Worcestershire 255-6 (Clarke 117 not, Cotton 3-46, Milnes 2-46)
v Derbyshire
Not a bad effort today by a young Derbyshire attack, keeping things tight and under three an over all day.
They might have hoped for greater success after opting to bowl, but a fine century by Joe Clarke, one of the county circuit's finest young batsmen, kept them at bay.
Tony Palladino bowled beautifully all day and finally got a deserved wicket before the close, but Ben Cotton and Tom Milnes took the lion's share of the wickets and we will hope to strike early tomorrow and limit the first innings to under 350.
If they can do that, there will be few complaints - then it is up to the batsmen to do their stuff.
More from me tomorrow.
Tuesday, 20 September 2016
Monday, 19 September 2016
Worcestershire v Derbyshire preview
The last four days of a long and arduous season start tomorrow, in the scenic splendour of Worcester.
There are many worse places to watch, and doubtless to play the game and Derbyshire travel with a squad of considerable youth.
With Neil Broom ruled out because of the birth of his third child and Callum Parkinson Leicester-bound, Greg Cork comes into the following squad:
There are many worse places to watch, and doubtless to play the game and Derbyshire travel with a squad of considerable youth.
With Neil Broom ruled out because of the birth of his third child and Callum Parkinson Leicester-bound, Greg Cork comes into the following squad:
Billy Godleman
Ben Slater
Alex Hughes
Wayne Madsen
Tom Wood
Harvey Hosein
Greg Cork
Tom Milnes
Rob Hemmings
Tony Palladino
Will Davis
Ben Cotton
Ben Slater
Alex Hughes
Wayne Madsen
Tom Wood
Harvey Hosein
Greg Cork
Tom Milnes
Rob Hemmings
Tony Palladino
Will Davis
Ben Cotton
I'll not second guess the man to be left out, but the game represents a final chance to make a case for next summer, while going into the winter in good fettle.
The home squad:
Mitchell
D'Oliveira
Fell
Clarke
Rhodes
Kohler-Cadmore
Cox
Leach
Barnard
Cummins
Morris
Hepburn
Of course we hope for a win, but either way we will be anchored to the bottom of the table, with much to do over the winter months.
The home squad:
Mitchell
D'Oliveira
Fell
Clarke
Rhodes
Kohler-Cadmore
Cox
Leach
Barnard
Cummins
Morris
Hepburn
Of course we hope for a win, but either way we will be anchored to the bottom of the table, with much to do over the winter months.
Gary Wilson signs
Interesting news today, that Gary Wilson, the Ireland wicket-keeper batsman, has opted to leave Surrey and join Derbyshire on a three-year contract.It is a good signing by the county, giving them an experienced cricketer with an excellent record. He has a first-class average of almost forty runs per innings, suggesting that he could, should we choose, play as a specialist batsman if required. He has done that at Surrey, where he has also led the side on occasion with flair and considerable skill. A good friend of Billy Godleman, I could see him taking on a vice-captaincy role at some point.
He also has over two thousand international runs for Ireland and is known as an excellent one-day finisher, scampering runs and working the field, something that hasn't always be the preserve of Derbyshire sides over the years.
While there will be those who say that the signing will hamper the progress of Harvey Hosein, I disagree and think that it makes a lot of sense. For one thing, Wilson misses some cricket through the season with his national call ups (which Derbyshire receive money for) and so Hosein will be natural first choice at those times. It also gives Harvey an experienced man to work and compete with, never a bad thing.
Some will say we should have brought in a number two to Harvey, but who? Derbyshire are not exactly a number one draw in the county game right now. We lost our coach mid-season, will be eighteenth of eighteen counties and needed someone good enough to take us forward. I'd suggest that a wicket-keeper prepared to come and be number two to a lad of 20 is going to be hard to find - or is probably not going to be worth signing.
That Harvey has done well since returning to the side is undeniable. He both keeps and bats beautifully, but his next challenge is to maintain that over the season. I am pretty sure that Harvey will start next season with the gloves and he will then need to work to maintain his current high standards over a season and its various formats.
That is a big ask for any cricketer and when you are looking for a lad of twenty to score runs regularly and keep wicket nigh-flawlessly for session after session in three forms of the game, it will be tough. If he manages it, the world will be his oyster, but if he doesn't, Derbyshire have a very good man there to take the gloves without fear of a drop in standards.
Derbyshire could have gone for Niall O'Brien or Phil Mustard, neither of who could really have played as a specialist bat, or for the likes of Adam Wheater or Steve Davies, both of who wanted to move to keep wicket (and probably wouldn't have come anyway). They could also have gone for Daryn Smit, who would have done a good job and could still do, as a batsman and spinner/keeper option. I don't think assurances will have been given to Wilson and it will be down to the two men to show that they are the best option with the gloves. The challenge will doubtless appeal to the new man, who had slipped back in the queue at Surrey, who seem to have more keeping options than most clubs have seam bowlers.
The only surprise for me is that we have a signing before the coaching setup has been confirmed. I suspect that further pieces of the jigsaw will be once that has been finalised and the potential targets assured of who they will be working with. You never know, though...
I can't fault the signing of a man who seems to have been very popular with Surrey supporters though and will doubtless prove the same at the 3aaa County Ground.
Welcome to Derbyshire, Gary.
The first piece of the 2017 jigsaw is in place.
Sunday, 18 September 2016
Hamza, Fred and Elton...
There were two unusual pieces of news this week with links to Derbyshire cricket.
First up was the news that Hamza Siddique, one-time Derbyshire staff player, had landed a role in Doctors on the BBC. A product of Repton school and Cardiff MCCU, the Staffordshire-born player never played in the senior side at Derbyshire but played through the various age groups. I hope he does well, as the second Derbyshire player with acting on his CV.
The first was, of course, Fred Trueman, who played former fast bowler Ernie Egan in an episode of Dad's Army in 1970, two years after he had retired from Yorkshire. Astonishingly, two years later, when he was a long way from prime shape, we signed him to play in the John Player Sunday League.
His figures weren't that bad and I remember him bowling especially well against his old county in a televised game at Bradford that year, taking the wickets of John Hampshire and Phil Sharpe after earlier clumping Chris Old into the middle distance.
Ironically, we engaged him to play one-day cricket having told Harold Rhodes, younger and fitter, that he couldn't play on such a contract, having retired early for a career in the brewing industry. One Sunday afternoon at Ilkeston, Derbyshire fielded an attack that in name was perhaps among their finest - Alan Ward, Mike Hendrick and Fred Trueman in the same attack against Glamorgan. They took seven wickets between them as we won easily.
It was a qualified success. He let no one down, perhaps because teams were still worried about the legend, but he was some way removed from his best. He put a 'few bob' on the gate, which was the intention, but the sight of him rolling, for want of a better word, around the boundary edge in vain pursuit of an edge at third man or fine leg, lives with me still.
Still, at least I saw Fred Trueman play for Derbyshire a few times, classic action and all - and got his autograph.
It was at Chesterfield, when we played Warwickshire and Derbyshire amassed an impressive 234-5 in 40 overs, with Chris Wilkins making a wonderful 94 and sharing in a highly entertaining stand of 121 with Tony Borrington, who played an equally fine hand in making 56 at number seven.
Against a batting line-up of John Jameson, Denis Amiss, Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kallicharran and Deryck Murray, internationals all, it might not have been enough, but Fred bowled his eight overs for just twenty runs and we won easily, despite a fine century by the wonderful West Indian, Kallicharran.
At the end, Fred signed my autograph book with a smile at the back of the pavilion, something that kept me happy for days afterwards. If only cricketers knew how much that signature meant to youngsters...
The other news? Elton John at the 3aaa County Ground. Using it for other purposes is not new - there was a special tennis event, organised by Walter Goodyear, that featured tennis greats Fred Perry and Dan Maskell in the 1950s. Elton is a step up from that, though and I understand that tickets are nearly sold out, understandably so.
Cynics may say it has nothing to do with cricket and why are we wasting time on it, but if the sums have been done correctly (as they will have), Derbyshire could earn enough from hosting the gig to bring in a senior player. It is all part of the income generation that is so important for us as a club, so the more we can do, the better.
With that, I bid you adieu.
Enjoy your Sunday.
First up was the news that Hamza Siddique, one-time Derbyshire staff player, had landed a role in Doctors on the BBC. A product of Repton school and Cardiff MCCU, the Staffordshire-born player never played in the senior side at Derbyshire but played through the various age groups. I hope he does well, as the second Derbyshire player with acting on his CV.
The first was, of course, Fred Trueman, who played former fast bowler Ernie Egan in an episode of Dad's Army in 1970, two years after he had retired from Yorkshire. Astonishingly, two years later, when he was a long way from prime shape, we signed him to play in the John Player Sunday League.
His figures weren't that bad and I remember him bowling especially well against his old county in a televised game at Bradford that year, taking the wickets of John Hampshire and Phil Sharpe after earlier clumping Chris Old into the middle distance.
Ironically, we engaged him to play one-day cricket having told Harold Rhodes, younger and fitter, that he couldn't play on such a contract, having retired early for a career in the brewing industry. One Sunday afternoon at Ilkeston, Derbyshire fielded an attack that in name was perhaps among their finest - Alan Ward, Mike Hendrick and Fred Trueman in the same attack against Glamorgan. They took seven wickets between them as we won easily.
