In May alone Derbyshire won as many Championship matches as in the previous two years. By early June they were top of Division Two and eyeing a C&G final. So where did it all go right?

By going back to basics, says their director of cricket David Houghton. �..We had a very long pre-season, came back in February. Everybody did the same hard work and everybody saw it. We didn�..t go away and our week at an army camp was cancelled. We just had a day in the Peak District.�.�

The simple approach has continued. �..We don�..t do any of these fancy warm-ups,�.� said their inspirational Grolsch-and-gaspers captain Graeme Welch recently. What have they done with Steffan Jones, who has provided a new sharp edge with 23 wickets in five Championship games, more than in two seasons at Northamptonshire?

�..Well, he�..s been allowed to bowl,�.� says Houghton simply. �..I said, �..You�..re going to bowl 700-800 overs a season.�.. And he said, �..That�..s exactly what I want.�..�.� Finally, a note of caution: in 2002 Derbyshire won five of their first six Division Two matches �.. and finished sixth. Can they keep it up? �..Oh yeah,�.� says Houghton. �..This is a turn-around.�.�
Paul Coupar, The Wisden Cricketer