Warm weather as the season nears

I like March.

It is a month full of promise, with the shoots of Spring bringing the first flowers, the first grass cut and the first time that you can say that cricket starts 'this month'

There was a time when a thousand runs before the end of May was quite a feat. With the way that the ECB are shoving the county games into the extremes of the season, it may happen again, though likely because half of the first-class season will be done by then. At the same time, there is no real fun to be had for a batsman on early season wickets, where a grafted fifty is worth many a ton in easier conditions. Fifty wickets by the end of April may become a new yardstick and pity the batsman who is trying to find form on wickets where it zips around.

There is still no news of our second overseas player for the T20, in a week when Middlesex has engaged AB de Villiers, but there are doubtless irons in the fire and we will hear something soon. Another all rounder would do me nicely, certainly someone who can offer strong death bowling a huge asset.

There was a good interview on Radio Derby today, where Steve Kirby sounded really excited about the county's seam bowling attack. While Alfie Gleadall is easing back from his stress fracture, James Taylor is apparently the most accurate and Sam Conners the quickest, with a good bouncer. All have impressed him, while Luis Reece has made some technical adjustments and is reaching 80mph, swinging it into and across the batsman. He will be a handful, and it was especially interesting to hear how Anuj Dal is bowling at a similar pace, swinging it both ways and bowling a yorker 'almost at will'. I suspect he will be a key part of our T20 side this year.

As for Logan van Beek, a lot of time went into finding someone who was available for the entire summer and I think his lively pace bowling and aggressive batting might quickly make him a fans favourite. He has a great attitude according to Kirby, and I get the impression that togetherness and a willingness to battle might be our twelfth man this summer.

Here's a video of Logan bowling and getting some impressive bounce

Steve also highlighted Tony Palladino as the leader of the attack, a man 'who could run in and hit the top of off stump with his eyes closed'. Tony has been a fine servant to the club, often underrated in what he brings to the side, but he remains a key part of the attack and rarely bowls badly.

Finally today, I have been 'bowled over' by the response to my book offer earlier in the week.

There is still time to secure a copy of 'In Their Own Words: Derbyshire Cricketers In Conversation' at the bargain pre-season price of  EIGHT POUNDS, including postage, signed and inscribed if you wish.

There are plenty of Derbyshire tales to pass the time between now and the start of the season, many of them, which was always my intention, never before recounted in print.

So if you want to find out how Alan Hill and Tony Borrington prepared in an unusual way to face Sylvester Clarke, how Keith Mohan was perhaps the youngest professional ever and how Geoff Miller took a whoopee cushion on to the field one afternoon, then this is a chance to do so.

Like me, you will probably cry with laughter at John Wright's story of David Steele running out Geoff ...

Drop me an email on peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk if you are interested in a copy, and I will give you payment details.

Sincere thanks to those who have already done so!