It was a qualified success. He let no one down, perhaps because teams were still worried about the legend, but he was some way removed from his best. He put a 'few bob' on the gate, which was the intention, but the sight of him rolling, for want of a better word, around the boundary edge in vain pursuit of an edge at third man or fine leg, lives with me still.
Still, at least I saw Fred Trueman play for Derbyshire a few times, classic action and all - and got his autograph.
It was at Chesterfield, when we played Warwickshire and Derbyshire amassed an impressive 234-5 in 40 overs, with Chris Wilkins making a wonderful 94 and sharing in a highly entertaining stand of 121 with Tony Borrington, who played an equally fine hand in making 56 at number seven.
Against a batting line-up of John Jameson, Denis Amiss, Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kallicharran and Deryck Murray, internationals all, it might not have been enough, but Fred bowled his eight overs for just twenty runs and we won easily, despite a fine century by the wonderful West Indian, Kallicharran.
At the end, Fred signed my autograph book with a smile at the back of the pavilion, something that kept me happy for days afterwards. If only cricketers knew how much that signature meant to youngsters...
The other news? Elton John at the 3aaa County Ground. Using it for other purposes is not new - there was a special tennis event, organised by Walter Goodyear, that featured tennis greats Fred Perry and Dan Maskell in the 1950s. Elton is a step up from that, though and I understand that tickets are nearly sold out, understandably so.
Cynics may say it has nothing to do with cricket and why are we wasting time on it, but if the sums have been done correctly (as they will have), Derbyshire could earn enough from hosting the gig to bring in a senior player. It is all part of the income generation that is so important for us as a club, so the more we can do, the better.
With that, I bid you adieu.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Saturday, 17 September 2016
Critchley signs but Parkinson leaves
The Critchley signing is excellent news. While the youngster still has a long way to go to be bowling sides out in the four-day game - and why would we expect otherwise at his age - he bowled superbly throughout the club's one-day season and troubled almost every side that he bowled against.
That he is set to work with Shane Warne over the winter is excellent news and will give him things to think about and work on. What he perhaps could really do with now is a senior spinner of quality to come in, work alongside him and mentor his short-term development.
With his batting steadily improving too, Matt is a player who could be a focal point of our team for a long time and I am sure that he will be well-treated at the club, as he has been with this contract.
The news of Parkinson is disappointing and tweets from chairman, Chris Grant this morning were fairly clear.
'I believe the actions of agent Phil Weston have been totally unethical and I will be raising the matter with the ECB' said Grant. 'Counties must be given the requisite 28 day protections for players within their Academies, otherwise poaching will become commonplace.'
One can only assume that the player's agent has got what he feels is a better deal for his young charge, at least in the short term. Whether this goes to the ECB will be worth watching, though the agent's stance will doubtless be that Parkinson was not a product of the Derbyshire Academy, rather that of Lancashire. He was a relatively recent addition to our resources and, as a result, perhaps not deemed a graduate in the normal sense.
Mind you, having taken most of his wickets and played his best innings against them this year, they will be well placed to judge his potential. The chairman is absolutely right that clubs who put time and money into a player's development through an Academy system should have some protection, and seems to have support for this around the country. I suspect that this case may eventually be seen as different though, as highlighted above.
Time will tell.
Friday, 16 September 2016
Further thoughts on city T20
I'll start this piece by saying that I have a massive respect for Chris Grant and what he has done for Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
Regular readers will know that, and the level of professionalism, on and off the pitch in his tenure, is light years away from what it once was. More than anyone else on the county circuit, he has been transparent about his thoughts on the new city-based T20 and is to be commended on that.
Yet I am not convinced and it would seem that I am not alone.
Having spent a fair bit of time over the past few days looking over Twitter and various news sources, the biggest issue that I have - and I suspect many others too - is that there is no detail. To use the old phrase, the devil lies therein and the counties earlier this week voted for the introduction of a competition that no one really knows a darn thing about. How can you do that?
What cities will it be? One would guess, for eight teams, two in London, then one each in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Nottingham, possibly Southampton and one in the west (Cardiff?) Surprise, surprise, that's one for every Test ground, bar Durham.
How will the teams be recruited? The best of the county game, plus the 'cream of world cricket'. Maybe three overseas per team, so a lot lifted from our domestic game for appropriate squads.
When will it be? That's a good one. The current thinking is July, when a lot of cricket fans - TRADITIONAL cricket fans mind, not this 'new audience' we will be finding - are taking their holidays, in the hope of catching some cricket played by the team they have supported, in some cases, for decades. Some sources say the month will be entirely given over to the new competition, which is a bit of a pain, isn't it? Call me old fashioned, but I reckon that the likelihood of a Lancashire fan from Liverpool going across to support a team called Manchester is slim. Likewise people from Sheffield suddenly buying Leeds tops. Only a quick Google search is needed to see what Derbyshire and Leicestershire fans think of supporting a team that may well have Nottingham, Outlaws or Robin Hood in its name.
If the aim is to make money for counties, I can buy that and superficially it is good. If the aim is to bring cricket to the masses equally so, but I struggle to see how. The TV rights will almost certainly go to Sky and they aren't close to saturating the domestic TV market, though granted are increasing it steadily. The cricket will be in eight cities in high summer, not across the far greater range of towns and cities as it is now. People won't travel two hours or more to watch a twenty-over game, be charged daft money for food and drink and maybe, if they're lucky, not have to pull their jacket around them for warmth or stick a beanie hat on their head.
This isn't Australia, where you can sit with a cold beer in 95 degree temperatures. With 65% of their population across the big cities that host state sides, the only change is a couple of extra urban teams. Of course the games are well-attended, it is by the same fan base. We'd have around 25% of our likely cities as a population base, a good few of the cricket faithful already marginalised and hostile at having to support a weird composite side that bears no resemblance to anything they have followed before.
Nor is it India, where the IPL is a huge affair and tickets are considerably more affordable. There's not the history to contend with there either, so the intermittent bugler who gets the crowds on their feet sounds like it is part of an event. Maybe a kazoo may be more appropriate for our version and quite possibly loud enough.
Of course the TV pundits are in favour. You don't bite the hand that feeds you, but it is delusional to think that a host of non-cricket families will discover the game for the first time, even if Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers were in town - sorry, the city. For the unconverted, a six is a six, whether smitten by a golden blade or someone of more rustic talent. The game itself is a mystery and the word 'cricket' is met with a glazed expression and swift change of subject. They will, in short, be much less interested in London beating Manchester than the traditionalists would watching Surrey do the same to Lancashire. Whoever gets the crucial marketing 'gig' will need to be offered a huge salary, as it is going to be tough.
Which brings me to my final point. What of those left behind? There will be, we're assured, a T20 competition as we have at the moment, but will it run simultaneously? If so, the cream of the domestic talent will have gone, the top international talent will be signed up and you'll be left watching two largely second elevens, bolstered by two blokes from Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Whoopy-doop...
If they run it earlier in the summer, the chances are that the weather will impact on both the games and the attendances. Branded hot water bottles will be all the rage, if there are sponsors to be found for largely second tier and possibly second-rate cricket, maybe re-branded The Pound Shop T20. Overseas players will be involved in the IPL and won't commit to playing both English competitions. They are already complaining of burnout.
Then what will happen? Those in the corridors of power will sit back in their leather recliners, pontificate once more that the county game is dying and 'renegotiate' the cash hand out to eighteen counties. No one's going along to games, they will say, and there's too many teams. They will have short-term conscience money, but then?
What if the new idea fails, as I suspect it will? There may be an initial curiosity value for some, lured in by the big names, but by the time people realise that it is actually just a series of celebrity beer matches, one where no one really gives a monkey's who wins or loses, it may be too late.
Once the bigwigs have seen that Sky will pay big money for a short series of matches, however crass and meaningless, what guarantees are there that the second tier down - the counties - were not deemed surplus to requirements? The big names play in the city competition, they play for England and hey, it's the same as in Australia now. It must be good.
Unless these newly-formed city sides (they already hate the word franchises) are totally independent of the counties at whose grounds they play, it can only increase the financial divide between the rich and the poor. Derbyshire may - or may not - get an extra million a year, but our dear neighbours by the Trent will otherwise get ticket, merchandising and refreshment sales that will make the current financial disparity into a future yawning chasm.
The devil's in the detail right enough. Let's just say that, in my humble opinion, the people in charge of the the county game have done a Robert Johnson and met him at the crossroads.
I hope I am proved wrong and will gladly admit to it in due course.
But I am not convinced. Not by a long chalk.
Let's hope Cap'n Grant can steer the good ship Derbyshire through some choppy waters in the years ahead.
Regular readers will know that, and the level of professionalism, on and off the pitch in his tenure, is light years away from what it once was. More than anyone else on the county circuit, he has been transparent about his thoughts on the new city-based T20 and is to be commended on that.
Yet I am not convinced and it would seem that I am not alone.
Having spent a fair bit of time over the past few days looking over Twitter and various news sources, the biggest issue that I have - and I suspect many others too - is that there is no detail. To use the old phrase, the devil lies therein and the counties earlier this week voted for the introduction of a competition that no one really knows a darn thing about. How can you do that?
What cities will it be? One would guess, for eight teams, two in London, then one each in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Nottingham, possibly Southampton and one in the west (Cardiff?) Surprise, surprise, that's one for every Test ground, bar Durham.
