Cricket: Redfern geared up for new Derbyshire challenge

DERBYSHIRE'S celebrations have barely died down, but Dan Redfern won't be basking in their success for too long.

The 22-year-old Leycett batsman was an integral part of the county's Division Two title success... the first time they had won a championship since 1936.

But rather than pat himself on the back for a memorable summer, which saw him contribute 792 runs, Redfern is packing his bags to escape to warmer climes.

This is no holiday, however. Redfern is merely setting the wheels in motion for next season when Derbyshire will be competing in the top division for the first time in 13 years.

So six months at Darren Lehmann's Cricket Academy in Adelaide is in order to hone the skills required to make his mark in Division One.

Under the watchful eye of the former Australia batsman, with some grade cricket thrown in, the left-hander should be in fine fettle next April – and he's well aware that he'll need to be.

"It will be a challenge for us, but we've never shied away from one of those," he said.

"We don't just want to survive, we want to do well and finish as high as we can.

"It's an unforgiving division and it can change from year to year, so we must keep improving. You only have to see what happened with Lancashire, who won the title last year and were relegated this season.

"There will be some ups and downs, but we're looking to make an impact."

As impacts go, Redfern made an immediate one this summer, by ending his five-season wait for a maiden first-class century by reaching three figures in the championship game against Northamptonshire in April.

That set the tone for the youngster, and his team-mates, to defy the odds and shrug off their underdog tag to secure promotion with Yorkshire.

Their elevation was conformed on the third day of the final match of the season against Hampshire, with the title bagged 24 hours later.

"It took a couple of days to sink in, but after a few celebrations, it has," added Redfern.

"Going up wasn't enough, winning the title was what we wanted and that's what motivated us on the final day.

"We wanted to finish the job in style."

Redfern says Derbyshire learned the lessons from Northamptonshire's failure to last the promotion course in 2011 to keep them on the straight and narrow.

But he also attributes a huge amount of their success to coach Karl Krikken.

Krikken, a former Derbyshire player, replaced John Morris in June 2011 and has developed a young, talented side in a little over a year.

"Northants were flying, but after the Twenty20 they fell away – we were determined that wouldn't happen," he said.

"The way that Karl wants us to play is to express ourselves and he gives us the freedom to go and enjoy our cricket. It has paid off handsomely for us."

Redfern has a year left on his contract, but preliminary talks have taken place about extending his stay.

And that would appear fitting reward as his talent blossoms on the first-class circuit.

"I was in the top 10 batters for Division Two, so it's been a good season," he added.

"I now need to keep that up in Division One because there is more recognition playing in the top flight."

And his own personal highlights from the summer?

"Scoring my first hundred and then following it up with another one," he said.

"But having said that, nothing beats winning a title."