Derbyshire all-rounder Wes Durston says the players are in good shape as they returned for pre-season training this week.

The full squad spent their first day of pre-season with the Club’s Official Partners, the University of Derby, as they took advantage of the new Sports Centre at the university complex.

The players were back in the Elite Performance Centre at The 3aaa County Ground the following day and the NatWest T20 Blast and Royal London One-Day Cup Captain believes preparations have started well.

“It is good to be back, good to see the boys again. We have all come in looking to hit the ground running this week,” said Durston.

“We have had our fitness testing which is always a challenge at this time of the year after five weeks off. I thought the testing went really well for the team and the first full day of training was great.

“It was good to see everyone in the nets. The batsmen were hitting balls again and the bowlers were getting some bowling in early on.”

“We have had some time with our Fielding Coach Cookie Patel who was putting us through our paces as well as our Strength & Conditioning Coach Jamie Tallent who has helped us with the weights and the fitness. It has been a good first two days and this is where it starts for us.”

Durston also praised the new facilities at the University of Derby and insists everyone at the Club will stop at nothing to ensure preparations for the new season are as thorough as possible.

“I was very impressed with the facilities at the University of Derby, it is a brand new facility and it was just what we needed,” added Durston.

“We had a lot of space for us all do the fitness testing at the same time and I was thoroughly impressed at the setup of the place. Jamie Tallent had some great help with a couple of people from the university as part of their course so they got something out of it as well.

“We already gearing up towards the New Year and we want to have the best pre-season possible and be ready to go in April. We want to leave nothing to chance and be the best prepared team in the country.”

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