How will the teams be recruited? The best of the county game, plus the 'cream of world cricket'. Maybe three overseas per team, so a lot lifted from our domestic game for appropriate squads.
When will it be? That's a good one. The current thinking is July, when a lot of cricket fans - TRADITIONAL cricket fans mind, not this 'new audience' we will be finding - are taking their holidays, in the hope of catching some cricket played by the team they have supported, in some cases, for decades. Some sources say the month will be entirely given over to the new competition, which is a bit of a pain, isn't it? Call me old fashioned, but I reckon that the likelihood of a Lancashire fan from Liverpool going across to support a team called Manchester is slim. Likewise people from Sheffield suddenly buying Leeds tops. Only a quick Google search is needed to see what Derbyshire and Leicestershire fans think of supporting a team that may well have Nottingham, Outlaws or Robin Hood in its name.
If the aim is to make money for counties, I can buy that and superficially it is good. If the aim is to bring cricket to the masses equally so, but I struggle to see how. The TV rights will almost certainly go to Sky and they aren't close to saturating the domestic TV market, though granted are increasing it steadily. The cricket will be in eight cities in high summer, not across the far greater range of towns and cities as it is now. People won't travel two hours or more to watch a twenty-over game, be charged daft money for food and drink and maybe, if they're lucky, not have to pull their jacket around them for warmth or stick a beanie hat on their head.
This isn't Australia, where you can sit with a cold beer in 95 degree temperatures. With 65% of their population across the big cities that host state sides, the only change is a couple of extra urban teams. Of course the games are well-attended, it is by the same fan base. We'd have around 25% of our likely cities as a population base, a good few of the cricket faithful already marginalised and hostile at having to support a weird composite side that bears no resemblance to anything they have followed before.
Nor is it India, where the IPL is a huge affair and tickets are considerably more affordable. There's not the history to contend with there either, so the intermittent bugler who gets the crowds on their feet sounds like it is part of an event. Maybe a kazoo may be more appropriate for our version and quite possibly loud enough.
Of course the TV pundits are in favour. You don't bite the hand that feeds you, but it is delusional to think that a host of non-cricket families will discover the game for the first time, even if Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers were in town - sorry, the city. For the unconverted, a six is a six, whether smitten by a golden blade or someone of more rustic talent. The game itself is a mystery and the word 'cricket' is met with a glazed expression and swift change of subject. They will, in short, be much less interested in London beating Manchester than the traditionalists would watching Surrey do the same to Lancashire. Whoever gets the crucial marketing 'gig' will need to be offered a huge salary, as it is going to be tough.
Which brings me to my final point. What of those left behind? There will be, we're assured, a T20 competition as we have at the moment, but will it run simultaneously? If so, the cream of the domestic talent will have gone, the top international talent will be signed up and you'll be left watching two largely second elevens, bolstered by two blokes from Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Whoopy-doop...
If they run it earlier in the summer, the chances are that the weather will impact on both the games and the attendances. Branded hot water bottles will be all the rage, if there are sponsors to be found for largely second tier and possibly second-rate cricket, maybe re-branded The Pound Shop T20. Overseas players will be involved in the IPL and won't commit to playing both English competitions. They are already complaining of burnout.
Then what will happen? Those in the corridors of power will sit back in their leather recliners, pontificate once more that the county game is dying and 'renegotiate' the cash hand out to eighteen counties. No one's going along to games, they will say, and there's too many teams. They will have short-term conscience money, but then?
What if the new idea fails, as I suspect it will? There may be an initial curiosity value for some, lured in by the big names, but by the time people realise that it is actually just a series of celebrity beer matches, one where no one really gives a monkey's who wins or loses, it may be too late.
Once the bigwigs have seen that Sky will pay big money for a short series of matches, however crass and meaningless, what guarantees are there that the second tier down - the counties - were not deemed surplus to requirements? The big names play in the city competition, they play for England and hey, it's the same as in Australia now. It must be good.
Unless these newly-formed city sides (they already hate the word franchises) are totally independent of the counties at whose grounds they play, it can only increase the financial divide between the rich and the poor. Derbyshire may - or may not - get an extra million a year, but our dear neighbours by the Trent will otherwise get ticket, merchandising and refreshment sales that will make the current financial disparity into a future yawning chasm.
The devil's in the detail right enough. Let's just say that, in my humble opinion, the people in charge of the the county game have done a Robert Johnson and met him at the crossroads.
I hope I am proved wrong and will gladly admit to it in due course.
But I am not convinced. Not by a long chalk.
Let's hope Cap'n Grant can steer the good ship Derbyshire through some choppy waters in the years ahead.
Thursday, 15 September 2016
Derbyshire v Leicestershire day 4
Derbyshire 307 and 286-8
Leicestershire 247 and 301-8 (Cosgrove 110, Palladino 4-64, Davis 2-45, Parkinson 2-76)
Match drawn
The last day of county cricket at the 3aaa County Ground this year was like many of those that preceded it. Derbyshire huffed and puffed but, like the wolf in the fairy tale, couldn't manage to blow the final house or two down.
There was a spell where it looked like they could lose, when Horton and Cosgrove were piling up runs to take them to 122-2, then when Neil Dexter helped to take them to 200-3. The dismissal of the talented Cosgrove triggered a collapse, but Sayer and Jones held on through the last twenty overs and the quest for the elusive first win goes in to the final match. A season without a home championship win is not one to look back on with great fondness, although we played some good cricket at times.
The evergreen Tony Palladino took four more wickets and remains the 'go to' bowler of the side. Will Davis again showed his potential, as did Callum Parkinson, but the side's need for another experienced seamer and a spinner who can bowl out sides on the last day is massive. No criticism of Parkinson intended, as he has done a very good job in his handful of outings, but it is unrealistic to expect to bowl sides out twice when two of your main bowlers are just 19 and 20.
And so to Worcester for the last game of the summer. An opportunity to go into the winter with some runs and wickets under the belt and look forward to a winter of massive work, both in the nets and in the offices...
Thanks again to Rachel for the typing!
Leicestershire 247 and 301-8 (Cosgrove 110, Palladino 4-64, Davis 2-45, Parkinson 2-76)
Match drawn
The last day of county cricket at the 3aaa County Ground this year was like many of those that preceded it. Derbyshire huffed and puffed but, like the wolf in the fairy tale, couldn't manage to blow the final house or two down.
There was a spell where it looked like they could lose, when Horton and Cosgrove were piling up runs to take them to 122-2, then when Neil Dexter helped to take them to 200-3. The dismissal of the talented Cosgrove triggered a collapse, but Sayer and Jones held on through the last twenty overs and the quest for the elusive first win goes in to the final match. A season without a home championship win is not one to look back on with great fondness, although we played some good cricket at times.
The evergreen Tony Palladino took four more wickets and remains the 'go to' bowler of the side. Will Davis again showed his potential, as did Callum Parkinson, but the side's need for another experienced seamer and a spinner who can bowl out sides on the last day is massive. No criticism of Parkinson intended, as he has done a very good job in his handful of outings, but it is unrealistic to expect to bowl sides out twice when two of your main bowlers are just 19 and 20.
And so to Worcester for the last game of the summer. An opportunity to go into the winter with some runs and wickets under the belt and look forward to a winter of massive work, both in the nets and in the offices...
Thanks again to Rachel for the typing!
Wednesday, 14 September 2016
Derbyshire v Leicestershire day 3
Derbyshire 307 and 286-8 (Madsen 134 not, Hosein 58)
Leicestershire 247 (Davis 4-68, Palladino 3-27)
Derbyshire lead by 346 runs
A fifth century of the season for Wayne Madsen today put Derbyshire into a position where they could feasibly break their duck for the championship season tomorrow.
With a game to go, Wayne is just short of 1200 runs for the summer and averages a touch under 60, highlighting once more how important he is to the cause. The pair he got recently was a momentary 'blip' in another golden season, one that earned him the Player of the Year award today.
We were in a pickle at 57-5, but Harvey Hosein once again came in and underlined his growing credentials. Getting out towards the end of the day took his average down to a piffling 128, but he has laid down the gauntlet to whoever comes in as wicket-keeper that there is battle ahead for that first choice role.
For me, that was part of the appeal of Daryn Smit. He is a good enough bat to just play in that role, or as a spinner to offer valuable options - a Wes Durston-type player as Wes was a few seasons back. If Harvey needed a break, Smit could then have taken the gloves. It would - could - be a very handy utility signing.
I had a few messages today asking if I thought Steven Davies might be headed our way on leaving Surrey, My answer was simple - no.
Davies is on a seriously good contract at The Oval and wants to leave for a county where he is guaranteed keeping wicket. Unless we plan shooting ourselves in the foot with a twelve-bore, we don't want to block Harvey's path, merely have an adequate plan B in place and competition for the role. If that player is good enough with the bat to play as a specialist if required, so much the better.
Let's hope for that win tomorrow, to end the home season on a high.
Finally tonight, in the light of the decision to introduce a city-based T20 made today, I have brought in a poll for the first time in a while. Maybe I am alone, but I'm just curious how many people are actually interested in this. If there's money coming to the county as a consequence that's fair enough, but I remain to be convinced that it will attract the support that it will need.
So will you travel to Nottingham (I assume) to support a city franchise team of some name or another?
I'll leave it up for a week and see how it goes.
