Derbyshire v New Zealand: Day 2
There was a certain predictability about the morning’s cricket at Derby today, as New Zealand’s seamers worked their way systematically through a Derbyshire batting line-up that is largely bereft of confidence at the moment.
The honourable exception was Wes Durston, who showed his importance to the side with a battling display that ended somewhat prematurely, but it was sadly predictable for Messrs Godleman, Redfern and Whiteley. All three are lacking form at present and the additional pressure that this puts on the rest of the line up cannot be overlooked.
Being out of touch is hard going for a cricketer and the pressure must be so much the greater for a professional, when everyone is telling them what they need to do, with the best of intentions but doing nothing but add to the ongoing agitated state. Sometimes it’s best just to go back to basics and try to play as you always have. Then again, when you’re in a bad trot, it is hard to remember what that feels like.
When you’re out of form, the first time you nick it you will be caught. The first time you miss it you will be lbw, sometimes even if the ball was nowhere near the stumps. You might middle an occasional ball and then you find that someone holds an early contender for catch of the season and sends you on your way. The ring of fielders around you becomes an impenetrable barrier and there appears to be no end to the ongoing feeling of frustration. It is one of the challenges of the game. Misplace a couple of passes at football and a team mate can bail you out. Misplace a shot at cricket and you’re on your own, perhaps back to the pavilion for the afternoon.
I just wonder whether there has been any discussion between Karl Krikken and Chris Grant regarding the viability of bringing in someone on loan. Someone mentioned that among the comments a week or so back and I discounted the idea on cost grounds, but it has to be something that is at least considered.
Sides can overcome the occasional player struggling for his best form, but we have three players in our first choice side who seem to be wondering where their next run is coming from. It is far from easy for them and is making life very difficult for the side. Maybe two or three weeks getting bat on ball out of the firing line would be beneficial, though the advent of the one-day games with fewer close fielders might be equally timely.
Ross Whiteley’s struggle is especially problematic as he offers such balance to the side at his best. The only player on the staff who could feasibly do that is Peter Burgoyne, but is he ready for a pivotal role in the side at 19? I guess we’ll only know if we try it, though swapping a seam bowling all-rounder for a spinning equivalent creates an imbalance of another kind.
Wayne White can’t get a game at Lancashire right now but is a good player who is known to us, playing at Swarkestone when time allows. Might a loan for a month be an idea? Similarly, Joe Sayers is a good opening batsman up at Yorkshire but can’t get into their strong batting line up, despite scoring heavily in their Second XI this summer. Either would solve a problem for Derbyshire and both know northern wickets well. I haven’t a clue how much such players would cost for a month, but they have the requisite experience to enable us to pull a vulnerable youngster out of the firing line for a few games before too much damage is done to their already fragile confidence.
The budget may be spent to the max, in which case we must stand with what we have and hope that they emerge from their current trots sooner, rather than later. If there is any scope, they would appear the best bet to help us out in our current situation.
As always, I would welcome your comments…