CrawlingFox

A go at the 4 day starting XI with alternatives/backups the other side of the /: Patel Budinger/Evans Hill/Kimber Handscomb/Swindells Mulder Ahmed/Trevaskis Cox Mike/Walker Scriven/Wood Wright Salisbury/Hull I think Mike probably does make the first XI unless Kimber or someone comes in to the batting and Cox drops to 8? Probably don't need 6 bowlers really but then Scriven is a steady bat all the way down at 9 too with those 6 in.

Ben Mike of his last season with us is a good addition. His spell at Yorks was a disaster but I do think Thomas and Taylor are building an atmosphere that will help give him confidence and get the best out of him. Needs to tighten up his bowling economy significantly across all formats though as that was always his biggest weakness.

Sam Wood is 19 and is an academy prospect... Nijjar is 29.

Looking at his second xi stats that sounds about right. Took 13 wickets at 23 in 12 innings. Only Walker and Davis bowled more overs so he was used a fair bit. Averaged 8 with the bat but he did hit a 50 and managed 35 the prior season so can bat a bit it seems. Didn't bowl in the second xi t20.

Any names who could he in the frame from players released elsewhere? Or actually does Sam Wood fill this gap for a bowling all rounder.

I agree on both points. Would give us: Batters: Patel, Budinger, Evans, Hill, Swindells, Kimber, Handscomb (wk), Cox (wk) All Rounders: Mulder, Ahmed, Trevaskis Bowlers: Wright, Scriven, Walker, Hull, Salisbury + 1 (Ramji was only announced on a short term deal but is still on the squad page too...) Assuming one other bowler gives us a squad of 17 or 18 depending on Ramji. Reckon we could see another overseas signing for the Blast, Handscomb has a pretty average t20 record? Be handy if Budinger turned up in t20 next season and I think Kimber will go well again so we do have hitters though. It's an exciting squad though, looks strong for 4 day and t20. And I think only 4 players over 30 which is an interesting contrast with Derbyshire's dad's army. Also 4 or 5 academy lads which is nice.

5 of the top 6 picks itself with the exception of who partners Patel opening and Cox will keep likely at 7: Patel Budinger/Evans Hill Handscomb Mulder - Cox Kimber, Swindells, Trevaskis and Ahmed competing for a spot at 5 or 6 with Mulder in the other spot? Though given Mulder and Ahmed both bat and bowl we could drop Cox to 8 and fit two of them in. Or Hill opens with Patel which makes more room. Frankly this may make sense as I think Swindells could offer a better balance than either ultra attacking Budinger or super slow Evans.

Great news for Patel, very well deserved.

When Azad first came in to the team he scored heavily, averaged 45 or something and frequently gave us a great platform. Last season for Northants he played 9 games, averaged 19 and only scored a single 50 with an eye bleeding strike rate of 36.8. That was in division one obviously but it feels like he's been figured out and failed to adapt his game to add more scoring shots. He's also no closer to playing any white ball games. I'm not sure Sam Evans is any better really but he doesn't look any worse at this point and even has a 50 in a white ball final under his belt now and you only need one of these players really.

Along with Parky off to Durham!

Really hope Kimber is staying, he'd be a big loss especially from the t20 side. Finan does seem a shame in that when he first arrived he certainly looked to have pace and like he could have been a bit of a rough diamond but seems it wasn't to be, injuries this season not helping. Steel also feels like someone we could have got more from but who knows what went on there. Welch also looked useful at timew but ultimately not quite good enough at this level, have heard he's off back to Zimbabwe and will likely be in the mix for their national side quite quickly given the age profiles of Ervine, Williams and Raza who are the spine of their batting so fair play to him. Davis and Barnes both had good performances on occasion but not often enough and both going more or less completes the deadwood being cleared from the bowling stable following Evans, Griffiths and Sakande leaving at the end of last season. Hopefully Walker can do better than all these named next season. Squad then: Batters - Patel, Budinger, Hill, Handscomb + Evans and Kimber hopefully. Keepers - Cox and hopefully Swindells. All Rounders - Ahmed, Mulder, Trevaskis Bowlers - Scriven, Hull, Walker, Salisbury + Wright hopefully. If Kimber isn't off and the other 3 all sign then we've 16 players on the books so you feel we'll need a few more. Haven't heard anything about Naveen returning but I'd imagine we'll bring in another overseas player for the Blast given Handscomb's record isn't outstanding in the format. Definitely need at least one more decent bat and a decent bowler I feel to give minimum depth. Hopefully on top of that someone from the academy might be ready to step up to a pro deal. Sam Wood (bowling all rounder) bowled well for the seconds and Jake Tarling (batter) played for the England under 19 Lions this season so could be options though nobody really stands out at second XI level enough to make you feel they're kicking the door down. Imagine there is certainly other Patels or Scrivens out there at other counties though.

