We are now eight games into the t20 season and the fixtures come thick and fast. I can’t even remember the last time the boys played in a pair of whites or practiced with a red ball.

With so many games to play inside a small window gaining momentum is vital in a bid to gain a quarter-final spot in early August.

We have competed in every game so far and narrowly missed out on three occasions to Essex, Kent and Hampshire. With eight games left I feel we need to win at least five to gain a quarter-final spot with six wins securing that place.

We have been boosted by the return of Simon Jones to bolster our bowling attack and hopefully he will give us that X-Factor that you need in t20.

He is a vastly experienced bowler and will offer our young seamers some great advice not only off the field but also on it. It has also been great to see the return of our adopted Welshman Mark Cosgrove.

He has been striking the ball brilliantly and I’m sure he will win us at least one game before the t20 campaign is over.

My new role this year has consisted of providing statistical analysis of opposition teams for the captain and coach to give us an insight of what to expect from opposition players during the game.

This ranges from how players have scored their runs this year, how bowlers have taken their wickets, how they bowl their slower balls and how often they execute their yorkers.

These are just some of the things I cover and involves trawling through scorecards and looking at footage to provide the boys with the best preparation for the game.

It’s a very enjoyable job and offers great satisfaction if something you have suggested actually works. Although if it doesn’t work it’s a quick shower and in the car before the boys start asking questions!

Our first few games involved quite a bit of travelling and it was decided between the coach, physio and my self that we should have a fitness challenge.

This all came about with the physio and me noticing we both appeared to have put on a bit of weight and needed to lose the odd kilo. Well the physio more than me! (I won’t name him but he used to be a nightclub bouncer and I don’t want to upset him!) So we both jumped on the scales to find out our starting weight. Again I won’t say what they were but I was shocked.

Having been unable to train or run due to my hips, things seemed to have crept up on me a touch.

Sessions have involved the bike, cross trainer and light weights and it has been very competitive.

The next weigh-in will be next week so watch this space...

Monday sees the re-start of the championship campaign and we have slipped back to fourth with Northampton and Middlesex both winning this week.

Derbyshire are the visitors to the Swalec Stadium and I feel this is a game we should be looking to win. We are bolstered by the return of our spearhead James Harris who has been out of action with a bruised heal.

He has missed the t20 campaign so far but will be vital for us in our push for promotion to Division One of the Championship.

It’s been interesting to note this week that the new Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas actually started off his career as the statistical analysis coach for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea back in 2004.

Hopefully that’s an omen for me and I could follow a similar path.