A measure of success

Billy Godleman on a trip to Nepal, Wayne Madsen starring for Team Abu Dhabi, Luis Reece signed up for the Bangladesh Premier League.

Four players picked up for the new tournament, with our two overseas players for the T20 both playing for Australia, No wonder people are starting to look differently at Derbyshire.

I am very excited about the 2020 season and look forward to seeing an exciting side play a purposeful brand of cricket. We may be on the verge of a golden period for the club and Dave Houghton deserves credit for how he has brought together a small squad of considerable talent and potential.

With others, including Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Matt Critchley, doing well overseas, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. The announcement of the fixtures for next season, due shortly, will make it seem that bit closer and we can all start looking at where and when we can get to matches.

I always look for the Durham fixture at The Riverside, as it is as close as I get to a home game, while an early season home game at Derby affords an opportunity to say hello again to friends old and new. Even if you generally need too many layers for genuine comfort...

Between times, after Christmas, I will be running a series of pieces from an interview I did with Tony Palladino in September. We discussed his career with Essex and Derbyshire, as well as his hopes for the future, in an interview I thoroughly enjoyed with an engaging man.

Something to look forward to!