first practice game prior to the Under-19 World Cup for England against Pakistan tonight.
Knight's fitness regime for the competition saw him lose a stone and a half in weight and improve his game in every aspect. He fully deserves success for his country and will, I am sure, translate that into county wickets in due course.
I wish him every success and hope that he and his colleagues have a great tournament.
Knight's fitness regime for the competition saw him lose a stone and a half in weight and improve his game in every aspect. He fully deserves success for his country and will, I am sure, translate that into county wickets in due course.
I wish him every success and hope that he and his colleagues have a great tournament.
Monday musings - set for silverware?
Top of the table, five games to go, 26 points clear. Oh to be in Derbyshire, now that summer's here...
One look at the championship table tells its own story. In a summer that has been severely truncated and affected by rain, Derbyshire have still managed to win five of their eleven games. Only Hampshire, with three wins, have managed more than two.
There will be some counties will say that they have been more affected by the weather than Derbyshire. Not having seen the the respective figures I cannot comment, but what we have done is to produce results - good, solid cricket results - when the weather has allowed it.
The win at Essex was, until yesterday, the standout, but by any standards that was an extraordinary win against Kent. Even I couldn't see a win back at the end of day two. How could there be, when our opponents were over 200 ahead with seven wickets in hand? The wicket had already shown itself as offering something for seam bowlers and there seemed no way that a Derbyshire side that had shown a few batting frailties of late could score nearly 300 - the highest score of the match - to win.
Yet they did. They did so because everyone battled when they got out there and was prepared to do so in pursuit of the target they have chased since the end of March - promotion to division one. Time and again the team spirit at Derbyshire has shown itself as a twelfth man of some substance. The positive vibe around the club emanates from recent players such as Martin Guptill and Steffan Jones, both following the game's conclusion from the different locales of Jamaica and Somerset respectively. It also comes from the chairman, whose passion for the club is obvious in everything he says and does..
The strength of this side is in its seam bowling and in that respect it is a typically Derbyshire side. Tim Groenewald (32 wickets at 17 each) Jonathan Clare (29 at 20) and Tony Palladino (41at 22) have proved a handful for batsmen in this division and I will back them even now to enjoy success in the top flight. All have proved resourceful, accurate and penetrative, but their contribution to the side doesn't end there.
All average between 20 and 22 with the bat, priceless contributions to a batting line-up with talent, yet guilty of misfiring at times this summer. All contributed valuable runs to the cause yesterday, as they have done through the season, as has the other key member of the attack, David Wainwright. When numbers seven to ten in the order can add around 80 to an innings, over and above their stronger suit, it is indicative of a side, not just of some talent, but also considerable commitment.
Nor should the efforts of Mark Foottitt and Mark Turner be discounted. The former bowled with real pace early season before being stymied once again by injury. The latter bowls with greater rhythm this summer and when he gets it right is seriously quick. They have played their part in ending the old Derbyshire issue of concluding the opposition innings.
It is also appropriate to mention the captaincy of Wayne Madsen at this stage. While he had captained a side before in his native South Africa, Madsen's first summer as Derbyshire skipper has been solid. There have been mistakes, but name me a captain (especially an inexperienced one) who hasn't done that. Madsen's greatest achievement has been in welding together a team that at one point last summer seemed in danger of fragmenting into a single, cohesive whole, a team that works and celebrates success together.
I said at the start of the summer that I expected a promotion challenge in the championship, but the efforts of this side, which has only lost one game in the format this season, has been exceptional. While it should not be forgotten that several of the players were brought to the club by John Morris, Karl Krikken has worked with a new captain to create a young squad that Derbyshire fans can be genuinely proud of, one without any of the divisive elements that were so much a feature of too many of our sides of relatively recent vintage.
They can be proud of their efforts so far and just need to retain focus to finish it off. The side is a work in progress - but that last word is the key one.
There is genuine progress at the County Ground. Long may it continue.
