CrawlingFox

Just to add Rahane is maybe more of a debate but isn't he here for the run in? If he scores a lot of runs and we're promoted suddenly it's money well spent.

I don't think it would make much difference in any of these examples. The difference in what we offered Wright or Patel vs what we'd have to pay replacements isn't touching even a fraction of 500k and neither are short term overseas signings which frankly don't cost that much. Handscomb was here for the season in anycase and imagine Neesham and Stirling signed relatively cheaply on a gamble of making the knock outs. I'd rather the club was ambitious and fell short than settled for achieving nothing. We might risk financial hardship with the former approach but guarantee it with the latter. A much bigger risk in my opinion would have been not signing these players, being crap again and losing whatever positive momentum we do have. Of course we might be doomed either way.

I don't necessarily mind us sticking with the squad who got us to the knockout stage. It does irritate me immensely though that we lost 4 players who played 2 games each. 4 key players, 2 of them really promising young prospects and they've played a couple hours cricket each during an entire summer month and none of it for their county. In a few years we'll be wondering why England are shite again and probably blaming us and Derbyshire for it.

I was wondering the same about Patel and Hull as well unless I've missed that they're injured.

Yeah Bashir and Crawley (after a rocky start) both seem to be making a good fist of Test cricket without having first excelled at County level, especially the former whose done really well straight away though Crawley has done really well to his credit since McCullum came in. Probably eventually be used as some sort of narrative of how County cricket fails to develop players but the mighty England staff can identify and develop them anyway. "Josh Hull marooned at little old backwards Leicestershire but an arm round the shoulder from Rob Key turns him into world beater". There is a lot to like about Hull to be fair but he's not done anything so far to suggest he isn't a white ball specialist. Needs overs in the format though so hopefully won't hurt.

They just pick players they like the look of these days. Must be a few top performers this season feeling a bit annoyed they've not got a look in.

Very disappointing. The engine room of the batting in terms of Hill, Handscomb and Rahane didn't offer enough.

The number of teams thing and the argument about quality is a smokescreen for the reality where the ECB just want city based franchises (ideally which they control or at least get a cut of the profit when flogging). The ECB hate that they don't control the counties directly and think that the riches of something akin to the football Premier League are only a restructure away. Absolutely deluded and they're killing the unique and fantastic product that County Cricket is and could be. The T20 Blast should have been backed instead of the ludicrous Hundred. Just allow Counties to recruit 4 overseas for it instead of 2 and supply the funding for that and a big marketing push.

I'm not so sure, he's always had a really good 50 over record and it was what we basically signed him on the strength of. He's shown very little ability to transfer that form into either the longer or shorter format. So far he's something of a flat track bully, able to make hay against the weakened attacks in the One Day Cup but comes undone when facing first choice attacks in the CC or Blast. Really hope he can take the confidence and push on in the run in once we're back to four day cricket as if not then it could mean we've seen both he and Evans whom he plays ahead of fail this season and we'll need to seriously think about a new partner for Patel next season. I hope Evans actually gets a shot in the CC as well, perhaps he and Patel open followed by Hill, Handscomb and Rahane with Kimber and Budinger coming in lower down where they could do some damage against an old ball and tired attack. Might mean we're limited to a 4 man attack + few overs of Kimber though.

That would be handy given the collapse last time round.

Jake Tarling who is (or was?) in our academy with a decent knock against Kent for Bedfordshire. 141 off 140 balls.

Kimber will be in the Hundred. Other available will be Swindells, Evans, Walker and Wood I think so probably sub in Swindells for Kimber. Not sure when Holland is back from the US.

They both average a 50 every 25 innings or so with Lilley having played a hundred games more. Budinger averages 13 at 134 and Lilley averaged 20 at 147. If Budinger is going to play 100 more he'll need to significantly improve though at least he seems to control his discipline.

Class player.

This is going well.

Ben Mike epitomises our side and no more so than with his bowling today. First over carted and then goes on to bowl miserly at the death. Pleased to see Neesham get a good knock in. Hopefully helps him feel part of the team and sets him up for big contributions in the last couple games. Hopefully Rishi gets back in the runs and then we're in business.

Agree with this. Overseas signings have performed poorly. Budinger has a good List A average in the devalued One Day Cup but is offering very little else.

Where has this 10k figure come from or is it a guess?

Certainly tougher bowling at the death, that's a job that separates the good t20 bowlers from the really good ones.

The symptoms/impact of concussion can go on for any length of time. Absolutely right not to risk further or more severe brain injury if he's not 100%. Once he's passed return to play protocols he'll be back assuming it isn't something else. Sam Wood is an academy player given a pro contract this year. Stirling is indeed an overseas covering for Handscomb who is injured.

Hull also playing in the County Select v Windies game.

Stirling has nothing else to do post world cup and is here for 2 games currently and at most, if Handscomb remains crocked still, a single digit number over a couple weeks? Doubt it's breaking the bank.

Good result. Noteable impact from the two Somerset players in on loan.

Feel like Evans deserves a shot, Budinger has plenty of talent but little end result so far. Great from Mike today, in helpful conditions he does have an unplayable spell in him.

Derbyshire 76 all out. Ouch.