Weekend warmer

There was a lone hand played by Shivnarine Chanderpaul last night, making 53 from Guyana's 111-6 as they fell to heavy defeat against Trinidad and Tobago, the stand out side in Caribbean T20. I hope he gets better support from his Derbyshire team mates this summer, as the next highest score was just 14...

I thought I'd take twenty minutes out to answer a few of the recent questions that I've received, either on the blog or by e mail, so here goes.

Tom mailed me to ask how much I thought Derbyshire would have paid for our new overseas player. That's a hard one to start, but I'd guess well into six figures when such niceties as business class air flights, accommodation, a car and agent fees are factored into the equation. Given his full-season availability, I'd reckon that Chanderpaul will be the highest paid overseas player in England next summer, ahead of Graeme Smith at Surrey. However, what he is being paid is really no one's business, any more than what you or I take home each month.

The bottom line is that if he scores 1,000-1,500 championship runs and a further 600-plus in one-day games, there will be few complaints. Talent costs money and there has to be a major difference between an average player and one of the very best. If his presence has a positive effect on the side, on fans and on business support it can only be money very well spent.

Below the last post, Mark asked who would have got a bigger reaction from me, had we signed him instead of Chanderpaul, a question that was more than adequately answered by Craig a few hours later. I had our new man in a fantasy list of three and to be honest, wouldn't swap him for any of the others.

I am a huge fan of Jacques Kallis and think Shane Watson is a fine player too. Yet the reality is that neither would be available for a full English season or anything close to it. Chanderpaul is available and will be spending the next two summers at Derbyshire. I love writing that...

Don got in touch, to ask, as I've seen mentioned elsewhere, whether I thought we should look at Dan Redfern as a potential opener this year. It's not that I don't think he could do it, but my answer is no, mate and here's why.

Billy Godleman didn't come to us from Essex to bat either middle-order or second team and I fully expect him to start the season in that role and have a good opportunity to rekindle his career. We know that Chanderpaul will bat four, as the skipper said so last week, so that leaves the rest to piece together.

I think Wayne Madsen would probably prefer batting at three, but so does Wes Durston and Madsen has greater experience and success as an opener. For me, the learning opportunities for the two young left-handers, Redfern and Whiteley, to bat at five and six with Chanderpaul are massive. Long-term, the value of him to them over these next two summers will be priceless.

A few people fail to realise just how different opening is to going in lower down. A hard ball, doing the most it is usually likely to do, a green track, a game plan to formulate and an innings to build are all pressures and need specific talents. If the openers don't do their stuff, Paul Borrington and Richard Johnson wait in the wings and will be the likely replacements in that order.

It will be a big year for Bozza, but I am sure that he will be hard at work in preparation for what opportunities may come his way.

Finally a question from Eric, asking when the Academy intake will be announced.

The awards night took place last week, but my guess is that the club have rightly kept the news back in a massive week. With the greatest of respect to everyone involved, following the news of that signing with anything is going to be lower key. I'm reminded of the story of Jerry Lee Lewis, who was vexed that Chuck Berry was following him on stage as headliner at a concert revue back in the day. Somewhat proving his point as being the star turn, he played a storming set, then set fire to his piano on the way off, passing Berry in the wings.

"Follow that, boy" he said.

I think we will see that news this week and I look forward to it. In keeping with the importance of these youngsters to our future, I'll be looking at the new recruits in a little detail

86 days to the season. It can't come soon enough for me.