By Simon Mann Test Match Special commentator

Derbyshire's new coach Dave Houghton clearly relishes a challenge.

Chris Rogers faces a tough job to replace Michael di Venuto

Reviving the club's fortunes will be tougher than many he took on as captain and coach of Zimbabwe.

Not only did Derbyshire finish bottom of the Championship last season, they also lost their captain and main strike bowler Dominic Cork to Lancashire while his intended replacement as skipper, Michael Di Venuto, will miss the season because of back surgery.

Derbyshire learnt of Di Venuto's absence only weeks before the start of the season and Western Australia's Chris Rogers was hastily signed as his replacement with Luke Sutton installed as captain.

It was not the first time Derbyshire had to rethink their plans.

Tasmanian Damien Wright was earmarked to take Cork's role in the side as bowling all-rounder but he was forced to pull out of his contract in February because of a serious knee injury.

Previously, Houghton had spoken about building the side around Wright, but instead they have turned to another Australian, Jonathan Moss.

DERBYSHIRE'S 2003 RECORD County Championship: 9th, Division Two National League: 6th, Division Two C&G Trophy: 4th round Twenty20 Cup: 3rd in North Group

He is virtually unknown in England but has played club cricket here and was a key member of the Victoria side which won Australia's domestic four-day competition in the winter.

Derbyshire are cited as the most dispensable of all the counties and the former captain John Morris recently claimed the club had been a 'shambles' on and off the field for the last three seasons.

The club countered by pointing out that they made a decent profit last year, an academy has been built and the ground developed.

His argument about the team's results though is harder to disagree with and evidence for a revival in the four-day game is hard to find.

Australians usually provide value for money so Moss and Rogers might pay off but shorn of Di Venuto, the batting line-up looks even more vulnerable than last year.

The bowling attack is their stronger suit but not by much.

Kevin Dean, Graeme Welch and Mohammad Ali are all capable without providing the devilment that wins games consistently.

Luke Sutton has been thrown in at the deep end as captain

It speaks volumes that Mo Sheikh, not considered good enough by Warwickshire, is being given a trial.

Depressingly, Derbyshire have continued the growing trend of recruiting mediocre overseas players who are qualified to play in county cricket.

Batsman James Bryant has been brought in from Somerset where he endured a wretched season in 2003 and fellow South African Ant Botha, a left-arm spinner from Pretoria, replaces Lian Wharton who has been released.

The one-day game perhaps offers the best hope for success.

Derbyshire were the nearly team last season - one wicket away from reaching a Lord's final, not far from making the semi-finals of Twenty/20 and a couple of wins away from promotion in the National League.

Improvement though often comes in small stages and Derbyshire's first aim is not to be in contention for the Championship's wooden spoon.