Tyros sign

Peter Burgoyne, Alex Hughes, Ben Slater, Matt Higginbottom, Johnny Marsden. Some of those names are likely to become fixtures in the Derbyshire first team in the next few summers.

All are products of the club Academy, which continues to do excellent work under Howard Dytham and fans have a right to be excited about the potential of these young players.

Off-spinning all-rounder Burgoyne has already caught the eye at senior level with some high-quality bowling displays, while centuries last year for the second team and success in Zimbabwe this winter has confirmed a young player of precocious talent. At 18 Burgoyne needs only to keep working at his game and listening to his coaches and he could be an outstanding player in the years ahead. That Derbyshire have looked after him and signed him on for three years bodes well for player and club alike.

The same goes for Alex Hughes, another who produced some impressive one-day form last summer, although his three-year deal will follow completion of his studies at Worcester University next summer. Again, everything about him suggests a major talent, with bustling medium pace allied to a well-constructed batting technique. Hopes are high that both could be seen as genuine all-rounders in coming years.

Ben Slater and Matt Higginbottom get summer contracts for next year, giving each a chance to prove their worth at whatever level opportunities come. Slater has done himself no harm in Zimbabwe with a series of solid displays, while Higginbottom takes wickets and needs only to work at reducing the number of "four balls" bowled to challenge for a senior role.

On a summer contract for the first time is Johnny Marsden. I've not seen him bowl but understand he is pretty quick and I know he has done well for both the Seconds and for Chesterfield. Hailing from the High Peak, Marsden, like Higginbottom, marks an encouraging return for seam bowlers emerging through junior ranks, something that we haven't seen for some time. Should one or both continue to progress, it will be especially exciting, given the county's tradition in seam bowlers, while another opportunity for Ali Evans next summer gives us three bites at the cherry. Evans is another with the nice habit of taking wickets and the club is once again to be applauded in securing the services of players of unquestionable talent.

Of course, such news is often tinged with sadness and the release of Hamza Siddique confirms that natural talent doesn't always translate into a player becoming a top cricketer at county level. Siddique broke many records at Repton School and appeared a player with a big future. Yet it hasn't worked for him in recent summers, the impression being that he had gone back a little, or perhaps found his level. There was mixed success with opportunities for Cardiff MCCU and Siddique may need to look for opportunities elsewhere.

It is proof that there is no exact science in coaching young cricketers. Some get to a level and can go no further, some for technical issues, others because of the additional mental and physical requirements for the game as you move up the ladder. If one or more of those named above can progress to become first team regulars, Derbyshire's Academy will have justified itself.

The thinking money would be on that happening, without a doubt.