Captain Billy Godleman spoke to DerbyshireTV as the first team squad reported back to The 3aaa County Ground for the start of pre-season.
Godleman, who will lead the side in the Specsavers County Championship and Royal London One-Day Cup in 2017, says he’s excited by the new coaching model which provides the players, and Billy as Captain, with greater responsibility when they step out onto the field.
He said: “Personally after five or six weeks of being away from the boys you start to miss the banter and camaraderie, so it’s definitely good to be back with the lads.
“I’m really excited by the structure of the new model. Although I know I’ll have the extra responsibility of making the final calls, it is very much our team. Everyone will be listened to and everyone will be treated with respect and together we will come up with the right decisions for the team moving forward.
“Prior to Christmas it’s a lot of fitness and gym work – the fitness test inform’s what plans Jamie Tallent, our Strength & Conditioning Coach, will draw up for us. Once that’s finished and the New Year is here there will be a lot more cricket.”
He added: “My goal at the moment is to use the next four or five months wisely as possible for a personal point of view from my own game but also collectively as a group and also that we are continually day in day out improving our skills so that when we get the opportunity we in April time we’re able to perform out in the field.”
“Everyone’s got a really good feel about the new structure – everyone’s voice will be heard and it’s going to be a collective push as a group to make sure that we’re continually improving.”
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