One look at the championship table tells its own story. In a summer that has been severely truncated and affected by rain, Derbyshire have still managed to win five of their eleven games. Only Hampshire, with three wins, have managed more than two.
There will be some counties will say that they have been more affected by the weather than Derbyshire. Not having seen the the respective figures I cannot comment, but what we have done is to produce results - good, solid cricket results - when the weather has allowed it.
The win at Essex was, until yesterday, the standout, but by any standards that was an extraordinary win against Kent. Even I couldn't see a win back at the end of day two. How could there be, when our opponents were over 200 ahead with seven wickets in hand? The wicket had already shown itself as offering something for seam bowlers and there seemed no way that a Derbyshire side that had shown a few batting frailties of late could score nearly 300 - the highest score of the match - to win.
Yet they did. They did so because everyone battled when they got out there and was prepared to do so in pursuit of the target they have chased since the end of March - promotion to division one. Time and again the team spirit at Derbyshire has shown itself as a twelfth man of some substance. The positive vibe around the club emanates from recent players such as Martin Guptill and Steffan Jones, both following the game's conclusion from the different locales of Jamaica and Somerset respectively. It also comes from the chairman, whose passion for the club is obvious in everything he says and does..
The strength of this side is in its seam bowling and in that respect it is a typically Derbyshire side. Tim Groenewald (32 wickets at 17 each) Jonathan Clare (29 at 20) and Tony Palladino (41at 22) have proved a handful for batsmen in this division and I will back them even now to enjoy success in the top flight. All have proved resourceful, accurate and penetrative, but their contribution to the side doesn't end there.
All average between 20 and 22 with the bat, priceless contributions to a batting line-up with talent, yet guilty of misfiring at times this summer. All contributed valuable runs to the cause yesterday, as they have done through the season, as has the other key member of the attack, David Wainwright. When numbers seven to ten in the order can add around 80 to an innings, over and above their stronger suit, it is indicative of a side, not just of some talent, but also considerable commitment.
Nor should the efforts of Mark Foottitt and Mark Turner be discounted. The former bowled with real pace early season before being stymied once again by injury. The latter bowls with greater rhythm this summer and when he gets it right is seriously quick. They have played their part in ending the old Derbyshire issue of concluding the opposition innings.
It is also appropriate to mention the captaincy of Wayne Madsen at this stage. While he had captained a side before in his native South Africa, Madsen's first summer as Derbyshire skipper has been solid. There have been mistakes, but name me a captain (especially an inexperienced one) who hasn't done that. Madsen's greatest achievement has been in welding together a team that at one point last summer seemed in danger of fragmenting into a single, cohesive whole, a team that works and celebrates success together.
I said at the start of the summer that I expected a promotion challenge in the championship, but the efforts of this side, which has only lost one game in the format this season, has been exceptional. While it should not be forgotten that several of the players were brought to the club by John Morris, Karl Krikken has worked with a new captain to create a young squad that Derbyshire fans can be genuinely proud of, one without any of the divisive elements that were so much a feature of too many of our sides of relatively recent vintage.
They can be proud of their efforts so far and just need to retain focus to finish it off. The side is a work in progress - but that last word is the key one.
There is genuine progress at the County Ground. Long may it continue.
Sunday, 5 August 2012
Derbyshire v Kent day 4
There were various heroes in Derbyshire's epic win over Kent today. After the poor first innings batting display, the top five in the order produced innings of grit and substance to ensure that our side moved 26 points clear in the title race, with a game in hand.
I'm inclined to agree with Keith Loring. One more win would, if not making it impossible for other sides to catch us, make it very difficult for them. Kent are now our nearest rivals having played the same number of matches and are 31 points back. We need to show the grit and determination that turned this game on its head in the remaining matches and the champagne can be put on ice.
