Sunday 13 October 2013

Something for the weekend

I love Sunday mornings.

A chance to relax, catch up with the news, do a few jobs that need attended to and look forward to a nice meal and whatever else the day is set to bring.

So it is that today I catch up with a few queries from recent days, either from comments or e mails received.

John asked what the Derbyshire players will be up to in the winter and if any of them will be heading off to Australia. The short answer to the first question is that they will go for a holiday and then return, to work on their fitness and technique ahead of the 2014 season. Cricketers today are largely on year-round contracts and don't need to take a winter job in security (as Allan Warner used to do) or digging ditches (where Mike Hendrick found himself on occasion).

Some will have outside business interests to attend to. Wayne Madsen, for example, will doubtless help his wife in her sports coaching business, while other players will work towards coaching badges with a view to a future career in the game. One of the features of the club's blueprint was that young players should work towards coaching badges and be able to 'give back' to the next generation, which is the most laudable of ideas.

The even shorter answer to John's second question is 'no'. The Australian experience for Derbyshire players last winter was hardly one we would wish to replicate. Ross Whiteley came back with his game far from enhanced and has subsequently left the club, Dan Redfern looks set to do the same and Tom Knight had to work on his technique, to my knowledge, after flaws crept in down under.

Given the club's tight financial situation, I'd have thought that the cost of such trips could be better utilised in other ways. With young players there's also the risk that different coaches might try to 'tinker' with their game in a well-intentioned, but ultimately detrimental manner and I'd be surprised to see the Oz experience repeated sometime soon.

Dan got in touch to say that there's less movement among players because counties carry younger squads with only established and contributing senior players. He's right and the finances and requirements of the modern game mean that few clubs carry senior professionals in their late twenties on decent salaries who are outwith the first team. The ECB incentives ensure good representation among the under 26's, but you'll not find too many above that age around the circuit and outwith the senior set up. Changed days indeed.

Finally, Greg suggested by e mail that we should go for a Kolpak to strengthen the side. I've mentioned this myself and the club's commitment to fielding 'nine plus two' in all matches certainly allows for it, but it depends on the right player being available at the right cost. I also think it more likely to have happened if we'd stayed in the top tier and, as I've written before, we need to ensure that any signing now will make a major difference.

I'd certainly be unhappy to see a route through to the senior side blocked by an overseas player who was only marginally better than what we have. If a good South African all-rounder who offered a seam-bowling option came on the market it would be useful, but I can't think of any who would satisfy the stringent ECB qualifying regulations, nor my own, for that matter.

One to think about, perhaps.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

1 comment:

  1. I,ve always questioned the value of sending players abroad to play winter cricket. I just fail to see the point of it,playing in conditions they are rarely likely to encounter in this country. As you hint, the impact on certain of our players has been wholly negative and no benefit has been derived from it.

    Even the Barbados trip is of questionable merit. It does allow some competetive cricket to be played,but once again,in conditions and on wickets that will be light years from those encountered in an English April. On a sidenote,I hope more consideration will be given to domestic friendlies next year. The idea should be to try and build confidence,not destroy it. In other words,we don,t really want to be playing Durham,do we?. I hope we,ve got Leicestersire,s number in the phone book.

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