Leicestershire 247 (Davis 4-68, Palladino 3-27)
Derbyshire lead by 346 runs
A fifth century of the season for Wayne Madsen today put Derbyshire into a position where they could feasibly break their duck for the championship season tomorrow.
With a game to go, Wayne is just short of 1200 runs for the summer and averages a touch under 60, highlighting once more how important he is to the cause. The pair he got recently was a momentary 'blip' in another golden season, one that earned him the Player of the Year award today.
We were in a pickle at 57-5, but Harvey Hosein once again came in and underlined his growing credentials. Getting out towards the end of the day took his average down to a piffling 128, but he has laid down the gauntlet to whoever comes in as wicket-keeper that there is battle ahead for that first choice role.
For me, that was part of the appeal of Daryn Smit. He is a good enough bat to just play in that role, or as a spinner to offer valuable options - a Wes Durston-type player as Wes was a few seasons back. If Harvey needed a break, Smit could then have taken the gloves. It would - could - be a very handy utility signing.
I had a few messages today asking if I thought Steven Davies might be headed our way on leaving Surrey, My answer was simple - no.
Davies is on a seriously good contract at The Oval and wants to leave for a county where he is guaranteed keeping wicket. Unless we plan shooting ourselves in the foot with a twelve-bore, we don't want to block Harvey's path, merely have an adequate plan B in place and competition for the role. If that player is good enough with the bat to play as a specialist if required, so much the better.
Let's hope for that win tomorrow, to end the home season on a high.
Finally tonight, in the light of the decision to introduce a city-based T20 made today, I have brought in a poll for the first time in a while. Maybe I am alone, but I'm just curious how many people are actually interested in this. If there's money coming to the county as a consequence that's fair enough, but I remain to be convinced that it will attract the support that it will need.
So will you travel to Nottingham (I assume) to support a city franchise team of some name or another?
I'll leave it up for a week and see how it goes.
Decision day for counties and T20
There's a big decision at Lord's today, regarding the future of the T20 game in this country.
I say decision. Using an analogy with that other 'phenomenon' in the news, The Great British Bake Off, part of the problem appears to be that there are too many options on the table. Do you want it with jam, or butter cream? Maybe fresh cream instead and perhaps with vermicelli topping? No, scrap the vermicelli, let's go for a chocolate topping and tell you what, have chocolate filling instead.
It is nonsense and yet, for the parochial cricket fan of a lot of cricket counties, it is worrying. The crux of the matter appears to be the creation of an eight-team competition, based on the Indian IPL model (yawn) played in eight major cities. You can bet your bottom dollar that we won't be one, nor will Leicester, while Hove, Worcester, Taunton, Durham and Chelmsford won't be either. Let alone Northampton, regardless of them winning the T20 this year. That a lot of these towns and cities are in counties that have made T20 successful on and off the pitch is more than a little ironic.
So will we have Manchester and Liverpool? Two great cities after all, but both in the same county. There's two Sydney teams in the Big Bash after all, another model the powers that be seem keen to emulate. Will anyone in Yorkshire outside Leeds get behind a side that doesn't actually represent them? What about a London side, a composite of Middlesex, Surrey and Essex?
Research shows that only 25% of the UK population is likely to be catered for in the populations of these eight cities. Outwith them, interest may well be akin to mine, which is minimal. How many people used to be overly fussed by the result of the North v South matches? Or the Gentleman v Players? Or indeed Smokers v Non Smokers?
The idea appears to be to have a month-long tournament, with players drafted in and bid for as they do in India. What happens if or when a player is injured playing in a franchise team and ruled out for his substantive employers is worthy of consideration.
Whether the cricketing authorities like it or not, cricket fans ARE parochial. Their club's history goes back generations and few can just give that up. There's likely only three or four of our players would likely be involved and I certainly wouldn't follow that team's fortunes as a consequence, probably as a squad member in most cases. I don't support Worcestershire because they have Ross Whiteley, or Somerset because of Tim Groenewald, nor would I expect others to.
It is what happens to the traditional game that is of the greatest concern to me. Talk of reducing the championship still further to ten games leaves me cold, then they will moan that we're not producing Test cricketers any more. If the proposed tournament is to be played in July, does that mean that what I would deem 'worthwhile' cricket is played without a hundred of the best players? Or do we have no cricket worthy of interest in one of the best summer months? It would make booking my summer holiday easier, right enough...
Then there's the overseas players. However tough it is to get decent overseas players for the T20, to run a suggested 'traditional' T20 alongside it will make it nigh impossible. The big names will go for the 'money' competition in the cities, because as mercenaries they generally don't care who pays them. That will leave the counties picking over the lesser lights, with reduced appeal for the matches as a consequence.
A two-tier league system would be my preference, based on the current county set up, but then I am one of the accursed traditionalists, nor especially a fan of the format anyway. It appears to me that those in the senior roles of the game must always try to justify their existence by tinkering with the game to 'enhance' it. Comparisons with India and Australia are odious, because the social and economic issues in the game as it is played in these countries differs considerably from that in England. And I've not even mentioned the weather and the potential of its impact...
Be sure of one thing. If counties vote for the new competition, accepting a reported sweetener or 'bribe' of a million pounds-plus per county to get it through, the game as a lot of us love it will change forever.
For the better?
Not in my book.
I say decision. Using an analogy with that other 'phenomenon' in the news, The Great British Bake Off, part of the problem appears to be that there are too many options on the table. Do you want it with jam, or butter cream? Maybe fresh cream instead and perhaps with vermicelli topping? No, scrap the vermicelli, let's go for a chocolate topping and tell you what, have chocolate filling instead.
It is nonsense and yet, for the parochial cricket fan of a lot of cricket counties, it is worrying. The crux of the matter appears to be the creation of an eight-team competition, based on the Indian IPL model (yawn) played in eight major cities. You can bet your bottom dollar that we won't be one, nor will Leicester, while Hove, Worcester, Taunton, Durham and Chelmsford won't be either. Let alone Northampton, regardless of them winning the T20 this year. That a lot of these towns and cities are in counties that have made T20 successful on and off the pitch is more than a little ironic.
So will we have Manchester and Liverpool? Two great cities after all, but both in the same county. There's two Sydney teams in the Big Bash after all, another model the powers that be seem keen to emulate. Will anyone in Yorkshire outside Leeds get behind a side that doesn't actually represent them? What about a London side, a composite of Middlesex, Surrey and Essex?
Research shows that only 25% of the UK population is likely to be catered for in the populations of these eight cities. Outwith them, interest may well be akin to mine, which is minimal. How many people used to be overly fussed by the result of the North v South matches? Or the Gentleman v Players? Or indeed Smokers v Non Smokers?
The idea appears to be to have a month-long tournament, with players drafted in and bid for as they do in India. What happens if or when a player is injured playing in a franchise team and ruled out for his substantive employers is worthy of consideration.
Whether the cricketing authorities like it or not, cricket fans ARE parochial. Their club's history goes back generations and few can just give that up. There's likely only three or four of our players would likely be involved and I certainly wouldn't follow that team's fortunes as a consequence, probably as a squad member in most cases. I don't support Worcestershire because they have Ross Whiteley, or Somerset because of Tim Groenewald, nor would I expect others to.
It is what happens to the traditional game that is of the greatest concern to me. Talk of reducing the championship still further to ten games leaves me cold, then they will moan that we're not producing Test cricketers any more. If the proposed tournament is to be played in July, does that mean that what I would deem 'worthwhile' cricket is played without a hundred of the best players? Or do we have no cricket worthy of interest in one of the best summer months? It would make booking my summer holiday easier, right enough...
Then there's the overseas players. However tough it is to get decent overseas players for the T20, to run a suggested 'traditional' T20 alongside it will make it nigh impossible. The big names will go for the 'money' competition in the cities, because as mercenaries they generally don't care who pays them. That will leave the counties picking over the lesser lights, with reduced appeal for the matches as a consequence.
A two-tier league system would be my preference, based on the current county set up, but then I am one of the accursed traditionalists, nor especially a fan of the format anyway. It appears to me that those in the senior roles of the game must always try to justify their existence by tinkering with the game to 'enhance' it. Comparisons with India and Australia are odious, because the social and economic issues in the game as it is played in these countries differs considerably from that in England. And I've not even mentioned the weather and the potential of its impact...
Be sure of one thing. If counties vote for the new competition, accepting a reported sweetener or 'bribe' of a million pounds-plus per county to get it through, the game as a lot of us love it will change forever.
For the better?
Not in my book.
Tuesday, 13 September 2016
Derbyshire v Leicestershire day 2
Derbyshire 307 (Hosein 83 not)
Leicestershire 228-8 (Cosgrove 81 not, Davis 4-60, Palladino 2-27, Parkinson 2-71)
Derbyshire lead by 79 runs
It was another encouraging day for Derbyshire today, albeit in an end of season game against a county that is hardly among the high-flyers.
Yet one can only do well against what is up against you. After Harvey Hosein ran out of partners, Derbyshire made regular inroads into the Leicestershire batting, with Will Davis again giving notice of an ability to take wickets. That he bowls the occasional bad ball is beyond dispute, but between he bowls enough really good ones to trouble and dismiss good batsmen, his pace setting him apart from most and his potential quite considerable.
Callum Parkinson confirmed his talent too and has done well in his limited appearances so far, while Tony Palladino just did what he always does - running in hard and putting the ball in the right areas with metronomic accuracy. Top marks to Billy Godleman too, making bowling changes today that often brought early dividends - a joy to any captain!
