And now the work begins

Over the four days I was at Derby last week, I lost count of the names of players who were being suggested as required to strengthen Derbyshire's side in readiness for division one. Ian Blackwell, Rory Hamilton-Brown, Jack Brooks, Niall O'Brien - they were all in there, alongside many more.

I'm not privy to the signing process and certainly don't expect to be consulted on who we will be signing, but I do have my own opinions, which is, of course, why I write this blog about Derbyshire County Cricket Club. Have I mentioned that we're champions...? Don't think I'll ever tire of writing that, nor you of reading it, I'll wager.

For one thing, there have been several references in the media of Karl Krikken's intention to seek players under the age of 26. Now you may agree or disagree with that, but it is his prerogative as the man in charge. While I can see the merit in an older player, and have previously espoused the benefit to their teams of such players as Darren Stevens, Sean Ervine, Jim Allenby, Andrew Hall and many more, the big question is where you would fit such a player into the side.

If one assumes that Wayne Madsen would be better away from the opening role, one that he essentially took on in the absence of viable and willing candidates, you are likely to have a middle order of Madsen, Durston, Redfern and Whiteley. Assuming also that you're going to play three seamers and a spinner and have to play a wicket-keeper, you have your team, sans openers. At the very small risk of being in a minority of one, I don't think that any of those players named above should be out of our first eleven, which is what you would have to do to bring in experience.

Add in the reality that a player of such experience would cost serious money, which would jeopardise the club's salary structure and as a consequence team spirit, I am not sure of the merit of the idea. Derbyshire are lucky that we have one over-thirty in Wes Durston who fits in beautifully with his younger colleagues, but that is not necessarily always the case. One has only to read about the county game and listen to people to understand that there are many dressing rooms where factions prevail to the detriment of the team ethic that has served Derbyshire so well. Indeed, you only need one person who doesn't fit in, either through insularity or ego, and the team mentality can come crashing down.

Then there's the other side. Yes, we could bring in an experienced player or two to take the places of the younger ones, but it is a short-sighted move that will logically deprive those young players valuable time in gaining that experience themselves. How do we know they won't cope if we don't let them? In assessing our prospects in division one, few seem to factor in the mental, physical and technical development that another year will bring. Much as this young side will be mentally better prepared next summer after a year together, their techniques will also be better honed to cope with division one.

So I don't expect to see a move for Brooks, who at 28 is a good bowler but not necessarily better than what we have, as 23 wickets at 36 this summer suggests. Nor for O'Brien, a fair player but one who misses too many matches through Irish call-ups and at 31 is unlikely to improve. Blackwell? There are fitness issues for one thing and, as an "eye" player, I feel his best days are behind him. Nor is he an especially good fielder, something that would set him apart in the best collective fielding side I have seen in Derbyshire colours.

Rory Hamilton-Brown is a good player, but I have seen reports suggesting that he may struggle to return to the first-class game after the loss of his best friend Tom Maynard. At 25 he is a very good cricketer, but as captain at one of cricket's more affluent counties will be on a salary way beyond our compass. Again, I have to say I don't see it. Likewise Sam Northeast at Kent, a very good player but one to who they will offer serious money to retain.

Nor do I see us moving for Scott Elstone and Karl Turner, both released by Nottinghamshire. The latter has had three counties and not made it, while Elstone for me is not an improvement on what we have, nor is what we need - an opening batsman. A Burton lad, I could see Elstone trial at Derby next summer, or end up playing at Leicester, but not being taken on the staff at this stage.

Scott Newman? Too old, not a great fielder and with an average that is artificially massaged by a couple of good seasons on Oval batting tracks where it was hard to fail. That average is now falling by the summer and I see that as a non-starter.

Indeed, of the players I have seen released - and of course I'm no more aware than the rest of you who is out of contract - there are two that I would see as possibilities, both fitting the under-26 criteria and being available.

The first is Billy Godleman, recently released by Essex. At 23 the tall left-hander has suffered from strong competition at Middlesex and latterly has played for a county where dressing room unity must have been hard to find after the travails of last winter. He still averaged 37 in limited opportunities this summer and a career average of just over 30 owes much to making a senior debut at the age of 17, much the same as Paul Borrington. I've read various reports suggesting him a future England player in recent years and have a feeling that working with Dave Houghton could be very much to his benefit. I'd suggest he would be affordable and as long as he fitted into the team ethic may be worthy of an enquiry. While I am generally wary of batsmen brought up on southern wickets moving up north, Godleman could be one to cope. Indeed, his average is only just below that of the talented Sam Northeast, so read into that as you will. Essex releasing him seems a strange move, but then again so did their decision to sign Greg Smith...

The second is Chris Jordan of Surrey, who is nearly 24 and an obvious talent with bat and ball. Again, early promise has faded, but a new start could be the making of him. The question mark would be against his fitness, but if he could sort this he is a hard-hitting batsman and a bowler capable of spells of genuine pace.He has the potential to be seen as an all-rounder and my main reservation about the Derbyshire side, assuming we're sorting the opening berths, is that we could do with a number seven who can average around thirty with the bat.

Maybe Tom Poynton will become that player in the not too distant future, while David Wainwright is capable of more runs than he scored this summer. So too is Jonathan Clare and if one of these players can emerge as a regular run scorer at seven it would make our task next summer considerably easier.

Having said that, I am not fazed at the thought of division one. I look at teams such as Durham, Middlesex, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex and Yorkshire and feel they are beatable. Nottinghamshire will be harder and, judging by their performances this summer and our displays against them, Warwickshire will be the team to fear.

But I will happily put it on record now. We need not fear any of these sides, because we have a team ethic that will be the envy of most and individual talent to match most of them too. With two or three prudent recruits, especially in the crucial overseas role,  there is no reason for Derbyshire to fail to compete. I don't expect a title challenge, but I think we will surprise a few people next summer.

We did this year, didn't we?