Let's not count chickens, of course, as we do need to bat better as a unit, although by the sound of today's wickets the surface had deteriorated a little. The morning session at Derby has become one to whet the appetite of bowlers and Charlie Shreck followed in the footsteps of Tony Palladino in making life very difficult for batsmen.
Once the crucial third wicket stand had been broken the wickets fell with alarming regularity and, like most of you, at 257-8 I feared the worst. Yet then came a stand that changed the match and to a great extent defined the championship season. We battled.
No player has made greater strides this summer than Dan Redfern and his phlegmatic and pragmatic approach saw us inch towards the target. At one point it seemed we were looking to emulate the famous Wilfred Rhodes/George Hirst ""We'll get 'em in singles" scenario, as sharp runs gradually eroded the target.
There could be few better tail enders to have in such a situation than Tim Groenewald. I can only imagine what it was like on the ground, but as I drove down from Scotland and the tweets came in I was on tenterhooks that I last recall in Lords finals. To win from the position that we were in at the end of day two highlighted a team spirit that money cannot buy. It was also highlighted by Martin Guptill's tweet from the Caribbean, a Derbyshire man following the game from afar and rejoicing as his team mates celebrated success.
Full credit to the side for turning it around. It all started with Palladino's superb spell yesterday, but the top five all grafted on a track that was far from easy and the eventual win will serve as a catalyst to our promotion ambitions, while putting a serious dent in Kent's. A team with their experience should have won from that position and in most cases they would do. But then they're not playing Derbyshire every time, are they?
While acknowledging the sterling efforts on the pitch today, I would also, in closing, do the same for the outstanding Twitter feed from Tom Holdcroft. Many of us would have loved to be there but couldn't manage it and the updates enabled us all to feel a part of the win.
Great effort by all concerned lads. I look forward to seeing the boys in action on Wednesday night. CB40 may not be our forte, but Derbyshire can only throw away promotion in the real game at this stage.
Top of the table, 26 points clear. Isn't that a fantastic thought?
I'm inclined to agree with Keith Loring. One more win would, if not making it impossible for other sides to catch us, make it very difficult for them. Kent are now our nearest rivals having played the same number of matches and are 31 points back. We need to show the grit and determination that turned this game on its head in the remaining matches and the champagne can be put on ice.
Let's not count chickens, of course, as we do need to bat better as a unit, although by the sound of today's wickets the surface had deteriorated a little. The morning session at Derby has become one to whet the appetite of bowlers and Charlie Shreck followed in the footsteps of Tony Palladino in making life very difficult for batsmen.
Once the crucial third wicket stand had been broken the wickets fell with alarming regularity and, like most of you, at 257-8 I feared the worst. Yet then came a stand that changed the match and to a great extent defined the championship season. We battled.
No player has made greater strides this summer than Dan Redfern and his phlegmatic and pragmatic approach saw us inch towards the target. At one point it seemed we were looking to emulate the famous Wilfred Rhodes/George Hirst ""We'll get 'em in singles" scenario, as sharp runs gradually eroded the target.
There could be few better tail enders to have in such a situation than Tim Groenewald. I can only imagine what it was like on the ground, but as I drove down from Scotland and the tweets came in I was on tenterhooks that I last recall in Lords finals. To win from the position that we were in at the end of day two highlighted a team spirit that money cannot buy. It was also highlighted by Martin Guptill's tweet from the Caribbean, a Derbyshire man following the game from afar and rejoicing as his team mates celebrated success.
Full credit to the side for turning it around. It all started with Palladino's superb spell yesterday, but the top five all grafted on a track that was far from easy and the eventual win will serve as a catalyst to our promotion ambitions, while putting a serious dent in Kent's. A team with their experience should have won from that position and in most cases they would do. But then they're not playing Derbyshire every time, are they?
While acknowledging the sterling efforts on the pitch today, I would also, in closing, do the same for the outstanding Twitter feed from Tom Holdcroft. Many of us would have loved to be there but couldn't manage it and the updates enabled us all to feel a part of the win.
