Saturday 21 June 2008

Derbyshire v Notts

Well, that's the end of the interest in 20/20 for this season...

I have to say that I'm not surprised, as I said last night that I couldn't see us repeating the heroics of earlier in the week. I'm not especially pleased to be proved right, but I'm disappointed that we went out in such a "damp" way.

Our home performances so far have been very poor - first against Lancashire, now tonight with only a semi-respectable loss to Yorkshire at Chesterfield in between. At the start of the tournament I thought our top six looked quite good, but results have proven the old frailties to be very much still there.

The truth is that there is no one in that top six sans Chris Rogers who you would back to make a score. Dom Telo hasn't got going this season, Greg Smith has done well in some matches but plays in a way that always gives the bowler a chance, likewise Wavell Hinds.

The skipper is desperate for runs and is struggling badly. Maybe we're seeing "Charlie Lee syndrome". Lee came from Yorkshire in the 1950's and had a dreadful first season before blossoming into a good professional and captain. Our excitement at the signing of a potential England player has dissipated somewhat and for everyone's sake I hope he gets some runs soon. He's a pretty good captain, a safe slip and a decent bowler, but most people would say that batting is his strongest suit and the bottom line is that Rikki hasn't yet delivered at the crease.

Of the rest, Dan Birch has done well in the Championship but only by reigning in his attacking instincts. The man who has dismantled many league attacks doesn't look like doing the same to County bowlers, while John Sadler is, like his captain, desperate for a decent score.

Most of our runs this season have come from Rogers and Stubbings, neither of whom played in this competition, together with the late middle order - Wagg, Pipe and Clare. It hurts to say it, but until we can sign a couple of proven, regular run scorers to augment the existing talent, we will not progress to a good side.

We are competitive, beyond doubt, but primarily because of a good attack. Wagg, Langeveldt, Lungley and Clare make up a very fine seam quartet and could genuinely win us trophies with the support of Nayan Doshi. But until we learn how to bat in all forms of the game with consistency, we fans will continue to be frustrated.

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