If the weather stays fair, a positive finish would appear guaranteed from here, but the first session tomorrow could well dictate which way the result goes. While the dangerous Mark Cosgrove is still there, the visitors will entertain hopes of exceeding 300 themselves.
Let's hope that we can stop them in their tracks and build a potentially winning lead tomorrow.
Leicestershire 228-8 (Cosgrove 81 not, Davis 4-60, Palladino 2-27, Parkinson 2-71)
Derbyshire lead by 79 runs
It was another encouraging day for Derbyshire today, albeit in an end of season game against a county that is hardly among the high-flyers.
Yet one can only do well against what is up against you. After Harvey Hosein ran out of partners, Derbyshire made regular inroads into the Leicestershire batting, with Will Davis again giving notice of an ability to take wickets. That he bowls the occasional bad ball is beyond dispute, but between he bowls enough really good ones to trouble and dismiss good batsmen, his pace setting him apart from most and his potential quite considerable.
Callum Parkinson confirmed his talent too and has done well in his limited appearances so far, while Tony Palladino just did what he always does - running in hard and putting the ball in the right areas with metronomic accuracy. Top marks to Billy Godleman too, making bowling changes today that often brought early dividends - a joy to any captain!
If the weather stays fair, a positive finish would appear guaranteed from here, but the first session tomorrow could well dictate which way the result goes. While the dangerous Mark Cosgrove is still there, the visitors will entertain hopes of exceeding 300 themselves.
Let's hope that we can stop them in their tracks and build a potentially winning lead tomorrow.
Monday, 12 September 2016
Derbyshire v Leicestershire day 1
Derbyshire 282-8 (Hosein 79 not, Hughes 55)
v Leicestershire
A battling, unbeaten innings of 79 from Harvey Hosein, in the course of which he took his season average to 194, took Derbyshire to a position they would be quietly pleased with by the close.
On what appears to be a slow wicket that offered help all day, we lost both openers early, recovered through Alex Hughes and Wayne Madsen, then slumped again, before Harvey got help from the tail and steered the ship to a better-than-it-looked-earlier total by the close.
Scoring runs never appeared easy, but Harvey pushed on well in the final session, ably assisted by Tony Palladino and Tom Milnes. Reaching 300 tomorrow would be impressive and a maiden century is tantalisingly within reach for a very talented young cricketer, who already has a career-best to his name.
Mention too for Alex Hughes, who again showed he has the technique and battle for the key role at number three. Leicestershire have a good and experienced seam attack, Mckay and Shreck being wily campaigners, but he did well and deserves an extended run in the position next year.
It all makes for an interesting day tomorrow.
Postscript - delighted to see Tom Wood make his senior bow today and I'm happy to correct an error from last night. Tom was never on the DCCC Academy, although he had a few games for them in his younger days.
His progress o the county game is an object lesson for any young cricketer - that you can get there if you are prepared to battle, even if there are rejections along the way.
I am sure the runs will come for him with extended opportunity - which I hope will be forthcoming.
v Leicestershire
A battling, unbeaten innings of 79 from Harvey Hosein, in the course of which he took his season average to 194, took Derbyshire to a position they would be quietly pleased with by the close.
On what appears to be a slow wicket that offered help all day, we lost both openers early, recovered through Alex Hughes and Wayne Madsen, then slumped again, before Harvey got help from the tail and steered the ship to a better-than-it-looked-earlier total by the close.
Scoring runs never appeared easy, but Harvey pushed on well in the final session, ably assisted by Tony Palladino and Tom Milnes. Reaching 300 tomorrow would be impressive and a maiden century is tantalisingly within reach for a very talented young cricketer, who already has a career-best to his name.
Mention too for Alex Hughes, who again showed he has the technique and battle for the key role at number three. Leicestershire have a good and experienced seam attack, Mckay and Shreck being wily campaigners, but he did well and deserves an extended run in the position next year.
It all makes for an interesting day tomorrow.
Postscript - delighted to see Tom Wood make his senior bow today and I'm happy to correct an error from last night. Tom was never on the DCCC Academy, although he had a few games for them in his younger days.
His progress o the county game is an object lesson for any young cricketer - that you can get there if you are prepared to battle, even if there are rejections along the way.
I am sure the runs will come for him with extended opportunity - which I hope will be forthcoming.
Sunday, 11 September 2016
Derbyshire v Leicestershire preview
There has been pleasing news for Derbyshire supporters in the past couple of days.
First, Tom Taylor and Ben Cotton signed contract extensions, keeping them at the club until the end of 2018. Now today, Taylor's Ticknall team mate Tom Wood has been selected in the Derbyshire squad to play Leicestershire at the 3aaa County Ground, starting tomorrow.
It is just reward for Wood. after a prolific summer that followed a prolific winter in Australia. His game is in a good place right now and I am delighted for a young man who could have a big future. The presence of Academy graduates Alex Hughes, Ben Slater and Wood is good to see in a county batting line up. The full squad contains eight from that Academy and is:
Billy Godleman
Ben Slater
Alex Hughes
Wayne Madsen
Neil Broom
Tom Wood
Matt Critchley
Harvey Hosein
Tom Milnes
Tony Palladino
Callum Parkinson
Will Davis
Ben Cotton
The visitors have also named a thirteen-man squad, though one at the other end of the age spectrum, with a strong over-thirty bias.
Horton, Robson, Dexter, Cosgrove (capt), Pettini, Eckersley (w/k), Dearden, McKay, Chappell, Shreck, Klein, Jones, Sayer.
Checking through my mails in recent days, there has been some criticism in the comparison between Leicestershire filling the coaching role to be vacated by Andrew McDonald quickly, while we have taken our time.
The answer is simple and the criticism not valid to me. They know their coach is leaving, while we wanted to give our mid-season replacement, John Sadler, a chance to make the job his own. He's not done a bad job, though hamstrung by some under-performing senior players and a few issues (the Ches n Wes stories) that are probably outwith his control.
Some younger players have taken the opportunity to make a case and, whatever happens at the summer's end, John can hold his head high. That an influx of reliable, more experienced talent is required is a given, and will doubtless be addressed in the coming weeks and months.
I am sure that plenty of work is going on behind the scenes to sort the many outstanding issues and there will be news soon enough.
In closing - thanks to my daughter for this!
First, Tom Taylor and Ben Cotton signed contract extensions, keeping them at the club until the end of 2018. Now today, Taylor's Ticknall team mate Tom Wood has been selected in the Derbyshire squad to play Leicestershire at the 3aaa County Ground, starting tomorrow.
It is just reward for Wood. after a prolific summer that followed a prolific winter in Australia. His game is in a good place right now and I am delighted for a young man who could have a big future. The presence of Academy graduates Alex Hughes, Ben Slater and Wood is good to see in a county batting line up. The full squad contains eight from that Academy and is:
Billy Godleman
Ben Slater
Alex Hughes
Wayne Madsen
Neil Broom
Tom Wood
Matt Critchley
Harvey Hosein
Tom Milnes
Tony Palladino
Callum Parkinson
Will Davis
Ben Cotton
The visitors have also named a thirteen-man squad, though one at the other end of the age spectrum, with a strong over-thirty bias.
Horton, Robson, Dexter, Cosgrove (capt), Pettini, Eckersley (w/k), Dearden, McKay, Chappell, Shreck, Klein, Jones, Sayer.
Checking through my mails in recent days, there has been some criticism in the comparison between Leicestershire filling the coaching role to be vacated by Andrew McDonald quickly, while we have taken our time.
The answer is simple and the criticism not valid to me. They know their coach is leaving, while we wanted to give our mid-season replacement, John Sadler, a chance to make the job his own. He's not done a bad job, though hamstrung by some under-performing senior players and a few issues (the Ches n Wes stories) that are probably outwith his control.
Some younger players have taken the opportunity to make a case and, whatever happens at the summer's end, John can hold his head high. That an influx of reliable, more experienced talent is required is a given, and will doubtless be addressed in the coming weeks and months.
I am sure that plenty of work is going on behind the scenes to sort the many outstanding issues and there will be news soon enough.
In closing - thanks to my daughter for this!
Saturday, 10 September 2016
Short weekend warmer
Thanks to you all for the good wishes after yesterday's hand surgery. I am currently recovering well and should be back to a semblance of normality in a couple of weeks.
I just wanted to close the correspondence on Daryl Smit for now, which is generating a postbag that Santa would struggle with, opinions of all kinds among them.
My own have been made clear, but of course, I am not privy to the team building plans, any more than you are. For all we know, there could be someone lined up from elsewhere and we may have a Kolpak target in mind as a strike bowler or spinner. What I would be against is packing the side with non-English qualified players, to the detriment of the young talent emerging.
So while I could handle us going 9-2 or even 8-3 with English/Kolpak balance, I would be loathe to see it slip to 7-4. We would struggle to afford it, for one thing and with Neil Broom already here, an overseas would take us to 9-2, before we did anything else. I know he's not a Kolpak, but he is not English-qualified either. I think Smit's experience over here would see him score more heavily, but Neil may well come back with a bang next summer, after a difficult 2016. I certainly hope so.
Let's see how it all pans out.
Thank you for your comments and mails and I will be back over the weekend with a daughter-typed preview of the season's final home game, against Leicestershire.