Great effort by all concerned lads. I look forward to seeing the boys in action on Wednesday night. CB40 may not be our forte, but Derbyshire can only throw away promotion in the real game at this stage.
Top of the table, 26 points clear. Isn't that a fantastic thought?
Derbyshire v Kent day 3
If today was a pivotal one in the 2012 county season, then from a Derbyshire perspective tomorrow is the Champions League, World Cup and FA Cup final in one.
If we can clinch a win tomorrow they will move to a 26 point lead with four games to play. While those commenting on yesterday were unimpressed by the day's events, today the team buckled down and showed just why they are top of the table.
Of course, we still need 127 runs tomorrow and the loss of a couple of early wickets might set nerves jangling. Yet today the side turned around a game that seemed beyond them at the close on Friday and they may yet achieve one of the more remarkable wins in our history. It reminded me of a similar win over Lancashire in the Barlow era and the way that the batsmen knuckled down in our second innings suggested that some harsh words had been spoken and a greater application of common sense was being applied.
I'll count no chickens till we get to that target tomorrow, but despite resolute batting in the second innings it was a day for Tony Palladino, who pulled us back into the game with a performance worthy of an Olympic gold medal. As someone commented below yesterday's piece, there's little wrong with our seam bowling and we just need greater consistency from the batsmen to take us across the finishing line of the season. Palladino is a gem and the merits of saving his legs in the T20 was evident today. Career-best figures and a fine display has to be seen as an Eddie Barlow moment...
It's funny, yesterday we were all hoping for rain to save us in this one. Now we're all hoping for three hours or so of dry weather to perhaps force a win. All eyes will be on Derby tomorrow and let's just hope for more of the same. Durston and Khawaja have done well so far and need to take us closer to the target as the senior batsman and overseas player. With a longer tail than usual, there is still a lot to do.
Just as long as Tom Holdcroft says nothing about us going fine in his excellent Twitter feed...he's been responsible for more wickets this summer than Tony Palladino...
If we can clinch a win tomorrow they will move to a 26 point lead with four games to play. While those commenting on yesterday were unimpressed by the day's events, today the team buckled down and showed just why they are top of the table.
Of course, we still need 127 runs tomorrow and the loss of a couple of early wickets might set nerves jangling. Yet today the side turned around a game that seemed beyond them at the close on Friday and they may yet achieve one of the more remarkable wins in our history. It reminded me of a similar win over Lancashire in the Barlow era and the way that the batsmen knuckled down in our second innings suggested that some harsh words had been spoken and a greater application of common sense was being applied.
I'll count no chickens till we get to that target tomorrow, but despite resolute batting in the second innings it was a day for Tony Palladino, who pulled us back into the game with a performance worthy of an Olympic gold medal. As someone commented below yesterday's piece, there's little wrong with our seam bowling and we just need greater consistency from the batsmen to take us across the finishing line of the season. Palladino is a gem and the merits of saving his legs in the T20 was evident today. Career-best figures and a fine display has to be seen as an Eddie Barlow moment...
It's funny, yesterday we were all hoping for rain to save us in this one. Now we're all hoping for three hours or so of dry weather to perhaps force a win. All eyes will be on Derby tomorrow and let's just hope for more of the same. Durston and Khawaja have done well so far and need to take us closer to the target as the senior batsman and overseas player. With a longer tail than usual, there is still a lot to do.
Just as long as Tom Holdcroft says nothing about us going fine in his excellent Twitter feed...he's been responsible for more wickets this summer than Tony Palladino...
Saturday, 4 August 2012
Derbyshire v Kent day 2
As you might expect, there is a fair amount of vitriol flying around tonight after Derbyshire's batting display today against Kent.
I'd have to say that I cannot argue on this occasion. From what I've heard we let ourselves down badly with the bat today. While some credit has to be given to the Kent bowlers for putting the ball in the right areas, too many Derbyshire batsmen made it easy and gave their wickets away. I've had several e mails from people today who told me that they were disappointed with another poor display.
