Good to see discussion back!

Good discussion tonight on IMWT, where one of the contributors has asked whether it is worth our signing a second overseas player for the T20.

The quick response from a couple of regulars is yes, it is. I would whole-heartedly agree with them.

Irrespective of the fact that it is a World Cup summer and that most of the best cricketers in the world have some summer commitments, we have to bring a second overseas player to the mix for two reasons.

Firstly, we need to compete. I think we have again moved forward with our close season recruitment, but the margin between winning and losing these T20 games is often small. A batsman who can blast a quick 40/50 or a bowler who can bowl four tight overs could make a huge difference to any side, not just Derbyshire. Last year we batted pretty well in these matches, but bowled like drains. If we improve in both areas again we will win more matches. As the meercats would say, simples...

The other reason, of course, if financial. You have to speculate to accumulate and our continued financial viability as a club is dependent on making steps forward on the pitch. We'll not fill the 2,000 new seats without a big name, though I'm as concerned as anyone that the congested calendar could leave everyone chasing three available players.

Today Worcestershire have said that they're worried at losing the talented Steve Smith to the Australian one day squad this summer. Just as Glamorgan are worried about Shaun Tait and Somerset are resigned to losing Cameron White. It makes squad building an onerous task and John Morris must be spending a lot of time on the phone at present.

One contributor on IMWT suggests we can't sign a top South African as they're involved in the Caribbean. He's partly right, but as I've said before, their Test players will be unavailable, but probably only one day players for a couple of matches. I'd still not say no to Loots Bosman or Charl Langeveldt, while Alviro Petersen and JP Duminy may or may not be in the Test reckoning. Of course, we could then sign one of them, then lose them if a squad member picked up an injury in the Caribbean, It is little short of a nightmare, but I remain confident that John Morris will come up with someone. Whether it will be a bums on seats someone is a different matter, but if that player contributes to a winning side it will do me.

Speaking of nightmares - Kent, £800K loss last year? This follows losing £690K the previous season, which is a funny way to run any business. With Nottinghamshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire all recording losses in excess of six figures for the past twelve months, it highlights how crucial the Sky TV money is to the game's future. Kent lost big money on concerts by James Morrison and the Sugababes, neither of them names that I'd have expected to make big money at an outdoor gig. They did well to actually get three Sugababes there between splits for "artistic differences"...

See you soon. March 8th today - and the season starts a month from tomorrow.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!