Derbyshire batsman Wayne Madsen says he’s having to change his pre-season plans this year ahead of his Pakistan Super League bow. The 35-year-old, who was Derbyshire’s leading run-scorer in four-day cricket last year, with 1,016 runs at an average of 38, is already looking forward to the new county season, which begins in April.
Madsen is back in training but admits he’s having to tailor his preparations as he gears up for his first taste of an overseas Twenty20 tournament, after signing for the Peshawar Zalmi ahead of that competition beginning next month.
Madsen is looking forward to 2019 as he aims to be successful in all formats. “It’s nice to get back into it,” he said. “The last couple of months have been all about getting fitness levels back up and getting strong for the competitions to come. “But to pick up a bat again is pretty exciting. You want to have a bit of a break after what was a long season in 2018, but now is the time to get into gear.”
He added: “My preparation is going to be a bit different as to how I go about things over the next few weeks and months. But the competitive practice I get in the Pakistan Super League will be crucial to being ready for Derbyshire in April. “The county season begins pretty early this year, so we have to make sure we are prepared and get off to a good start.”