No one could complain about the work of our bowlers and we finished Kent off fairly quickly this morning. As I wrote last night, Wes Durston should have been used earlier, when the ninth wicket stand got going, and he quickly disposed of the danger man this morning, but Kent had been let off the hook and a score in excess of 250 was psychologically, as well as statistically better.
Derbyshire's batting was sadly what it has largely been since the departure of Martin Guptill - timid, rash and careless. Throughout the season we have espoused as a club the merits of aggressive and fearless cricket, but you don't have to play shots all the time to be aggressive. Sometimes, digging in and letting the opposition know that you won't be bullied, that they'll have to dig you out is of equal merit.
I remain optimistic about Derbyshire's future, more so than at any point in recent memory, but in one day we have jeopardised a lot of good work with a poor display. Assistance from the weather could yet save this game for us, but I cannot see any other way that we can escape from this one. Even perennially optimistic Peakfan finds it hard to see how we can bat our way out of this one.
Yet the bottom line is that we have to improve our batting - and fast. There are no real options for changing the line-up, given that a lot of people were on Paul Borrington's back before he went out of the side. Meanwhile Chesney Hughes has few worthwhile scores from the season, while Garry Park has left the club.
What you see is what we have. They are not, by a long chalk, poor players, Indeed, they have shown individually and collectively that they can bat attractively and well.
But they really let themselves down today. The next two will perhaps reveal more about the true mettle of this side than any others this summer.
I'd have to say that I cannot argue on this occasion. From what I've heard we let ourselves down badly with the bat today. While some credit has to be given to the Kent bowlers for putting the ball in the right areas, too many Derbyshire batsmen made it easy and gave their wickets away. I've had several e mails from people today who told me that they were disappointed with another poor display.
No one could complain about the work of our bowlers and we finished Kent off fairly quickly this morning. As I wrote last night, Wes Durston should have been used earlier, when the ninth wicket stand got going, and he quickly disposed of the danger man this morning, but Kent had been let off the hook and a score in excess of 250 was psychologically, as well as statistically better.
Derbyshire's batting was sadly what it has largely been since the departure of Martin Guptill - timid, rash and careless. Throughout the season we have espoused as a club the merits of aggressive and fearless cricket, but you don't have to play shots all the time to be aggressive. Sometimes, digging in and letting the opposition know that you won't be bullied, that they'll have to dig you out is of equal merit.
I remain optimistic about Derbyshire's future, more so than at any point in recent memory, but in one day we have jeopardised a lot of good work with a poor display. Assistance from the weather could yet save this game for us, but I cannot see any other way that we can escape from this one. Even perennially optimistic Peakfan finds it hard to see how we can bat our way out of this one.
Yet the bottom line is that we have to improve our batting - and fast. There are no real options for changing the line-up, given that a lot of people were on Paul Borrington's back before he went out of the side. Meanwhile Chesney Hughes has few worthwhile scores from the season, while Garry Park has left the club.
What you see is what we have. They are not, by a long chalk, poor players, Indeed, they have shown individually and collectively that they can bat attractively and well.
But they really let themselves down today. The next two will perhaps reveal more about the true mettle of this side than any others this summer.
Thursday, 2 August 2012
Derbyshire v Kent day 1
All things considered, today was a good day for Derbyshire at the start of their key championship match against Kent.
If they had been offered the opposition being 238-8 at the close before today's start I am sure that they would have taken it willingly. There will be tinges of disappointment, with Kent recovering from 174-8, but that could perhaps be seen as a positive. Is the wicket easing?
Winning the toss is important and Wayne Madsen called correctly at the start of play. From there you have a chance to dictate the play and any under-performance has to be taken on the chin as your own fault. The four seamers, nicely led by Tim Groenewald, all did a job with varying levels of parsimony and if we can finish off Kent in the first half hour tomorrow there will be few complaints.
