IN stark contrast to Essex's spectacular start to the 2008 season, a brave new era for Derbyshire has begun as a bit of a damp squib.

Already reeling from the news that Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will not be joining the county as an overseas player due to international commitments, the Midlanders have seen their opening two fixtures fall foul of the weather.

In the LV County Championship Second Division, Gloucestershire appeared to be on the road to victory at Bristol when rain put paid to their pursuit of a victory target of just 172.

In a match of few highlights for Derbyshire, Chris Rogers scored 114 in the second innings, but a first effort of just 124 all out was far from good enough.

On to Sunday's Friends Provident Trophy North Division match against Lancashire at Old Trafford and the rain again struck, leading to an abandonment without a ball being bowled.

All that wet weather has rather drowned out the optimism at the county following a winter of re-building.

Undeterred by the ECB's refusal to allow West Indian Indian Cricket League rebel Wavell Hinds to join them, Derbyshire delved head-first into the market, bringing in no fewer than six new faces.

The biggest profile arrival has been the county's new captain, former England and Surrey all-rounder Rikki Clarke, who briefly interested Essex over the winter.

Joining the 26-year-old are Australian batsman Chris Rogers, 30, who has played one Test for his home country, and Clarke's former Surrey team-mate, spinner Nayan Doshi.

Also new at Derby are left-hander John Sadler from Leicestershire and 19-year-old academy graduate batsman Paul Borrington, who emulated Essex's Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara by winning the NBC Dennis Compton Award for his county's most promising youngster in 2006.

Finally, 22-year-old South African batsman Dominic Telo, who scored 65 in the second innings at Bristol, has arrived as a Kolpak player.

Derbyshire (from): Clarke (capt), Stubbings, Rogers, Sadler, Telo, Clare, Pipe (wkt), Wagg, Lungley, Doshi, Hunter, Birch.