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Cork is optimistic after winter of discontent

There is no truth in the rumour that Derbyshire's decision to name themselves ``The Scorpions'' in National League action this summer was prompted by the poisonous atmosphere which pervaded the County Ground for much of the winter.

``Not so,'' insists secretary John Smedley. ``Ward's, our main sponsors, make a lager called Scorpion and we opted for that name when they came up with cash to help cover the UKP 6,000 cost of the new kit for this competition.''

The fact that sponsors have not deserted in droves as a result of the undignified furore over control of playing matters which opened the county to scorn during the winter must be something of a relief and Dominic Cork, the captain and chief protagonist in these ructions, accepts that ``bridge-building'' is currently a major part of his responsibility.

``I made a stand on a clear matter of principle,'' he says, ``and one or two players got bruised along the way, me included. But the slate is now clean as far as I am concerned and nobody who puts his lot in and works for the team will be denied his chance.''

The committee were eventually left with no alternative but to resign en bloc and though Cork was left with increased authority, it came at the cost of diminished resources.

A decision to pay off Kim Barnett, the club's longest-serving player and leading batsman, with two years of his contract unexpired did as much as anything to turn members to militancy and Cork readily acknowledges that making up for his mentor's customary yield of 1,000 runs-plus in the championship will take some doing.

``You can't lose a player of his ability and competitive attitude without it having an effect but we have to be positive and take it as a challenge. We've relied too much on Kim in the past so now is the time for some of the other batsman to show what they are made of.

``I put myself in that category. I ought to make more runs and I believe I can by cutting out the reckless shots and concentrating on building an innings more often.

``Phil DeFreitas and Karl Krikken are also capable of 800 runs a season in the lower middle order but it's obvious that to be really competitive we need a big season from senior batsmen like Michael Slater, who has had a great winter, and Adrian Rollins. I'm amazed Mike isn't in Australia's World Cup squad and it would not surprise me if his response was to have a cracking season with us.''

Cork's optimism is less conditional where the bowling is concerned, though the lack of a front-line spinner will again limit tactical options.

``You won't find many counties with a better line-up in the seam department,'' he claims. ``I genuinely believe we have the ability to finish in the top nine and win a place in the top division when the championship splits in a year's time.''

Team Details & First-Class fixtures

Staff: D G Cork (capt), P Aldred, I D Blackwell, M E Cassar, V P Clarke, K J Dean, M Deane, P A J DeFreitas, S P Griffiths (wkt), A J Harris, K M Krikken (wkt), S J Lacey, M R May, G M Roberts, A S Rollins, M J Slater, T M Smith, B L Spendlove, S D Stubbings, S P Titchard, T A Tweats, R M S Weston, A Woolley.

New Players: Michael Deane, Anthony Woolley, Stephen Titchard (from Lancs).

Released: K J Barnett (to Gloucs), A J Hayhurst.

1998 record Championship

10th (P17 W6 L7 D4)
AXA League: 15th (P17 W6 L8 NR3)
B & H Cup: did not qualify from Group B (P4 W1 L3)
Natwest: Lost to Lancs in final

First-class fixtures

April
Tues 20 Glamorgan (Derby). Wed 28 Kent (Canterbury).

May
Fri 14 Warwickshire (Edgbaston). Wed 19 Northamptonshire (Derby).

June
Wed 2 Yorkshire (Derby). Wed 9 Essex (Chelmsford). Wed 30 Middlesex (Lord's).

July
Fri 9 Somerset (Derby). Thurs 15 Durham (Riverside) Wed 21 Sussex (Derby). Fri 30 Nottinghamshire (Trent Bridge).

Aug
Wed 4 Lancashire (Derby). Wed 18 Worcestershire (Kidderminster). Tues 24 Surrey (Derby).

Sept
Wed 1 Leicestershire (Leicester). Wed 8 Gloucestershire (Bristol). Wed 15 Hampshire (Derby).