Tough season ahead for the sport
by Alan Rowley, 2nd April 2006

With the euphoria of last year's Ashes victory, and the success of Nottinghamshire in the County Championship, now a distant memory, the sport faces a tough time in the coming season. Local clubs and county sides are faced with stiff competition in the form of the football World Cup, which takes place in Germany for a full month, starting on June 9th.

The second day of the tournament, Saturday 10th June, sees England's first match against Pararguay starting at 2:00pm. Some of the smaller local league clubs will struggle to field sides as players will want to see England's opening game.

Football aside, the visit of the tourists from Sri Lanka won't come near to attracting the attention that the Aussies did in 2005, but the Pakistanis, who arrive at the end of June, will inject some life back in to what promises to be a difficult start to the season.

Nottinghamshire have been warming up for the season with a visit to South Africa. Director of cricket Mick Newell said: "The tour has gone well. We have avoided any injuries and everyone has had a chance to get good quality match practice." Their season starts in earnest on April 14th with a four day first class friendly against the MCC at Lord's ahead of the first County Championship game against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge, starting on the 19th.

Over the border, David Houghton continues the task of improving the performances of Derbyshire. For too long the poor boys of county cricket, Derbyshire show signs of becoming a more professional and ambitious outfit. Ground improvements have been a big step in the right direction, and there is even talk of hosting one day internationals in the not too distant future. The return of county cricket to Queen's Park, Chesterfield, will go a long way to improving relations with supporters north of Matlock.

Chairman Don Amott, recently elected for a second season in the office, looks to the coming season with enthusiasm. Speaking on the club's newly overhauled website, he says: “There is a different atmosphere than there was twelve months ago – everyone from players to staff seems to enjoy coming to work and the club is a much happier place.”

The bookies are not so confident. Derbyshire are rank outsiders in Division 2 of the County Championship at 33-1, while Nottinghamshire are a very tempting 5-1 to regain their Division 1 title.

Whichever club you follow, 2006 will be a chance for the sport to build on the enthusiasm created with the 2005 Ashes triumph. Youngsters are turning to the game in their thousands, hoping to emulate the antics of Flintoff, Vaughan and the England heros. The main priority for cricket in general has to be to ride the competition from the winter sport and capitalise on the national side's successes once the World Cup is over.