Ah of course, had a mare there!

Wright staying is a real bonus. I make our best XI currently something like the below with backups in brackets: Patel Budinger (Evans) Hill (c) Handscomb Mulder Kimber Ahmed (Trevaskis) Cox (wk) Scriven Wright Salisbury (Hull) This assumes Mulder is fully fit to bowl so we don't need a fourth pace bowler in the XI and Trevaskis is ideal to slot in for Ahmed as needed. Hopefully Swindells signs and is the backup for Cox or perhaps as a specialist bat too. I think Finan is the only other player confirmed as definitely here next season so will need more signings. My feeling with the last overseas signing is that the weakest position in the side is Patel's opening partner though Budinger may well push on. Put a Marcus Harris in beside Patel and we've a serious side and you could rotate Budinger with Kimber and see if he can make hay against an older ball/tireder attack too.

Doesn't surprise me that Davis being let go. He's a talented player but fitness/form/consistency have seemed to illude him in recent seasons. I really hope we can keep Wright, would be over the moon with it to be honest. Wright, Mulder, Scriven + 1 with Ahmed for spin and that's a serious attack.

Also in regards to Scriven if he backs this season's bowling up next season and realises his batting potential as well then I think he'll be getting some of the "bigger" counties interested and joining Patel with a shout for the Lions.

Wright needs two more wickets and he's got 50 first class wickets for the season. Really impressive and he'll be missed. Replacing those 48 (and counting) wickets at 27 runs apiece won't be easy. Scrivo has our next highest tally with 37 at 25 so has offered great support and looks to be improving all the time. Mulder had 26 at 18 and Salisbury 14 at 35. Nobody else really close to respectable to be honest with Finan (8 at 45), Davis (5 at 48), Barnes (2 at 106) and Hull (8 at 67) miles off. Hull is young and clearly promising but the others haven't offered much and when they have offered it they've not done it consistently. Based on the above Ball would be a no brainer if we are happy with his fitness in my opinion. We definitely need someone.

Evans for Budinger seems the right decision based on the latter's form and the former deserving a chance to back up his Cup final innings. Swindells in as a specialist bat is something I hope we see more of next season given his ability and Cox's keeping. Will Davis making a good fist of what could be one of his final opportunities to suggest he's worth a new contract as Evans and Swindells did on Saturday.

It looked like Haines and Carson apologised in their statements to their team mates and fans but no mention of to us or our players? May have just missed it though if the statements weren't copied in full where I read them but poor if so.

Scrivo is becoming the key man in our attack just in time for Wright's departure.

Whatever happens these two have shown some real backbone and no shortage of ability. We have may Cox now for next season but both have put a hand up to say they're good enough batters to be worth keeping on as good players to both challenge for a place in the first XI or come in when necessary.

I may be getting confused with someone else but I think I heard he was capable of mid 80s and fancied being able to add a bit more as he develops.

Evans has played 2 games and only batted in 1 of them. He scored 19 off 60 in that knock. Being honest in any other game that's pretty poor and we were probably fortunate the situation suited him. Ahmed is the polar opposite in terms of batting aggression and also bowls. If we want to win then he seems an obvious choice unless we're banking on needing a middle order anchor... Though perhaps it will be Swindells coming in to keep wicket? Or will Hill take the gloves?

That would be a shame to lose Salisbury. He wasn't the most exciting signing and didn't hit the ground running early on in the season and has also been injured before but he's come onto a game recently and actually looked like he'll go someway to replacing Wright's experience as the elder statesmen of the attack. Scrivo looking like he might replace the wickets too. Eases concerns for next season though we'll still need one or two more bowlers.

1k red ball runs for Patel. Fantastic achievement.

Need to improve our depth next season. Really need someone breathing down his neck in this situation and not sure that's Evans although Kimber has opener for us in the past.