Only two concerns for me, looking on from afar. One was that we gave away more extras than of late (30), something that I hope won't come back to bite us. I was also surprised that it took as long to give David Wainwright a bowl and that Wes Durston, quite often a man with a golden arm, didn't turn his over. When wickets were falling regularly there was no need, of course, but when a couple of batsmen get into the groove a change of pace can often bring dividends.
Coles is a good cricketer and already has a first-class ton to his name. Let's just hope that he doesn't go on to a second tomorrow.
What we need to do is to stop Kent getting too many more batting points (250 is likely, but we need to keep them under 300) while it will then be down to our guys to bat for as long as possible. These are the sort of games where you hope your overseas star turns up in peak form and that the players all dig in. Hopefully that will be the case tomorrow.
In closing, one observation about the two sides that took the field today. Both clubs have taken a contrasting route to success. Derbyshire had only one player (Wes Durston) over 30. Kent only had two under it, with six of their side in their mid-thirties. The average age of Kent's side is 31, while that of Derbyshire is 26.
The point? None at this stage, but curiously the best two batsmen for Kent were their two youngest players.
Curiouser and curiouser...
If they had been offered the opposition being 238-8 at the close before today's start I am sure that they would have taken it willingly. There will be tinges of disappointment, with Kent recovering from 174-8, but that could perhaps be seen as a positive. Is the wicket easing?
Winning the toss is important and Wayne Madsen called correctly at the start of play. From there you have a chance to dictate the play and any under-performance has to be taken on the chin as your own fault. The four seamers, nicely led by Tim Groenewald, all did a job with varying levels of parsimony and if we can finish off Kent in the first half hour tomorrow there will be few complaints.
Only two concerns for me, looking on from afar. One was that we gave away more extras than of late (30), something that I hope won't come back to bite us. I was also surprised that it took as long to give David Wainwright a bowl and that Wes Durston, quite often a man with a golden arm, didn't turn his over. When wickets were falling regularly there was no need, of course, but when a couple of batsmen get into the groove a change of pace can often bring dividends.Coles is a good cricketer and already has a first-class ton to his name. Let's just hope that he doesn't go on to a second tomorrow.
What we need to do is to stop Kent getting too many more batting points (250 is likely, but we need to keep them under 300) while it will then be down to our guys to bat for as long as possible. These are the sort of games where you hope your overseas star turns up in peak form and that the players all dig in. Hopefully that will be the case tomorrow.
In closing, one observation about the two sides that took the field today. Both clubs have taken a contrasting route to success. Derbyshire had only one player (Wes Durston) over 30. Kent only had two under it, with six of their side in their mid-thirties. The average age of Kent's side is 31, while that of Derbyshire is 26.
The point? None at this stage, but curiously the best two batsmen for Kent were their two youngest players.
Curiouser and curiouser...
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Derbyshire v Kent preview
After the farce that was last night's game (whoever said Duckworth Lewis helped to make for a fair game of cricket?) the real thing starts tomorrow at Derby, weather-willing.
Both pre-season and since it began I have been extolling the virtues of a Derbyshire championship side that has played aggressive, fearless cricket from the end of March. There have been trials and tribulations over the shorter forms of the game, but in four-day cricket Derbyshire have bowled with penetration and batted with the sort of team ethic to success that other clubs could only dream of.
Tomorrow is effectively the start of six cup finals that we face before the end of the season and we will learn a lot about the mental qualities of our young team over the course of those matches. That they have considerable talent is beyond question. What we now need to know is whether they yet have the mental toughness to win each over, each session, each day of cricket.
We are in an enviable position, ahead with a game in hand on our nearest rivals. Few would have expected us to be doing so well pre-season, but I fancied our chances in this form of the game and the side has produced the goods on a regular basis.
