Deano returns...

 So, Derbyshire's latest "signing" is a 36 year old left-arm seamer who has been retired for a couple of years, despite regularly showing that there's still life in the old dog on the local scene.

At first glance one could be forgiven for thinking we'd returned to the bad old days, when we signed such players and expected them to make a major impact on the field. Oh my Inman, Trueman, Headley, Sharpe et al of (not so) long ago...

Yet the return to the club of Kevin Dean (left, in his playing days) is a satisfying one. First, it shows a level of commitment to the cause, someone wanting to "give back". Dean is Derbyshire through and through and has started a successful career outside the game, so his willingness to take a role on the committee is to be applauded. It is, after all, a cricket club and few will know it any better than a man who gave years of loyal and very able service. I'm a strong advocate of having people who know what they are doing in key roles and with Dean and Tony Borrington in situ I have confidence that the committee will continue to operate effectively and be representative of the membership. By the same token, it is important to have a mixture of skills, personalities and abilities, something that Chris Grant will be well aware of. I've been a member of enough over the years to know that this is how it works, with everyone having their own areas of responsibility and expertise.

For Derbyshire to continue to move forward and embrace the chairman's blueprint , it needs commitment and the involvement of such people as Kevin Dean, someone ideally placed to keep an eye on young talent around the county and, potentially, to help with the coaching of young bowlers. His role is at this stage loose and undefined, as well as being subject to ratification by the members in March, although that must surely be a formality.

I'm delighted to hear this news and would like to offer a warm welcome to Kevin on his return to the County Ground. If he can pass on any of his bowling skills to Ross Whiteley he will do us a considerable service. Combine Dean's ability with a ball in his hand with the youngster's considerable skills with a bat and you
would have the best young all-rounder in the country...

In other news, I share the distaste of the Falcons Forum for Nottinghamshire's half-million pound profit and their battle cry urging "everyone in the East Midlands" to turn up and support them. This is, of course, neglecting the fact that 2/3 of the cricket fans in this neck of the woods have little or no time for them. No disrespects, of course, but I'd be more appreciative if they didn't sniff around the young talent of other counties like a dog in season, at the same time as they bend - sorry, break - regulations on player visas to suit their own ends. As with Somerset, I'm likely to spend part of the coming season gently hoping that these teams don't win things and that less affluent sides raise their games against them. Power to the underdog - that's what 40-odd years of Derbyshire watching does to you...

Speaking of Somerset, since they announced they had signed Chris Gayle they have had "huge interest" from their cricketing public. This is somewhat at odds with the player's form, as he can't buy a run right now, going first ball yesterday as Sydney Thunder were roundly thrashed by Brisbane Heat. Usman Khawaja grafted for a run-a-ball 37, but averages only 18 in the format, not really enough for a top order player in what has looked a very poor side. Meanwhile in South Africa, the highly talented Faf du Plessis won the third one-dayer for his country against Sri Lanka with a breezy 70. It won't be too long before this highly talented cricketer becomes a regular for his country and it confirmed my positive comments about him last week. By the same token, it might also make an England tour slot one step closer...

At the other end of the experience scale, Leicestershire are supposedly in talks with Mohammad Yousuf, who has been a very good player but is perhaps now past his prime. In addition, I understand that the player doesn't want to play one-day cricket, which could well scupper the deal. He nearly came to Derbyshire a few years back, of course, but was in his pomp at that stage.

Glamorgan are resigned to not having Alviro Petersen in their ranks for next summer, so are considering their options and may make overtures to Mark Cosgrove to turn his back on Australia and use his UK passport. I would suggest that there is little chance of the player getting into their national side, especially when the focus is so much on fitness these days.

Much closer to home, it was good to see Wayne Madsen out and about in his capacity as Derbyshire skipper and the player is an ideal ambassador for the club. You could hardly wish to meet a nicer man than the South African and I eagerly await the season to see how he takes to the captaincy - and indeed, where he sees his best batting position. There are arguments for him to open with Martin Guptill, of course, but I have a feeling that the skipper might be best deployed at number four, especially when two of our best young batting prospects are openers themselves.

That's pretty much it for now - I'll be back soon, hopefully with more news on Derbyshire signings - on the pitch this time!