Climbing down the ladder..

Sorry about the sporadic nature of bloggery in recent days but I've been busy decorating the staircase, living room and dining room, all of which has left me with time to do only basic stuff while keeping a wary eye on events around the country. It has left me feeling right now like I've just bowled a twenty over spell uphill into the wind in the first game of the season...

Anyway, that was great news about David Wainwright and I totally agree that it now makes any potential signing of Danish Kaneria a non-starter. Looking at the balance of the squad, as several of you have been doing (thanks!) I would agree that our need for the overseas role now appears to either a batsman or a seamer. I might have been paying less attention than usual when listening to Chris Grant on Radio Derby yesterday but I think he said that he and Karl Krikken were trying to get the overseas role sorted "next week". I might be reading too much into this, but could they have identified a season-long player for the overseas role? If they have, top marks to both as there doesn't appear to be much out there with the current international schedule. You wouldn't say no to Shivnarine Chanderpaul, but the thinking money would be on him returning to Warwickshire where he made such a positive impression. Otherwise, I see the return of the Guptill/Khawaja pairing.

I have no concerns over the signing of Wainwright "blocking" the path of Tom Knight. Indeed, as things stand Knight looks set to miss around three months of next season after a hectic winter. He heads off to South Africa for a training camp with England Under-19s in December, then is potentially in Bangladesh in February and Australia in April. If he impresses he is then likely to be selected for the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa in July and August. Peter Burgoyne could also be away and we simply cannot be without a first rate spinner for the business part of the summer.

It was good to see the Academy intake announcement and testimony to the power of work going on there under Howard Dytham that we now have four young men in there with international recognition under their belts. You can see the full list and who they are at:

http://www.derbyshireccc.com/servlets/template?FILE=news-fullstory&SID=1530170131751267008259&news_id=3172&title=Derbyshire announce Academy intake

Elsewhere, Martin Van Jaarsveld has gone to Leicestershire and Joe Denly to Middlesex. I wouldn't fancy being a Kent fan next summer....

Van Jaarsveld coming to us was a live subject on the Forum, but I can't help from thinking he is past his peak. I am confident enough in our batting to suggest that we have to being in someone now that we are fully confident about. Any new recruit really has to nigh-guarantee a thousand runs as we have plenty who can offer 750-plus at this stage.

Conversely we could look to an overseas seamer and notoveryet below my most recent post suggested someone like Praveen Kumar, were he to be available. India's schedule means he's not, but that sort of player, who could also score useful runs. might be worth his weight in gold.

It is interesting stuff and will doubtless occupy many minds until the announcement comes, maybe in the not too distant future...