Seventh year of profit - and the spinner quest

That's seven successive years that Derbyshire County Cricket Club has recorded a profit, after the announcement of one of £83,050 was made yesterday.

It confirms a high level of fiscal management at the club and they are to be applauded for continuing to run a viable business in sport. With so many clubs running at a loss, Derbyshire's ability, year in and year out, to provide a good quality side that doesn't cast them into penury is to be warmly applauded.

The off-field activity will continue, of course and a Little Mix concert at the ground this summer will bring in a lot of money. If they can get The Killers, First Aid Kit or Springsteen there, I will be first in line for tickets...

A brief clip on Twitter yesterday confirmed that the county's search for a Mitchell Santner replacement will not see them change tack from their strategic quest for a spinner, though Kim Barnett said that such a player was unlikely to be an all rounder.

Given that spinners of quality are pretty rare, finding another one who can bat to a good standard slips into 'needle in haystack' material. That comment would seem to rule out Shakib Al Hasan, who makes so much from T20 that county cricket is of little consequence.

An email I got yesterday suggested Ravi Ashwin, but his IPL contract largely precludes any other overseas work. Since India are touring in mid/late summer, you can rule them out anyway. I have no idea if Pakistan will bring a new spinner with them, but Yasir Shah seems well-established yet pulled up few trees at Kent last year. Fourteen wickets at 38 is barely an argument for recruitment.

Even less so is Nathan Lyon's record at Worcestershire. Well as he bowled in the winter for Australia, six wickets at 67 each last summer is hardly the stuff of myth and legend.

It will be tough. There was a time when Sunil Narine would have been courted by counties, but he has again been reported for his bowling action. Unless you went for the left-field Jomel Warrican, whose figures against England Lions this winter suggested he is the new Hedley Verity, there's nothing in the Caribbean. I'd also question why someone who appears to be that good wasn't a shoo-in for their Test side, to be honest.

So, as I have said before, I suspect the search may be to a tried and tested, as well as successful hunting ground of South Africa. Keshav Maharaj would be my favoured pick, but he can bat, so again, Barnett's comment would appear to exclude him.

Again left-field, but a fascinating call would be Tabraiz Shamsi. For those who don't know him, this left-arm chinaman bowler has an excellent first-class record and a lot of wickets.

With Jeevan Mendis, one of the latter two would be my choice from here. They offer the prospect of wickets, without which they may as well leave spin with Critchley, Madsen and Qadri.

As always, I appreciate your thoughts.

Have a good weekend.