Captain Billy Godleman says he has drawn on Director of Cricket Kim Barnett for help with his personal game and leadership during the pre-season.
The Club this winter introduced a new coaching model, led by Barnett, and Godleman has been keen to learn from the Derbyshire all-time leading run-scorer and former captain for support in his own game.
Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Godleman said: “Not only will Kim help me moving forward, but he has helped me a great deal in the past. He’s been a pillar of strength since arriving at the Club.
“He’s a mentor figure not only for my personal game but also captaincy and leadership and I feel very fortunate to have the relationship I have with him.
“Kim is a great source of knowledge. He played the game successfully for a long time as a batsman and Captain. To lean on his experiences and match them up against what I am thinking and feeling is a really important process for me.”
He added: “We have recruited some real experience and highly skilled players to compliment exciting and young home-grown players.
“We hope every player we bring to the Club will add value, not just on the field but off the field as well.”
The squad continues to train inside the Briggs of Burton Pre-Season Marquee so the players can prepare on English turf and familiarise themselves with the conditions in which they will play the early games of the season.
Barnett added: “If you go abroad it’s good for team bonding and good to play matches but the conditions are totally different to what we have here, which is a damp and typical English day on grass pitches that are probably going to move around more.
“The guys have been in the marquee for a while now and have really embraced it and seem to be getting a lot out of it.
“When you go abroad you can find yourself coming back having played on hard, bouncy tracks and back into indoors because you can’t play on grass because of the weather, almost back to square one.”
Godleman added: “It’s fantastic on days when we wouldn’t be able to practice outside. What’s the most realistic and what best replicates early season pitches in England. We spent some time abroad in previous pre-seasons in the UAE and indoors and both are nowhere near the conditions we would face at the start of the season.
“The marquee is such a fantastic opportunity and facility for us because it is as close as we’re going to get to that first game here against Northamptonshire.”
Join your county cricket club. The Club has reduced its price and simplified its categories to offer one single Club Membership at only £159. Buy today and enjoy a great summer.
