Season preview - the four day game

A few years back, the pop group Steps had a hit with a song called 5-6-7-8. If they were asked to do a remake, in recognition of the pre-season forecasts for Derbyshire of the world's cricketing punters, it would be the somewhat irregular time signature of 7-8-9...

That's where most of them see us in the championship. Maybe, just maybe attaining the giddy heights of seventh, but more likely to be making up the numbers and easy prey for the big guns in the top tier.

It is codswallop, from people who should largely know better.

I'm sure that numerous hacks are already preparing their pieces ahead of  a supposed hammering at the hands of Warwickshire next week and will doubtless refer, should it happen, to it being the first of many such defeats in this season.

I disagree. I'll not pretend that we can take the division by storm, but I fully expect us to compete and shock a few sides along the way. We will need luck with fitness and the weather, but no side ever wins things without those precious commodities. We will also need to see continued progress from our younger brigade, all of who have the talent to do so. The cricket world is beginning to take note of the likes of Dan Redfern, Ross Whiteley, Chesney Hughes, Peter Burgoyne and Tom Knight, but they need to confirm that promise with a sustained level of performance when opportunities present themselves.

Supporters and members also need to show patience and understanding. There will be days when we're thrilled by an electric individual or team performance. There will also be days when, through no fault of any one person, the levels dip and we take a hiding. Such is the lot of professional sport, especially for the young players. I hope that supporters are patient with Billy Godleman, a young player of undoubted promise, but one who needs time to bed into a new environment, never easy for a young person in any walk of life. He will be an asset, but people need to offer a greater level of understanding than has been shown to Paul Borrington. Those who think opening the batting is easy have never done it...

Key to the season will be the displays of captain Wayne Madsen (pictured) and Wes Durston with the bat, as well as Tony Palladino and Tim Groenewald with the ball. All are old enough to know their games and the respective merits of the opposition; all need to set an example for their younger team mates. Madsen was a revelation as captain last year, but it is easier to skipper a good and winning team than one that is struggling. If he can maintain his calm, firm but fair persona in the face of difficulties he will go a long way towards leading us to safety, especially if his own game is well grooved. Durston will lend crucial and able support, while the two senior seamers have the job of making the early breakthroughs that can set the tone for games.

Whoever plays as third seamer, presumably from Messrs Clare, Turner and Footitt, will have an important role too, but sustained success will rely on wickets from spin at this level. David Wainwright's pre-season niggles were a worry and it would be unrealistic to expect Peter Burgoyne or Tom Knight to bowl out good sides at their ages. Again, fitness will be vital and will make all the difference to our final position by September. If Wainwright can replicate his form of 2012, it will be another key piece of the jigsaw.

When you have done and said all, however, the real difference will be made by Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Before he has hit a ball for us, the weight of expectation is there, but it is inevitable. This is Dave Mackay signing for Derby County all over again, but bigger. Mackay wasn't one of the world's top players when he joined the Rams, but Chanderpaul is at the top of the tree with a reputation that precedes him. Again, there needs to be understanding. He cannot score heavily every time he bats, but if he does so with sufficient regularity, our chances of staying up are considerably higher.

It will be a season of ups and downs, but stick with it. Remember that this is a work in progress, only just out of the embryonic stage. But there are teams in this division that we can beat and there are players in this side who don't yet understand how good they actually are. This could, given time, become one of the finest sides to ever represent the county.

Maybe this will be the year for a few more people to realise that we are on the up. If Lady Luck smiles on us, I think we're good enough to take fifth or sixth place, which would be a remarkable achievement.

We'll not think of the alternative right now. Just go out and play without fear boys.