I just wanted to close the correspondence on Daryl Smit for now, which is generating a postbag that Santa would struggle with, opinions of all kinds among them.
My own have been made clear, but of course, I am not privy to the team building plans, any more than you are. For all we know, there could be someone lined up from elsewhere and we may have a Kolpak target in mind as a strike bowler or spinner. What I would be against is packing the side with non-English qualified players, to the detriment of the young talent emerging.
So while I could handle us going 9-2 or even 8-3 with English/Kolpak balance, I would be loathe to see it slip to 7-4. We would struggle to afford it, for one thing and with Neil Broom already here, an overseas would take us to 9-2, before we did anything else. I know he's not a Kolpak, but he is not English-qualified either. I think Smit's experience over here would see him score more heavily, but Neil may well come back with a bang next summer, after a difficult 2016. I certainly hope so.
Let's see how it all pans out.
Thank you for your comments and mails and I will be back over the weekend with a daughter-typed preview of the season's final home game, against Leicestershire.
Thursday, 8 September 2016
Smit double century as seconds draw
Full marks to the talented Rob Hemmings, who made a splendid 85 from 127 balls, but the star of the show was again South African Daryn Smit (pictured), who advanced his overnight 110 to an unbeaten 200 from 281 balls, with seventeen fours and four sixes. The pair added 211 in 43 overs, in what must have been something quite special to watch.
The game ended in a draw, with Ben Cotton picking up two and Hemmings one wicket before Neil Brand saw Glamorgan to a comfortable draw. Brand sounds like a player of talent and potential, but from a Derbyshire perspective, so does Smit.
It is hard to think he could have done more in two trial matches, keeping wicket tidily and recording scores of 59, 10 not and 200 not. It echoed the feats of Peter Kirsten when he arrived forty years ago and turned out for our second team and Smit could be an equally important player, if given the opportunity.
I fail to see how he couldn't be engaged on the back of his efforts, though of course am no more privy to the winter team-building plans than any of you. For me, it would be better to sign a player of established reputation back home, with one to build here, rather than one of a handful of keepers here who would be perhaps coming for one last pay day.
Unless we have AB de Villiers lined up as overseas ( a man can dream, huh?), Smit would do me very nicely and would doubtless be an asset in all forms of the game. I'd have liked to see him bowl a few overs today, as others have commented, but you need someone competent behind the timbers and maybe no one was up to that role.
Here's hoping there will be appropriate conversations in the next few days. If he turned out half as good as Wayne Madsen we'd have few complaints and I suspect he would be much more than that. Nor do I fear another Dominic Telo, a player of talent but one who played most of his domestic cricket at a lower level than the county game and struggled here. One doesn't skipper a South African franchise side, as Smit has, without having something special to offer.
Anyway, that's it from me for now. As I mentioned earlier in the week, hand surgery awaits tomorrow and a little enforced down time. Should any news break, I'll be back courtesy of my daughter, be assured of that.
Meantime, enjoy your weekend!
PS Thanks to those who were at Belper for their informed and well-expressed comments. Very much appreciated
Wednesday, 7 September 2016
Signposts for next summer at Belper? Wood and Smit make a case...
Last night, without the use of a crystal ball, I suggested that an 'impressive-looking' Derbyshire middle order might be worth keeping an eye on in the game at Belper, against Glamorgan's second team.
Indeed they were. Although Josh Clarke fell for just four, Ticknall's Tom Wood came in at four and played a lovely innings of 134 in just under four-and-a-half hours, with fourteen fours and four sixes. If Wood is not offered a deal for next summer, I will start to question the logic of our club's recruitment policy, plain and simple.
Here we have a lad from our own doorstep, who has scored heavily in local cricket for a number of summers, gone out to Australia and done the same in top grade cricket there, then come home and hit good runs against some quality attacks for the Unicorns. When given what appeared to be a belated opportunity in the second team, he responded with a double century, several other good scores and today's ton.
At 22, he is gold dust for a county not awash with exciting young batting talent and I hope that he gets a deal to show what he can do after a winter's work, when I would expect to see him push into the senior side. There is nothing to lose in playing the lad for the season's last two games, giving him a taster of the top level and seeing how easily he might make the transition. I would, were I picking the side.
Tom was joined in a stand of 158 by South African Daryn Smit, who batted to the end of the day in making an unbeaten 110 in four and a quarter hours of batting, nursing the side through to a healthy 364-6 at the close, after the quick dismissals of Greg Cork and Matt Critchley.
Ryan Bramwell earlier made a gritty 51, while Rob Hemmings shared an unbroken stand of 69 with Smit, who seems very much a player that we need for 2017. Neat and reliable behind the stumps, capable of playing the innings that the game demands anywhere between five and seven in the order, able to bowl challenging leggies - what's not to like?
Last night I got a lovely email from someone at his club, saying that he was a 'superhuman run machine' and 'the ultimate professional' who thoroughly deserved a crack at the county game. It is hard to disagree, looking at his statistics. If a player with Smit's track record isn't the answer to our wicket-keeping question, I'm unsure what that question is. He's also got an ancestral visa, I understand, which would allow him to play here in the same way that Wayne Madsen first did.
For me, an experienced nucleus of Madsen, Godleman, Broom, Smit and a bowling overseas, augmented by the youngsters as their form and fitness permits, would give Derbyshire a better-looking side for next year, one with a strong, experienced underbelly. Another seamer of experience and we'd be alright, allowing for continued development of those young players and the building of a strong 'Derbyshire' spirit.
Let's see what the days ahead bring, but it would be criminal to lose two players of unquestionable talent to other counties through a failure to act quickly.
Anyone got a pen?
Indeed they were. Although Josh Clarke fell for just four, Ticknall's Tom Wood came in at four and played a lovely innings of 134 in just under four-and-a-half hours, with fourteen fours and four sixes. If Wood is not offered a deal for next summer, I will start to question the logic of our club's recruitment policy, plain and simple.
Here we have a lad from our own doorstep, who has scored heavily in local cricket for a number of summers, gone out to Australia and done the same in top grade cricket there, then come home and hit good runs against some quality attacks for the Unicorns. When given what appeared to be a belated opportunity in the second team, he responded with a double century, several other good scores and today's ton.
At 22, he is gold dust for a county not awash with exciting young batting talent and I hope that he gets a deal to show what he can do after a winter's work, when I would expect to see him push into the senior side. There is nothing to lose in playing the lad for the season's last two games, giving him a taster of the top level and seeing how easily he might make the transition. I would, were I picking the side.
Tom was joined in a stand of 158 by South African Daryn Smit, who batted to the end of the day in making an unbeaten 110 in four and a quarter hours of batting, nursing the side through to a healthy 364-6 at the close, after the quick dismissals of Greg Cork and Matt Critchley.
Ryan Bramwell earlier made a gritty 51, while Rob Hemmings shared an unbroken stand of 69 with Smit, who seems very much a player that we need for 2017. Neat and reliable behind the stumps, capable of playing the innings that the game demands anywhere between five and seven in the order, able to bowl challenging leggies - what's not to like?
Last night I got a lovely email from someone at his club, saying that he was a 'superhuman run machine' and 'the ultimate professional' who thoroughly deserved a crack at the county game. It is hard to disagree, looking at his statistics. If a player with Smit's track record isn't the answer to our wicket-keeping question, I'm unsure what that question is. He's also got an ancestral visa, I understand, which would allow him to play here in the same way that Wayne Madsen first did.
For me, an experienced nucleus of Madsen, Godleman, Broom, Smit and a bowling overseas, augmented by the youngsters as their form and fitness permits, would give Derbyshire a better-looking side for next year, one with a strong, experienced underbelly. Another seamer of experience and we'd be alright, allowing for continued development of those young players and the building of a strong 'Derbyshire' spirit.
Let's see what the days ahead bring, but it would be criminal to lose two players of unquestionable talent to other counties through a failure to act quickly.
Anyone got a pen?
Tuesday, 6 September 2016
Welch back in the game / Seconds update
It was good to read yesterday that Graeme Welch is back in the game, as assistant coach at Leicestershire.
Irrespective of his early departure from Derbyshire, Welch remains a very good coach, especially of bowlers. His new role will suit him well and I am sure that his new county's bowlers will reap the benefit of his experience and wisdom.
I wish him well, as I am sure that you do.
Meanwhile, over at Belper Meadows today, some of his old charges were in action against Glamorgan, on the first day of a three-day game, It was a very young side, one in which South African wicket-keeper Daryn Smit must have felt almost paternal in the field, with Greg Cork as skipper.
An attack featuring five players of first team experience this summer (Cork plus Cotton, Davis, Hemmings, Parkinson and Critchley) bowled out the visitors for 287. Cork took 2-44, but the star was Callum Parkinson, who took 5-64 in 20 overs. Cotton, Hemmings and Critchley had a wicket each and the visitors reached their total thanks largely to South African born Neil Brand, who made 126.
It will be interesting to see how the Derbyshire reply goes tomorrow, with Josh Clarke, Tom Wood and Daryn Smit making up an impressive-looking middle order.
Derbyshire will resume their innings tomorrow on 14-0, with Kershaw and Bramwell the not out batsmen.
Irrespective of his early departure from Derbyshire, Welch remains a very good coach, especially of bowlers. His new role will suit him well and I am sure that his new county's bowlers will reap the benefit of his experience and wisdom.
