All I want for Christmas is...

This afternoon my daughter, with an appropriate sigh, told me that "a week today it will be all over".

Yes, it will be Boxing Night (or should that be Boxing Day Night, which sounds a bit like a floodlit match?)The turkey will have been eaten, the presents unwrapped and the Christmas TV will be as poor as ever...

I'm hoping to get a cricket book this year, assuming that my wife has picked up on the hints I've been dropping. Edward Giles book on the Club's two Championship successes that I've fancied for a while. If it matches John Shawcroft's admirable book on the 1936 side I'll be very happy, as you felt you were playing alongside the team in Mr Shawcroft's book. Time will tell, but if not I'm sure I can pick a copy up soon.

What will our players be getting this year? Or, put another way, what would you wish our players might get?

For starters, Steve Stubbings and Paul Borrington might enjoy a little puppy each. That way, they can practice a few strokes that might enliven proceedings in the season ahead.

Dom Telo might enjoy Take That's comeback album, Beautiful World. That single "Patience" might be useful listening as the diminutive South African prepares for a very important second season and stand him in good stead at the crease.

A Sat Nav or two may be in order for our bowlers as they lost the radar too frequently for my liking last year. Bowling better lines might be a good idea in 2009

That classic novel by Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" would be a good read for Jon Clare. After a memorable 2008, there will be many eyes on him this year to see if he can improve still further, or if he experiences that difficult second season.

How about a Wii Fit for Charl Langeveldt? Because if we keep him fit, there's a good chance of a better season this year.

An industrial sized bale of cotton wool would be my choice for Graham Wagg, so we can wrap him in it and ensure his fitness through a long and arduous season. Given Waggy's propensity for hard work, captaincy in the field should be a doddle this year. Let him bowl six overs of seam, give some else a few then bring him back to bowl slow left arm until the second new ball. Sorted!

Tom Lungley should probably not bother with crackers this year, as he pulled enough over the course of the season to last for some time. Unless you can buy crackers that have new knees in them...

For Chris Rogers, I'd suggest a false beard and moustache. That way he can bat at both ends and probably ensure that we do a lot better than might otherwise be the case.

Not too sure of a gift for John Morris, but maybe three wise men might call with whatever he gets to remind him that he HAS to sort that position for the coming season. Far too often last year we went from a good start to two down in no time at all and this key role needs attention.

For John Sadler a DVD of The Good Old Days might do nicely, reminding him of how he batted so well for Leicestershire. Sads is a fair player and could come again, but early season runs would get the critics off his back.

Finally, Wavell Hinds might actually fancy another three sweaters for April, when the conditions will be as far removed from Jamaica as they could possibly be.

I hope that everyone has a good Christmas and gets whatever they want. Like me, you'd probably take an extra present sometime next summer in the form of some silverware, but for now, have a great time and I'll be back on here soon!

PS As its the season to be jolly, I also hope that Rikki Clarke has a good Christmas. Mind you, if his festive season is anything like his batting last year, my guess is that he'll wake up on Boxing Day having missed it...