Another year for the batting guru

Close season eh? The gift that keeps on giving...

The period since the end of the season has been like a giant advent calendar. Every day you get up, have a look at the news feeds and see that we've agreed an extended deal for X or Y. It's great.Today it was news that Dave Houghton has agreed a deal for another year. At this rate we'll finish with, instead of the baby Jesus in the manger, news of a major international signing as overseas player...

It is heartening stuff and especially nice to see Derbyshire players that we want to retain more than happy to do so. It's not too long ago that each winter saw a steady procession through the out door, with the break up of a strong side that saw Morris, Adams, Rollins, Barnett, Bowler, Malcolm,  Cork and more head off to new clubs.

The difference is in the dressing room, of course. Assuming they are well looked after by the club, who wouldn't want to play somewhere you look forward to going into work each day? Cliques and factions are commonplace in a lot of clubs (been there myself in the past) and to manage to generate a positive atmosphere where everyone gets on is of enormous credit to chairman, coaches and captain.

The other day we read that Wayne Madsen wants to finish his career at Derbyshire, which is fantastic news. Younger players may be tempted at some point by bigger offers elsewhere, but again the fact that they are well looked after (in more ways than just salary) at Derbyshire is something that should encourage loyalty.

A sign of our progress could be seen today with the move to Glamorgan of Murray Goodwin. The Derbyshire of two or three seasons back could have made a move for a man who has been outstanding in the county game over the last ten years or so. I think he will do a sound job with young players in Wales, but that will be in division two. It was hard to see where the player could fit into Derbyshire's plans, something that many of us would never have thought possible - and certainly not in the top tier.

Our young batting line up will once again benefit from the services of one of the world's top batting coaches in 2013. If they continue to progress as several of them did in 2012 we will have no complaints.