I wish him well, as I am sure that you do.
Meanwhile, over at Belper Meadows today, some of his old charges were in action against Glamorgan, on the first day of a three-day game, It was a very young side, one in which South African wicket-keeper Daryn Smit must have felt almost paternal in the field, with Greg Cork as skipper.
An attack featuring five players of first team experience this summer (Cork plus Cotton, Davis, Hemmings, Parkinson and Critchley) bowled out the visitors for 287. Cork took 2-44, but the star was Callum Parkinson, who took 5-64 in 20 overs. Cotton, Hemmings and Critchley had a wicket each and the visitors reached their total thanks largely to South African born Neil Brand, who made 126.
It will be interesting to see how the Derbyshire reply goes tomorrow, with Josh Clarke, Tom Wood and Daryn Smit making up an impressive-looking middle order.
Derbyshire will resume their innings tomorrow on 14-0, with Kershaw and Bramwell the not out batsmen.
Monday, 5 September 2016
Monday musings
A nice couple of days off for old Peakfan afford an opportunity for early morning bloggery.
Also time for an early warning, that unless there's anything major happens from this Friday, I am unlikely to blog for around a week or so, as I have scheduled surgery on my hand. If there's anything super-exciting, my lovely daughter has agreed to type it while I dictate, but I don't want to impose too much!
Sod's law is that it will be when players start getting released left, right and centre, of course and conjecture will commence on their likely destinations. For what it is worth, I think that Derbyshire will engage the services of two or three young players of talent from local ranks and will then focus on match-winning players of established reputation. I think that both Charlie McDonnell and Tom Wood have done enough this year to warrant a deal for next season, as has Callum Parkinson. The first two will challenge a likely established line-up in the batting, with Wood likely to prove a real asset in the one-day game especially.
While we don't know the situation regarding Chesney Hughes, a top six of Godleman, Slater, Hughes (A), Madsen, Broom and Thakor should offer runs. Slater has really come onto his game in the second half of the summer, while Neil Broom will surely come good with a season of experience under his belt and time for reflection over the winter.
I'd like to see the recent opportunity offered to Alex Hughes extended. Sometimes such opportunity is all that is required for players to flourish and while I had concerns about his elevation to a role at three, he rose to it against Gloucestershire and has a sound technique to make a very good fist of the role. Kim Barnett started in the middle order and became our greatest-ever batsman at the top, so perhaps Alex could benefit from such a chance. The team would do so, from his effervescent personality, fielding and handy bowling, while a top six of three older heads and three young players has a nice look to it.
Which brings me to that key role at seven.
As I have written before, I expect Harvey Hosein to be our wicket-keeper for years and quite possibly get to international level. His technique is exemplary in both required disciplines, but I think that it is unrealistic for him to be seen as automatic first choice in three formats at the tender age of twenty. A season average of 115 from limited opportunity is impressive, but a career one of 21 is more relevant at present and we urgently need a wicket-keeper who can nurse the tail through to innings recovery as required, or take a game away from the opposition.
Having seen South African Daryn Smit involved with our second team, I am very much of the opinion that he would be the perfect fit for us.
I don't share notoveryet's concern that he might experience the issues encountered by Neil Broom this year, because he has greater experience of our conditions. Indeed, for the last three summers, he has made a case for consideration as one of Ramsbottom's finest-ever professionals, these statistics on a large ground and usually slow wicket:
2014 - Average 61 with bat and 88 wickets at 7.22
2015 - Average 113 with bat and 74 wickets at 8.19
2016 - Average 94 with bat and 25 wickets at 10.92
With plenty of bowling in all forms of the game in South Africa, Smit would be an intriguing option for Derbyshire, as a batsman and wicket-keeper of high quality who could also play as the former, as well as offering handy spin variation if required, while Hosein took the gloves.
I have no idea if we are seriously interested in him, but his appearance in the second team would be otherwise unusual at his stage of career . Someone asked him that very question on Twitter yesterday, but he's not going to say anything ahead of a club statement, one way or another.
I hope there is interest though, because his quality is undeniable. Derbyshire could then play an overseas bowler (please!) and whatever combination of seam and spin they felt appropriate.
I agree with notoveryet that a potential attack of Palladino, Milnes and Davis offers a nice mixture of the talents, with challenge from Ben Cotton and Tom Taylor another summer, though a left-arm presence would be nice for variation. That seems to be recognised, with Greg Cork, Gurjit Sandhu (ex-Middlesex) and Luis Reece (ex-Lancashire), lefties to a man, in the attack for the recent second team game against Nottinghamshire.
Reece is a decent cricketer and looked a good batsman when he opened the innings against us in this year's T20 at Derby, though less so when his one over went to all corners of the ground. That can happen to anyone though, and there's a good cricketer in the lad, perhaps, as I said earlier about Alex Hughes, requiring greater opportunity somewhere than he has had so far. A batting average in the thirties suggests that someone might give him another chance in the first-class game.
An overseas bowler though, someone who could take fifty-plus wickets this season...now that would make a difference, eh?
Also time for an early warning, that unless there's anything major happens from this Friday, I am unlikely to blog for around a week or so, as I have scheduled surgery on my hand. If there's anything super-exciting, my lovely daughter has agreed to type it while I dictate, but I don't want to impose too much!
Sod's law is that it will be when players start getting released left, right and centre, of course and conjecture will commence on their likely destinations. For what it is worth, I think that Derbyshire will engage the services of two or three young players of talent from local ranks and will then focus on match-winning players of established reputation. I think that both Charlie McDonnell and Tom Wood have done enough this year to warrant a deal for next season, as has Callum Parkinson. The first two will challenge a likely established line-up in the batting, with Wood likely to prove a real asset in the one-day game especially.
While we don't know the situation regarding Chesney Hughes, a top six of Godleman, Slater, Hughes (A), Madsen, Broom and Thakor should offer runs. Slater has really come onto his game in the second half of the summer, while Neil Broom will surely come good with a season of experience under his belt and time for reflection over the winter.
I'd like to see the recent opportunity offered to Alex Hughes extended. Sometimes such opportunity is all that is required for players to flourish and while I had concerns about his elevation to a role at three, he rose to it against Gloucestershire and has a sound technique to make a very good fist of the role. Kim Barnett started in the middle order and became our greatest-ever batsman at the top, so perhaps Alex could benefit from such a chance. The team would do so, from his effervescent personality, fielding and handy bowling, while a top six of three older heads and three young players has a nice look to it.
Which brings me to that key role at seven.
As I have written before, I expect Harvey Hosein to be our wicket-keeper for years and quite possibly get to international level. His technique is exemplary in both required disciplines, but I think that it is unrealistic for him to be seen as automatic first choice in three formats at the tender age of twenty. A season average of 115 from limited opportunity is impressive, but a career one of 21 is more relevant at present and we urgently need a wicket-keeper who can nurse the tail through to innings recovery as required, or take a game away from the opposition.
Having seen South African Daryn Smit involved with our second team, I am very much of the opinion that he would be the perfect fit for us.
I don't share notoveryet's concern that he might experience the issues encountered by Neil Broom this year, because he has greater experience of our conditions. Indeed, for the last three summers, he has made a case for consideration as one of Ramsbottom's finest-ever professionals, these statistics on a large ground and usually slow wicket:
2014 - Average 61 with bat and 88 wickets at 7.22
2015 - Average 113 with bat and 74 wickets at 8.19
2016 - Average 94 with bat and 25 wickets at 10.92
With plenty of bowling in all forms of the game in South Africa, Smit would be an intriguing option for Derbyshire, as a batsman and wicket-keeper of high quality who could also play as the former, as well as offering handy spin variation if required, while Hosein took the gloves.
I have no idea if we are seriously interested in him, but his appearance in the second team would be otherwise unusual at his stage of career . Someone asked him that very question on Twitter yesterday, but he's not going to say anything ahead of a club statement, one way or another.
I hope there is interest though, because his quality is undeniable. Derbyshire could then play an overseas bowler (please!) and whatever combination of seam and spin they felt appropriate.
I agree with notoveryet that a potential attack of Palladino, Milnes and Davis offers a nice mixture of the talents, with challenge from Ben Cotton and Tom Taylor another summer, though a left-arm presence would be nice for variation. That seems to be recognised, with Greg Cork, Gurjit Sandhu (ex-Middlesex) and Luis Reece (ex-Lancashire), lefties to a man, in the attack for the recent second team game against Nottinghamshire.
Reece is a decent cricketer and looked a good batsman when he opened the innings against us in this year's T20 at Derby, though less so when his one over went to all corners of the ground. That can happen to anyone though, and there's a good cricketer in the lad, perhaps, as I said earlier about Alex Hughes, requiring greater opportunity somewhere than he has had so far. A batting average in the thirties suggests that someone might give him another chance in the first-class game.
An overseas bowler though, someone who could take fifty-plus wickets this season...now that would make a difference, eh?
Saturday, 3 September 2016
Derbyshire v Gloucestershire day 4
And the rain came down, a little earlier even than forecast, rendering any conjecture as to a likely outcome exactly that.
It would have been a good last day and we did well to take it to that stage, so I hope that we can build on the 'feel good' factor in the last two games of the summer.
Then the rebuilding commences...
It would have been a good last day and we did well to take it to that stage, so I hope that we can build on the 'feel good' factor in the last two games of the summer.
