Derbyshire v Yorkshire day 3

Wayne Madsen

As Wayne Madsen drove, cut and reverse swept his way to a brilliant and typical century today, it made me think of the plight of Edward Smith, the captain of the Titanic, who stayed at the helm to the very end as his ship sank beneath the waves.

Madsen was – again – magnificent, but his effort was in stark contrast to most of his side. These are difficult times for Derbyshire players and supporters alike and there is no easy way to write about the playing side right now. My first thought today after the early finish was ‘we’ve lost a day’s gate money’.

A lot of me feels sorry for the players. There are a few of them who have been found out this summer and this level has proven to be too high for them. Some may come again; some may not get that opportunity. It doesn’t alter the fact that they can play – as I have said before, you have to be good to handle this level at all – but the reality is that the next time we hit this level we need to be better.

It is all very well for fans to shout ‘disgrace’ and suggest X, Y, or Z should go, but there is no easy solution. Irrespective of what some fans are saying, the guys are trying their best and working as hard as they can, but they are simply outclassed at this level. If you’ve played the game, you will know the feeling, when other teams turn up and they’re on top of you all the time. You can’t get the bowling away and then, they paste you around the park. One true thing in this greatest of games is that we all have a level and too many of our side this season have found this one beyond them.

We must not ignore bright spots. Shivnarine Chanderpaul would have enjoyed that wicket and will continue to score heavily for us as long as he is at the club. The captain is top-class and Hughes has shown enough – albeit in flashes – to suggest he is moving forward, if not at the pace we would like. Peter Burgoyne has shown in this game that at 19 he has a bright future, while Tom Poynton confirmed that he has considerable batting ability to go with his excellent glove work.

Therein lays an issue though. The only other player to shape up with the bat was Richard Johnson in the first innings and the question is whether he can become good enough to play as a batsman pure and simple. Both are good enough to be a first choice keeper, but as a batting specialist? With limited resources, can we really afford two keepers of first-class standard?

People calling for big clear outs are being silly. We have players on contracts and even if we chose to pay anyone off, it would cost money that we’re hardly awash with. The nucleus of this team will do well in Division Two and better luck with injury would probably see the majority of the attack as successful next year as they were last. Durston, Redfern and Godleman have struggled this summer, but hard work in the winter should see one or more capable of good second tier runs.

Chris Grant and Karl Krikken will be far more aware of how we can improve than anyone. They will know that we need to strengthen, but will know what resources we have to do so. There is no point in any of us speculating unduly as it is not fair on people who are doing their best in trying circumstances.

It could be that challenging in the second tier will be the summit of our ambitions for the immediate future, or we could be a side that yo-yos between divisions until young players become established and we can bring in others who can handle the big time. It is patently obvious that some of the current personnel will not be there for the long haul, but their work ethic, ability, mental toughness and age will all be factors in deciding who makes it and who doesn’t.

Derbyshire in 2012

All I ask is this. I hope that young players, like Ben Slater, Alex Hughes, Tom Knight, Peter Burgoyne and Tom Poynton get a chance to test themselves in the remainder of the championship summer. If they do so and fail, it gives them a benchmark to how hard they need to work to make the top county level. They may be found wanting, but then again they might not. Either way, they would benefit ahead of Division Two and what should be a less demanding platform.

As for those of you writing in – please continue to do so, but as you do, keep in mind that however poorly the results are going, these guys are trying their best for OUR club. They are also the son, brother, relative or friend of someone who might either read or stumble across this site. It isn’t fair to write about sackings – if they happen, fair enough, but I don’t want this site to become a gathering place for miscreants seeking change and mischief. Constructive criticisms are fine and remember that we’re all hurting and feeling the same right now, myself included.

Just keep in mind last September. Maybe we did over-achieve last summer. Some may still wonder how we finished above this Yorkshire side, but we did. Their greater resources have enabled them to move forward, while we’ve not had that luxury, but history will record Derbyshire as Division Two champions in 2012. However bad this championship summer has been, I wouldn’t swap last summer and those crazy scenes at Derby in September for anything.

With your continued support and patience, we’ll experience that again.

Trust me.