Another week nearer.

So we're halfway through January already and Christmas is but a distant memory. On the upside, the season draws ever nearer...

News today that John Morris has an offer in for an unnamed international cricketer to be our second overseas player for the T20. Good news so far then, but the bad news is that there are other counties in for him as well. My guess is that it will all come down to Morris' powers of persuasion. If he can convince this player that a winning stint at Derbyshire will do wonders for their reputation, then we'll possibly, just like the Mounties, get our man. The reality, of course is that money talks and the player concerned may go for the biggest salary, which is unlikely to come from us.

If we do end up with the player, I hope that all fans will acknowledge an extraordinary job by Morris. It is far from easy to do a job with severe financial constraints and JM suffers more than most in this respect. Yet we're still looking like we may have a decent side next summer, so there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful.

My guess - only that - is that our target may be Albie Morkel. Having had a successful stint at Durham he will be in demand and is perhaps THE player in the format in South African cricket. His only rival would be JP Duminy, though much as I would love to see that talented all rounder at Derby I think he would be out of our league financially.

Looking at some of the prices commanded in the IPL auction today I'm surprised many of these top players would consider the T20. Kieron Pollard at $750K anyone? An extraordinary amount for a clean hitter of a ball on occasion, but three quarters of a million? You're having a laugh...

Same for Kemal Roach. $720K for a novice quickie? These are extraordinary sums for what I would deem average players. By those sums ten million wouldn't buy Michael Holding in his pomp. Mind you, there's ten million would never have signed Chris Harris for Derbyshire... and I'm one of them!

$610K for Wayne Parnell suggests he may not need a County deal to pay for his petrol sometime soon, while $250K for ex-Derbyshire player Mohammad Kaif is again a lot of cash for a player who is below top level in my humble opinion.

Elsewhere today Sussex have re-signed Devon Smith, which always seemed likely. He's given them very good service and is a good player in this form of the game.

Finally tonight, Derbyshire are Barbados-bound. In an eminently sensible move, John Morris is taking the squad for some decent practice in the sun before the start of our season. Two years ago there was criticism in some quarters for such a move, but these comments are small minded. With a very early start it is imperative that the guys get outdoor practice and with good standard County sides out there with them, all from Division One, they will get just that.

I just hope that the wickets are of a decent standard, as some of the Caribbean tracks of late have been a little dodgy to say the least, though Barbados seems to be better than most.

So who knows? Maybe next time I blog I will be reporting on a big name signing and we will all be excited at the prospect.

I hope so!