Barnett returns in revivalist mood

Last season:
Championship: 9th Div 2; NatWest Blast: 7th North Group; Royal London Cup: 7th North Group
In: Hardus Viljoen (Kolpak), Gary Wilson (Surrey), Luis Reece (Lancashire), Daryn Smit (SA, Kolpak).
Out: Neil Broom (NZ), Callum Parkinson (Leicestershire), Chesney Hughes (released), Andy Carter (retired)
Overseas: Jeevan Mendis (SL, April-June), Imran Tahir (SA, June-September), Matt Henry (NZ, T20).

2016 in a nutshell
Derbyshire had a dreadful season in 2016, finishing bottom of Division Two in the Specsavers Championship and achieving lowly group positions in both limited-overs tournaments. It led to a mid-season departure for the head coach, Graeme Welch, and although John Sadler stabilised affairs reasonably well, he also departed before the year was out. Only Tony Palladino took 30 Championship wickets in an inexperienced attack. Then there was the strange case of Chesney Hughes, who scored heavily, fell out of favour for reasons not entirely explained, and was not retained. Wayne Madsen, as ever, was a rock with the bat.

2017 prospects
Derbyshire's seam bowling must advance if they are to improve on last season's dismal showing. Hardus Viljoen, who has swopped South Africa for a Kolpak deal, is perceived as the enforcer of an attack that also needs some of its young bowlers - a fully-fit Tom Taylor perhaps - to progress. Neil Broom's return to New Zealand in the hope of an international career has been presented as a blow, but his record was a mediocre one. Gary Wilson adds experience and Luis Reece has a second chance to build a county career after his release from Lancashire.

In charge
Kim Barnett supervised one of the most successful periods in Derbyshire's history as captain in the 1980s and he returns, at the spritely age of 56, as director of cricket, committed to putting more responsibility into the hands of senior players. Barnett, who as club president presided over a review which brought a widespread coaching revamp, soon agreed the departure of Sadler, the former head coach, and has brought in England's first specialist T20 coach - a return for another old Derbyshire favourite, John Wright. Billy Godleman retains the captaincy and chairman Chris Grant is about to stand down to seek a position on the ECB Board.

Key player
Legspin will be all the rage in Derbyshire this summer - it is not often been possible to claim that - with the tyro Matt Critchley having ample chance to learn from, first, Jeevon Mendis and, from mid-season, Imran Tahir, two overseas cricketers with 71 years between them. If Mendis is a surprise packet with the ball and provides runs in the middle-order, he might just prove to be one of best-value short-term signings of the season. Derbyshire need a warm spring.

Bright young thing
Critchley's legspin was one of the most heartening aspects of Derbyshire's T20 season in 2016 and it persuaded them to offer him a new four-year contract before he spent the English winter in Australia, partly funded by the ECB. He has made less of an impression in the Championship, but further advancement will be hoped for, especially as another young spinner, Callum Parkinson, has moved on to Leicestershire.

ESPNcricinfo verdict
Barnett will not have taken up the director of cricket role lightly and, not a man for easy compromise, he will expect to see improvements. Recruitment has been sound. Nevertheless, only the most partisan Derbyshire supporter will anticipate more than modest progress.

Bet365 odds: Specsavers Championship, Div 2: 33-1; NatWest Blast 33-1; Royal London Cup 33-1