Director of Cricket, Kim Barnett, says he’s hugely excited by the young prospects at the Club ahead of the 2017 season.
Barnett is implementing a new coaching model which will give the players greater responsibility on the field to go out and perform. He believes the Club has some very talented youngsters and, with the help from senior players around them, they can be match winners for Derbyshire for years to come.
Barnett said: “I am hugely excited by the young prospects at the Club.
“I watched the Second XI face a very experienced Yorkshire side containing Ryan Sidebottom and Andrew Gale at Belper, and our lads matched them blow for blow. That is when I thought we really have something here.
“On the back of that, Charlie Macdonell, Tom Wood, Tom Milnes and Greg Cork have all been given an opportunity at first-class level.
“I think that perhaps shows that trying to fill gaps in the first-team with loans or players that are not good enough was the wrong strategy when there are players in the Seconds who can more than do the job.
He added: “I don’t think that success is that far away because the players are good enough. We have experienced players and young players who continue to improve.
“Across the staff, we have got a lot of talent but in the past we have not properly targeted the skills we need to bring in to enhance that.
“There is a lot to bring in, we could end up for three or four overseas players throughout the season to make sure that each competition is targeted properly with the right players.
“Last year we drew 11 matches and if we can just convert just four of those into wins then we would be much further up the league. You lose matches because you were poor but the draws where you should win are the most important matches to improve on.
“As much as we would like to be out there, it is the players’ domain and they are responsible for that. It is hard out there when you’re playing against fellow professionals who are just as good as you. It is not easy to win matches but that is what we want to do.”
Membership 2017 on sale Wednesday 19 October. Full details, including categories and pricing, will be available at 10am.
