Derbyshire cricket: Huge debt of gratitude due to Karl Krikken

Karl Krikken

Had he decided to throw his hat into the ring for the role, the chances are that Karl Krikken would have been a strong contender for the post of Elite Cricket Performance Director at Derbyshire CCC. By no standards could his tenure have been deemed a failure – indeed, he led the county to a trophy, that memorable second division title in 2012.

Yet Krikk opted not to apply for the new role, for reasons known only to him. Maybe his pride was hurt, maybe he didn’t want the hassle of interview preparation, maybe he has something else lined up already. The usual confidentiality clause over the parting means we shall perhaps never know, but the undeniable truth is that we are losing the services of a loyal and admirable club man, one who has served us well for twenty-seven summers.

As a wicket-keeper, he was unorthodox in much the same way that Kim Barnett was with the bat, but equally effective. Ignoring the edgy, non-stop technique behind the stumps, with a rolling gait that compared to a farmer in wellingtons trudging through a muddy field, he had as good a pair of hands as any of his contemporaries.

That goal-keeping stance, the subject of disparaging comment among cricketing purists, enabled him to get across to some catches, especially down the leg side, that others wouldn’t have got anywhere near. His agility, allied to that glove work, made him a worthy part of an illustrious lineage that went through Harry Elliott, George Dawkes and Bob Taylor.

He was as good a batsman as any of them and played a number of pugnacious knocks, often against the clock or as declaration approached. He batted selflessly and an average of 22 was respectable for a player who generally batted at seven or eight in a side with some handy players.

After retirement as a player he took over the club’s fledgling Academy and was responsible for the start of a procession of players into the first-class game. Critics would say that few of them have become established county cricketers and that’s a fair point, but Krikk’s affable persona, his passion for the game and his technical knowledge served him and them well.

Much as it did when he took over the senior role from John Morris in 2011. Taking over such a position mid-season was never going to be an easy gig, especially when the role saw him dropped into a dressing room where a few people were unsettled. It is to Krikken’s eternal credit that he poured oil on troubled waters, smoothed ruffled feathers and turned things around sufficiently to enable the memorable division two title a year later.

He was aided by some shrewd overseas recruitment. Martin Guptill had a massive influence on early-season fortunes, while Usman Khawaja, while perhaps just short of international class, played important knocks when they were most needed. Last winter saw the signing of a genuine legend in Shivnarine Chanderpaul and all three, importantly, proved to be team men with talent, a combination that not all counties manage to secure.