Whatever way you look at it...

That's three experienced seamers we've signed.

That John Morris has persuaded Tim Groenewald, Ian Hunter and Tom Lungley that their future lies at Derby is a definite plus. As I wrote this morning, we need 6 seamers so that they can be rotated and kept fresh. With support from Greg Smith and Garry Park, we have good options now, especially if Jon Clare can recapture his form and confidence of 2008.

Groenewald was the big success of 2009. With over 50 wickets in all competitions, allied to useful runs, he fully justified John Morris' bringing him from Edgbaston and became a key member of the attack. He has signed a one-year extension to his existing deal so is now contracted until the end of 2011.

Ian Hunter started the season as our "in form" bowler and took a number of early wickets when the ball was swinging. He will never be more than an honest county pro, but when he gets it right he gets clusters of wickets, as well as offering handy runs from an uncomplicated batting style. With a new two-year deal he will remain a handy and potentially dangerous seamer when the conditions are in his favour.

The enigma is, without doubt, Tom Lungley. On his day he can bowl teams out, beyond a shadow of a doubt. Last year he zipped out five Leicestershire wickets in a 20-over game yet on other occasions was very erratic. He has the best strike rate of our seamers, yet in a career that started with us in 2000 he has only managed 48 first class matches and 130 wickets, 59 of which came in 2007. If he can get fit and with the assistance of Steffan Jones can stay fit, he may yet have a part to play in our future.

Those who moan about our attack's penetration perhaps forget that only Durham and Gloucestershire in either division took more bowling bonus points than us last year. Our problem came in finishing sides off and I'm sure I am not alone in hoping that John Morris has a spin bowling ace up his sleeve. When the seamers hit a wall, sometimes a spin bowler who can put it on a spot with plenty of variation can make a breakthrough to allow them a go at new batsmen. With respect to Jake Needham and Mark Lawson, neither afforded us that luxury last year.

I'm pleased that we have secured our seam attack for next year. Whether anyone else comes in is debatable, but I'm sure that most fans will now be watching to see when we will be signing the spinner who will be crucial to our chances of improvement - dare I say sucess? - next season.

One final point. Last night I wrote about Paul Borrington and suggested that he would probably bat at three next season. Of course, another option could be that he goes in at 6, giving us someone who can face the second new ball with no major concerns. It would also allow Garry Park to stay at three, where he did so well. Borrington will probably, in my opinion, score the Championship runs that Wavell Hinds did last season, while being more sprightly in the field. Whether he plays one day games is another matter, but I'm sure he'd be keen to do so.

Here's to a good season for the lad. I hope that he comes in to face many second new balls with the score 380-4...