Derbyshire fans ask "Where do we go from here?"
by Alan Rowley, 3rd November 2001

The question on the lips of every Derbyshire supporter throughout the close season is "where do we go from here?" Last season's performances were nothing short of appalling - we couldn't even string two wins together in any competition throughout a depressing season.

Derbyshire finished at the foot of the Cricinfo County Championship and also the National Cricket League. Glamorgan dumped us out of the newly sponsored Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy in the third round. We also failed to get passed the first round stage of the Benson and Hedges Trophy, although we did record a satisfying victory over local rivals Nottinghamshire.

However, there are some positives to report. Young bowlers Tom Lungley , Nathan Dumelow and Lian Wharton all had pleasing seasons. Who could forget that memorable Dumelow performance against the Pakistani tourists which had the Sky commentary team scurrying around trying to find out more about this shy newcomer?

On his Championship debut against Hampshire at Derby, Dumelow scored a fine unbeaten fifty.

Also on the bowling front, Graeme Welch surprised many with his 44 Championship wickets and over 500 Championship runs. He proved to be the best of the close season signings. The signings of Richard Illingworth and Wasim Khan were less inspired. Illingworth, in particular, was hugely disappointing and retired from professional cricket at the end of the season. He is now being linked with Derbyshire County League Division One side Marehay .

Wasim Khan, signed on a much talked about "no-cost" deal was a huge flop. The deal, which saw all of the player's costs financed by sponsors, was said at the time to be the way forward for the county. Well it could have been if the player had performed. Khan, too, has retired from the game.

Lian Wharton and Tom Lungley made the headlines with the bat on the final day of the final match of the Championship season when they both made career best scores. A sparce band of a couple of hundred hardy souls huddled in front of the County Ground pavilion witnessed a 69 run partnership in 50 minutes. Tom Lungley scored a fine 47, whilst Ockbrook and Borrowash colleague Lian Wharton contributed 13 not out.

Overseas player Michael Di Venuto started slowly, but recovered towards the end of the season to top the 1,000 run mark. He will return in 2002 as vice-captain, taking the place of beneficiary Karl Krikken .

Di Venuto's fellow countryman Steve Stubbings also had a successful season as he too passed 1,000 runs. Stubbo was rewarded with an extension to his contract.

In many supporters eyes, two other performances shone out of the County Ground gloom. In the Championship game against Sussex at the County Ground, Luke Sutton came within a whisker of carrying his bat through both innings. In the first innings he finished not out 100 and he was last man out for 54 in the second innings.

Without doubt, the best performance of the year award must go to Christopher Bassano. On his Championship debut, the South African batsman scored double centuries. His 186 not out in the first innings was a knock of the highest standard and he followed this up with 106 in the second innings.

Who knows what would have happened had he not gone home soon after the match following the sudden death of his father.

So there were some highlights in a thoroughly miserable season, but Derbyshire will have to work hard throughout the winter to restore some confidence to a demoralised and dejected squad.