Encouraging signs, impressive noises

It is hard to be anything other than impressed by the activities at the County Ground in the past week, since the arrival of Graeme Welch.

While few, if any of us, can be aware of how things were done under Karl Krikken, the comments coming from those that matter - the players - suggest that the events of the past week have come as a major change, a pleasant surprise and a shot in the arm.

Starting work at 7am would appear a departure from the norm, but the early, pre-breakfast fielding drills, ahead of intensive fitness work and net practice is a country mile from the days when pre-season training consisted of a few stretches, a run around the outfield and a few balls at half pace in the nets. The argument was, of course, that you got fit by playing and there were plenty of bowlers in previous eras who bowled a thousand overs a summer, something that most don't get close to in two, today.

Yet the fitness levels are higher and the intensity of the modern game and the commensurate demands placed on minds and bodies, means that the less fit will struggle. Looking at the footage of the early work at Derby and reading Mark Footitt comment that its been the most intensive week he's ever known, suggests that we'll not fall short on those grounds...

Already, Welch is analysing how and why we came to lose matches last summer with one crazy session of cricket. For much of most games we competed well, then threw it away with either poor batting or occasional cafeteria bowling. Eliminating, or at least reducing such sessions will go a long way towards making us a team to beat next summer. If the cricket is played at high levels of intensity and commitment, the quality of the players should come through.

I'm also heartened to see the advertisement for a 'highly motivated and skilled Performance Analyst'. Before the usual suspects who moan and groan about our displays dig out their CVs, such a role is exactly that used with success by Welch at Edgbaston. Recording, breaking down, analysing and utilising footage of players in action is a professional and thorough approach to coaching. It can be used in studying your own players, as well as those of other sides and will once more increase the professionalism of our club.

I look forward to seeing increasingly innovative fielding positions for specific members of the opposition, our lads aware of the fact that player A tends to drive uppishly early on, player B tends to fall over as he's playing the on-drive and lift the ball, while player C moves across so far that leg stump is opened up. Such work will be the result of study, not simply hazy, anecdotal recollection from seasons past.

Until the cricket starts, of course, they will all be signs and noises, but the ground work is being done and we should be ready to hit the ground running in April.

The next pieces of the jigsaw should fall into place this week, when I assume interviews for the other coaching roles will take place. Who has applied, how many we're seeking and what their roles will be remains a mystery for now, but you can be sure that Graeme Welch will have a clear idea of the type of personnel he needs. My guess is that the standard will be high and the finalised structure will leave us well-placed to move forward as a club.

Personally, I can't wait...