Derbyshire County Cricket Club players ‘the fittest they have ever been’

The players have been in training at The 3aaa County Ground since the start of November as they build towards the start of the 2015 campaign.

Dr Jamie Tallent has been pleased with the squad’s work over the winter and believes they will reap the benefits come April.

Tallent said: “The improvement is year-on-year in terms of fitness levels.

“I would like to think we will be streets ahead of other counties. This year is the hardest I have ever seen the lads work.

“They have done more hours so I would like to think we are in front of everyone else. Obviously it’s hard to measure but we know we are fully-prepared.

“We know we have done everything that we can do so we are very satisfied.

“We think it’s important to improve them as athletes before we do so as cricketers.

“We have certain standards that the players have to meet. We ask them to have a certain level of skinfold and of fitness. If they don’t meet the standards then there are team consequences.

“If you compare the physiques of cricketers now to those of even just eight years ago, there is a huge gulf. There’s much more cricket being played nowadays so their bodies are being taxed more so they need to train more.

“We’re in great shape with the season not far away now.”

Derbyshire start their season at home to Lancashire on Sunday 19 April.