Happy New Year everyone!

I'd like to be the first to wish all Derbyshire fans a happy 2009.

I hope the celebrations are enjoyable for you all and a mere precursor for those that will take place when we bring home some silverware next season.

Optimistic? Maybe, but also realistic. In my opinion, we need to sign a good batsman from somewhere to bat three this year. If not, we need someone to step up to the plate and make the place their own. Dan Birch, Dom Telo, John Sadler and Garry Park will all aim to do just that in April and much will depend on their pre-season work.

I hope (call it my first New Year wish if you will) that Dan Redfern bats four and Wavell five next year, which gives us a solid order, especially with Greg Smith at six. With all rounders Wagg, Clare, Groenewald and wicket keeper Pipe for the lower order, we bat a long way down ON PAPER.

Last year the lower order bailed us out regularly, but the top order has to support Chris Rogers, assuming he's not with the touring Aussies, and there will be key roles for Steve Stubbings and Paul Borrington, who will battle for the other opening slot, though we're unlikely to see the latter until June as he has his finals at University.

My second New Year wish is that our seamers stay fit. If Clare and Wagg do so, Tom Lungley returns to the form of 2007 and Charl Langeveldt keeps going, I'd back that quartet against most sides. Worryingly, Charl could not bat in the Cape Cobras weekend game after he picked up an ankle injury. It was a game that highlighted why Champagne Charl joined Derbyshire as his side were bowled out for just 39... Compared to that, Chris Rogers must seem like Bradman. Hopefully the innings isn't too serious, but if it affords him a rest, then we shouldn't complain.

I'm baffled as to why the Aussies have given Matt Hayden another game against South Africa, after the Proteas hammered them last night. He looked in decent nick in the second innings before being suckered out by good field placing and bowling, but surely with the rubber dead from an Aussie perspective, it was an opportunity to try someone new? While their bowling resources look pretty thin at present, their batting conveyor belt looks full of talent, with Phil Hughes, Michael Klinger and Shaun Marsh all scoring well and worth a shout, even if the likes of Chris Rogers were overlooked. It suggests (good news from our viewpoint) that Hayden is regarded as an essential for the Ashes, when one would expect, irrespective of the result, that Hayden would retire from Test cricket.

I wouldn't be surprised if a number of Aussies, mindful of the jump start it might give them in the event of injuries, were up for some 20/20 in England next summer and Derbyshire simply must have an overseas player this time. Greg Smith and Wavell apart, our 20 over batting last year was shocking and a clean hitting, fast running Aussie, ideally one who can also bowl a few overs, would be a good acquisition. No one seems to know if Chris Rogers will play 20/20 in 2009, but if not a signing is imperative to remain competitive. Like it or not, 20/20 draws the crowds and if those coming in see consistently poor performances every time they are unlikely to transfer their interest to the longer, better forms of the game.

Which brings me neatly to my third and final New Year wish - that we approach one day batting like a 1500 metre race and not a 100 metre dash. Dashing strokes are all well and good, but too often last year we got to ten overs and were something like 50-6 and nowhere to go. If we aim for five singles an over and a four here and there, we'll make scores that will win more games than not. 60-1 off ten is a good springboard and doesn't require manic batting. It's common sense stuff and I would love to see a little more of that applied to our batting next year.