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Derbyshire preview, 2006
Welch shoulders heavy burden
Paul Coupar
Revolving door
It is whirring at county cricket's
last-chance saloon. After two years
hedged in by existing contracts
David Houghton has released nine
players, including four regulars:
captain Luke Sutton plus Jon Moss,
Chris Bassano and Travis Friend,
three imports from a brittle
middle order. In come Graham
Wagg after a year-long drugs ban,
the occasionally brilliant but ofteninjured
seamer Steffan Jones and
Chris Taylor, who averaged 17 for
Yorkshire. Having begun the winter
chasing Test giants as second
overseas player, Derbyshire ended
it with Travis Birt, an obscure but
heavy-scoring Tasmanian.
Winter wonderland
Shady trees, enthusiastic crowds
and a warm buzz: after eight years
Chesterfield is back (see page 58).
The sincere hope is that a week
in less depressing conditions will
rekindle enthusiasm. "It was an
absolute must," says Houghton.
So was restricting financial losses
and last year's trading deficit of
£148,019 was better than expected.
Strengths
A clear plan: sign experienced
players to get results; gradually
bring talented youngsters into a
winning side. (Derbyshire provided
four of the 24 hopefuls at last
season's England Under-17 trials.)
Weaknesses
Tools to execute the plan. The
county lack the resources to
lure quality. And wins require
strike bowlers. Cannot again
rely on Graeme Welch taking 58
Championship wickets through
force of will. Forget Bishop,
Malcolm and Cork: Derbyshire
would be grateful for another Ole
Mortensen.
Best-case scenario
Welch's enthusiasm and the plan
to field nine England-qualified
players conjure a team spirit that
alchemises the whole into more
than the sum of its parts.
Worst-case scenario
Welch again gets flogged half to
death and injuries get out of hand,
leaving the teenagers to make up
numbers in a series of dolorous
drubbings. And the team coach (an
economy measure) breaks down.
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Knees up: but how much longer will Kevin Dean's stand up?
© Getty Images
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Young one to watch
Wagg. Still only 23 and perhaps
the only current player you can
picture in an England sweater.
Key man
Kevin Dean. His dodgy knee will
be asked to hump much weight.
Who else will take the wickets?
What they say
"I want us to be winning," says
Houghton. "For the first two years
it's easy to say we're building.
But you can only have L-plates on
yourself for so long."
Mark Wagh
Have failed to shake off
perennial underdogs tag
but will the shrewd Houghton
and new captain Welch make this
the year that Derbyshire finally
make forward progress? I think
so and expect some decent oneday
form. Not sure they have
enough quality to challenge in
the Championship.
Predictions County Championship 6th (D2) Pro40 5th (D2)
Odds 33/1. Click here for full odds and to place your bet.
© The Wisden Cricketer
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