The announcement of Ben Aitchison’s new contract this morning may be the best thing Derbyshire can do this winter.
I hope this news is an indicator of his health in 2025. Because for me he is, along with Zak Chappell, the best red ball bowler at the club. It’s a pleasure to watch Ben when he has the rhythm that comes from watching all the bowlers with serious talent. The 25-year-old is yet to reach his prime, but has already shown that he can hurt very good hitters. He has only 60 first-class wickets so far in his short career, but with luck he continues to maintain a good average.
Add to that the ability to hit a handy tail end run – I think that’s an area of ​​his game that could be improved even further. am.
The question is whether he has proven his stamina and can maintain it for a long season. I think he will only play in red-ball cricket, but I will be crossing my fingers and toes that he will come back and do his best.
Almost certainly, the 2025 version will see slightly remodeled movements, almost always the result of back surgery. There could also be a change in his run-up period. Because he didn’t feel as out of place in the short run-up as when he first joined County.
The question will be whether those changes will protect his back and allow him to maintain the command of the cricket ball that made him such an astute signing in the first place.
He is not the first seam bowler to experience back problems and he will not be the last. I had experienced this many times before and came back stronger after rehabilitation.
I hope Ben is among them.
There is no doubt that he has what it takes to play at this level and I wish him all the best.
