McDermott: I’ll be fully focused on Derbyshire
BEN McDermott says he will be fully focused on Derbyshire when he joins up with the side in 2021 and he is looking forward to adding to what he sees as a strong batting order.
The Australian wicketkeeperbatsman has not played for Australia’s T20 team since November 2019 but, in red ball cricket, he hit a brilliant 107 not out, a careerbest first class score, for Australia A against India in December 2020.
That performance, along with a number of explosive showings for Hobart Hurricanes in his home country’s Big Bash T20 competition, could put him back in the frame for international selection.
This week, he hit 91 from 58 balls, with eight fours and five sixes, for the Hurricanes against Melbourne Stars, although they came up 10 runs short of victory, and that made him the current highest scorers in the Bash, with 277 runs at an average of 55.40.
The 26-year-old’s international ambitions would only be boosted by a strong Vitality Blast campaign with Derbyshire.
However, McDermott says he is not thinking about that but focusing on how he can best prepare himself to help Derbyshire to limited-overs success.
“I don’t want to think about international cricket too much,” he said.
“For me, it’s more of a bonus, because over the last couple of years I have gotten a taste of it and I probably put a bit too much pressure on myself in the Bash.
“I just want to relax and not put too much expectation on it. If you do well in domestic cricket, that’s how you get picked, and I know I’m at my best when I’m in the moment and not putting pressure on myself.
“I’m not coming to Derbyshire just to get into the Australia team, I want to come over, play good cricket and win games for the club.”
McDermott will join a batting line-up which includes successful T20 players in Billy Godleman, Luis Reece, Wayne Madsen and Leus du Plooy, who hit 14 halfcenturies between them on Derbyshire’s journey to Finals Day in 2019.
McDermott says having a strong core of players around him will make adjusting a lot easier.
“It certainly takes the pressure off when you know there’s a few blokes around you who can also score runs,” he said.
“Every team has a good batting line-up these days, particularly in T20. I haven’t had too much chance to watch Derbyshire’s top four but, from what I’ve heard, they’re a really strong batting group, so I’m looking forward to coming over and, hopefully, putting the icing on the cake.”
The summer of 2021 will be McDermott’s first in county cricket.
He is the son of former Australian Test fast bowler Craig McDermott.