Then the rebuilding commences...
Derbyshire v Gloucestershire day 3
Derbyshire 242 and 360 (Hughes 140, Milnes 56, Hosein 52 not, Broom 42)
Gloucestershire 331 and 10-0
Gloucestershire need 262 more to win
Sadly, rain that is forecast to move in from midday today looks set to have the final word in an absorbing contest, in which Derbyshire fought back heroically yesterday.
That they took the game into a final day was down to a fine team effort, led by Alex Hughes, with a wonderful, career-best innings of 140. Alex has struggled for a regular place this summer and putting him in at three has met with some criticism and a little bemusement, from me as well as others. Yet here he showed he has the game for the role and, given greater opportunity, may grow into it.
Whether his bowling will become good enough for him to be seen as a genuine four-day all-rounder is a fair question, but he has much to offer as a cricketer and his one-day contributions have marked him as one to watch. Even there, this summer he has only got in with a couple of overs to go, but perhaps John Sadler has discovered a niche for a very talented player to get into the side on a more regular basis. I hope so, as I like what he brings to the side.
Neil Broom lent good support before chopping onto his stumps, then after tea Harvey Hosein produced a battling innings to register a second first-class fifty. When Hughes departed, Tom Milnes came in and played a cavalier innings of 56 from 53 balls.
Milnes is another who has had his critics since his move from Warwickshire, but in the season's closing weeks he has shown himself capable of taking wickets and scoring runs at this level. Graeme Welch suggested that he saw some of himself in the young Milnes when he signed him from Warwickshire and it may be that next summer could see his career blossom.
It was a good effort by Derbyshire, and came despite only the second career 'pair' for Wayne Madsen, who got a reported brute of a ball to be out third ball. It just shows that anything can happen in the greatest of games.
With the expressed and obvious need for greater experience in the Derbyshire side, there is also a need for young talent to be encouraged and nurtured. Thus, the presence of some interesting trialists in the second eleven in their game against Nottinghamshire may offer pointers to 2017.
Former Lancashire all-rounder Luis Reece took four wickets on debut, while Gurjit Singh Sandhu, formerly of Middlesex, took three as Derbyshire bowled out Nottinghamshire for 84.
In Derbyshire's reply, young Australian Josh Clarke made a round hundred. Clarke, a left-hand bat, has made a lot of runs and taken many wickets with his slow left-arm in recent summers in the Derbyshire Premier League. I understand that he is keen to play county cricket and that we may be looking at him qualifying to do so. One to watch, for sure.
So too is South African wicket-keeper Daryn Smit. At 32, Smit is an established, talented and somewhat unusual performer in Durban, home of Wayne Madsen. He has a mid-thirties career batting average, with six centuries and over thirty fifties. He has similar averages in the one-day formats, but also has over a hundred first-class wickets with leg-spin - and more in the one-day game - to go with over 300 first-class victims behind the stumps. He has also been Dolphins franchise captain, and is a well-respected cricketer who has scored a lot of runs and taken many wickets as a league professional in this country.
It would be surprising for him to be playing for Derbyshire Seconds without being under consideration for a contract for another summer. It could be a left-field but very interesting move by the county and Smit did himself no harm with 59 in the first innings before seeing us home for a six-wicket win, in company with Clarke, who made an unbeaten 36 to go with his earlier century.
All this after a five-wicket haul by Greg Cork, which made for an interesting day all round.
More from me soon.
Gloucestershire 331 and 10-0
Gloucestershire need 262 more to win
Sadly, rain that is forecast to move in from midday today looks set to have the final word in an absorbing contest, in which Derbyshire fought back heroically yesterday.
That they took the game into a final day was down to a fine team effort, led by Alex Hughes, with a wonderful, career-best innings of 140. Alex has struggled for a regular place this summer and putting him in at three has met with some criticism and a little bemusement, from me as well as others. Yet here he showed he has the game for the role and, given greater opportunity, may grow into it.
Whether his bowling will become good enough for him to be seen as a genuine four-day all-rounder is a fair question, but he has much to offer as a cricketer and his one-day contributions have marked him as one to watch. Even there, this summer he has only got in with a couple of overs to go, but perhaps John Sadler has discovered a niche for a very talented player to get into the side on a more regular basis. I hope so, as I like what he brings to the side.
Neil Broom lent good support before chopping onto his stumps, then after tea Harvey Hosein produced a battling innings to register a second first-class fifty. When Hughes departed, Tom Milnes came in and played a cavalier innings of 56 from 53 balls.
Milnes is another who has had his critics since his move from Warwickshire, but in the season's closing weeks he has shown himself capable of taking wickets and scoring runs at this level. Graeme Welch suggested that he saw some of himself in the young Milnes when he signed him from Warwickshire and it may be that next summer could see his career blossom.
It was a good effort by Derbyshire, and came despite only the second career 'pair' for Wayne Madsen, who got a reported brute of a ball to be out third ball. It just shows that anything can happen in the greatest of games.
With the expressed and obvious need for greater experience in the Derbyshire side, there is also a need for young talent to be encouraged and nurtured. Thus, the presence of some interesting trialists in the second eleven in their game against Nottinghamshire may offer pointers to 2017.
Former Lancashire all-rounder Luis Reece took four wickets on debut, while Gurjit Singh Sandhu, formerly of Middlesex, took three as Derbyshire bowled out Nottinghamshire for 84.
In Derbyshire's reply, young Australian Josh Clarke made a round hundred. Clarke, a left-hand bat, has made a lot of runs and taken many wickets with his slow left-arm in recent summers in the Derbyshire Premier League. I understand that he is keen to play county cricket and that we may be looking at him qualifying to do so. One to watch, for sure.
So too is South African wicket-keeper Daryn Smit. At 32, Smit is an established, talented and somewhat unusual performer in Durban, home of Wayne Madsen. He has a mid-thirties career batting average, with six centuries and over thirty fifties. He has similar averages in the one-day formats, but also has over a hundred first-class wickets with leg-spin - and more in the one-day game - to go with over 300 first-class victims behind the stumps. He has also been Dolphins franchise captain, and is a well-respected cricketer who has scored a lot of runs and taken many wickets as a league professional in this country.
It would be surprising for him to be playing for Derbyshire Seconds without being under consideration for a contract for another summer. It could be a left-field but very interesting move by the county and Smit did himself no harm with 59 in the first innings before seeing us home for a six-wicket win, in company with Clarke, who made an unbeaten 36 to go with his earlier century.
All this after a five-wicket haul by Greg Cork, which made for an interesting day all round.
More from me soon.
Friday, 2 September 2016
Derbyshire v Gloucestershire day 2
Derbyshire 242 and 16-2
Gloucestershire 331 (Mustard 107 not, Dent 94, Palladino 5-74)
Derbyshire trail by 73 runs
Apologies for the lack of blog last night, but everyday life got in the way and meant that a reflection on the day's play had to wait until this morning.
Were it not for the late loss of two big wickets, which saw both our openers back in the pavilion, we didn't do too badly on Thursday, in limiting the first innings deficit to 89 runs. Tony Palladino led by example in taking five wickets, while both Tom Milnes and Callum Parkinson reinforced their recent good impression with tight spells and a couple of wickets each.
The team selection puzzled again though, with Matt Critchley selected, batting six but only bowling four overs. That long tail is likely to see another early finish, unless it wags with greater vigour than it managed in the first innings.
As for the opposition, Chris Dent scored well against us again, not quite on the Nick Browne scale, but another opener who would love to face us every week and scores heavily when he does. Meanwhile Phil Mustard scored what was his first championship ton for five years, although he has been some way removed from a four-day regular for Durham.
Will we see him at Derby next year? I hope so, because at present the side is crying out for an experienced player or two with the nous and gumption to battle it out when the going gets tough.
Phil Mustard or Niall O'Brien? Either would do me. No disrespect intended to Harvey Hosein, whose glove work is excellent, but a number seven who can score good runs and nurse the tail to respectability is absolutely crucial if we are to be more competitive next year.
A few more, too...
Gloucestershire 331 (Mustard 107 not, Dent 94, Palladino 5-74)
Derbyshire trail by 73 runs
Apologies for the lack of blog last night, but everyday life got in the way and meant that a reflection on the day's play had to wait until this morning.
Were it not for the late loss of two big wickets, which saw both our openers back in the pavilion, we didn't do too badly on Thursday, in limiting the first innings deficit to 89 runs. Tony Palladino led by example in taking five wickets, while both Tom Milnes and Callum Parkinson reinforced their recent good impression with tight spells and a couple of wickets each.
The team selection puzzled again though, with Matt Critchley selected, batting six but only bowling four overs. That long tail is likely to see another early finish, unless it wags with greater vigour than it managed in the first innings.
As for the opposition, Chris Dent scored well against us again, not quite on the Nick Browne scale, but another opener who would love to face us every week and scores heavily when he does. Meanwhile Phil Mustard scored what was his first championship ton for five years, although he has been some way removed from a four-day regular for Durham.
Will we see him at Derby next year? I hope so, because at present the side is crying out for an experienced player or two with the nous and gumption to battle it out when the going gets tough.
Phil Mustard or Niall O'Brien? Either would do me. No disrespect intended to Harvey Hosein, whose glove work is excellent, but a number seven who can score good runs and nurse the tail to respectability is absolutely crucial if we are to be more competitive next year.
A few more, too...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)