The personal success of Derbyshire’s captain and leading light, Wayne Madsen, was a highpoint of Derbyshire’s 2013 season, despite the disappointment of relegation from Division I of cricket’s LV= County Championship
The personal success of Derbyshire’s captain and leading light, Wayne Madsen, was a highpoint of Derbyshire’s 2013 season, despite the disappointment of relegation from Division I of cricket’s LV= County Championship.
Madsen was named as the Cricket Writers’ Club County Championship Player of the Year, a highly prestigious award that is voted on by cricket journalists, broadcasters and photographers across the country. Wayne scored 1,221 Championship runs at an average of 43.60, second only to Gary Ballance of Yorkshire. Wayne scored three centuries with a top score of 152, eight fifties and led Derbyshire to three Championship victories. Leading from the front Wayne set the tone as a player and leader. His sportsmanship secured him the honour of receiving the inaugural Christopher Martin Jenkins (CMJ) Spirit of Cricket Elite Award. The award, created by the MCC and BBC in memory of commentator CMJ, recognises exceptional sportsmanship and was given for ‘walking’ in a match against Yorkshire when not given out by the umpire. Cricket fans may well reflect on the Stuart Broad incident during summer’s Ashes series in which he was given not out having been caught in the slips – he did not walk!
Wayne was also named Derbyshire Members’ Player of the Year 2013 and awarded the Elizabeth Flintoff Memorial Cup by appreciative Derbyshire Members in recognition of a personally successful season.
Spring 2013 began with high hopes at the County Ground following the 2012 promotion, as Division II Champions, in the LV= County Championship which is widely regarded as county cricket’s flagship competition. It was hardly a warm welcome as the freezing spring greeted Derbyshire’s appearance in the top flight for the first time since 2000. Nor were the early results heart-warming as reality kicked in and the realisation that Division I would be a great deal tougher than Division II. The team often depended too much on Wayne Madsen and overseas recruit Shivnarine Chanderpaul to dig them out of trouble. However, the County is keen to bring on its own youngsters and is investing in them for the future. Ben Slater, promoted to opening the innings, showed promise. Bowlers Peter Burgoyne and Matt Higginbottom also impressed and gained valuable experience.
In the shorter version of the game Derbyshire, known as the Falcons, had some memorable victories, if too few. All said though, every cricketer and cricket follower looks forward to newly mown grass and sunshine heralding a new season. Hope springs eternal, indeed cricketers have to be optimistic in nature. With a strengthening of the current squad during the winter and a positive start to the 2014 season, let’s look forward to an exciting summer and hope for a return to Division I in the near future.
