| Player: | SJ Lacey |
DateLine: 25th October 2005
Simon Lacey was typical of a number of county off spinners of recent years, with his resolute batting at no.7 or 8, and tidy but mostly unmenacing bowling. His best match came against Hampshire in August 2000, when he recorded both career best batting (55*) and bowling (4-84) performances. However, barely 6 weeks later he had been released, despite having his best season with the ball in a season where the entire Derbyshire team had struggled. It was thought his replacement Nathan Dumelow would provide both more penetration with the ball as well as more explosive batting, although his record if everything was inferior to Lacey’s. With a First-class economy rate under 3, but a strike rate of 100, the defensive nature of Lacey’s spinning duties is clear. His debut was personally successful in a massive innings defeat by Essex – he dismissed Stuart Law (albeit when he had already made 156) and remained undefeated as Derbyshire slid to a dispiriting defeat. Lacey now captains Chesterfield in the Derbyshire Premier league (who play their home fixtures at the wonderful Queens Park ground), where he can still be a match winner with either bat or ball. (October 2005)
(Article: Copyright © 2005 Matthew Reed)