Tomorrow will be a tough match against a Kent side moulded well by ex-West Indies star Jimmy Adams. Last winter they were in disarray, having lost senior players and a coach, yet Adams, well known locally for his time at Dunstall, has pulled together a good squad that mixes youth and experience to good effect.
There's no news as yet on their side, but Derbyshire's Karl Krikken has announced the following squad:
Madsen (c), Lineker, Khawaja, Durston, Redfern, Johnson (wk), Wainwright, Clare, Palladino, Groenewald, Turner, A. Hughes.
The final place in that side will be interesting. Does youngster Alex Hughes slot into the middle order on the back of encouraging all-round performances, or do we play four seamers, including the extra pace of Mark Turner? Had you asked me that question yesterday I might have said yes to Hughes, but today's re-signing of Richard Johnson from Warwickshire gives us a little extra batting that makes the inclusion of Turner less of a threat to the batting strength. I mean no disrespect to Tom Poynton, a cricketer I have a lot of time for, in saying that, but Johnson at this stage of his career offers greater potential for runs and that could be crucial to our chance of success this summer.
My gut feeling is that a positive result in this game is likely to fall victim to the weather, but Derbyshire need to rack up bonus points to further increase their strong position. Your guess is as good as mine as to the type of wicket we will have. One like we enjoyed against Australia A could see us rack up the batting points, but a more typical County Ground track could see a positive result - if the weather isn't too intrusive into the playing time.
Can top of the table Derbyshire (I love saying that) come out on top? You know, I think we can give it a really good go - and with our share of luck, could still be in that position on Sunday evening.
Both pre-season and since it began I have been extolling the virtues of a Derbyshire championship side that has played aggressive, fearless cricket from the end of March. There have been trials and tribulations over the shorter forms of the game, but in four-day cricket Derbyshire have bowled with penetration and batted with the sort of team ethic to success that other clubs could only dream of.
Tomorrow is effectively the start of six cup finals that we face before the end of the season and we will learn a lot about the mental qualities of our young team over the course of those matches. That they have considerable talent is beyond question. What we now need to know is whether they yet have the mental toughness to win each over, each session, each day of cricket.
We are in an enviable position, ahead with a game in hand on our nearest rivals. Few would have expected us to be doing so well pre-season, but I fancied our chances in this form of the game and the side has produced the goods on a regular basis.
Tomorrow will be a tough match against a Kent side moulded well by ex-West Indies star Jimmy Adams. Last winter they were in disarray, having lost senior players and a coach, yet Adams, well known locally for his time at Dunstall, has pulled together a good squad that mixes youth and experience to good effect.
There's no news as yet on their side, but Derbyshire's Karl Krikken has announced the following squad:
Madsen (c), Lineker, Khawaja, Durston, Redfern, Johnson (wk), Wainwright, Clare, Palladino, Groenewald, Turner, A. Hughes.
The final place in that side will be interesting. Does youngster Alex Hughes slot into the middle order on the back of encouraging all-round performances, or do we play four seamers, including the extra pace of Mark Turner? Had you asked me that question yesterday I might have said yes to Hughes, but today's re-signing of Richard Johnson from Warwickshire gives us a little extra batting that makes the inclusion of Turner less of a threat to the batting strength. I mean no disrespect to Tom Poynton, a cricketer I have a lot of time for, in saying that, but Johnson at this stage of his career offers greater potential for runs and that could be crucial to our chance of success this summer.
My gut feeling is that a positive result in this game is likely to fall victim to the weather, but Derbyshire need to rack up bonus points to further increase their strong position. Your guess is as good as mine as to the type of wicket we will have. One like we enjoyed against Australia A could see us rack up the batting points, but a more typical County Ground track could see a positive result - if the weather isn't too intrusive into the playing time.
Can top of the table Derbyshire (I love saying that) come out on top? You know, I think we can give it a really good go - and with our share of luck, could still be in that position on Sunday evening.
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