YOUTH is the key to success in sport. This weekend will be the first without long serving captain Mike Coles, who has decided to retire after 13 years of playing for the county.

Obviously when you lose someone with that experience it is a setback, he has been instrumental for us for a number of years now. It is a big loss for us that he has chosen to retire but we have to look to the future.

His departure means we are able to bleed in a few young players, which is never a bad thing, it’s exciting times.

We have some great young players and it means we can have a change in direction. We have a good relationship with the academy but it allows is to build relationships with local clubs to see who’s playing and who’s doing well.

This weekend we are also without our new captain Ed Young who is unable to play for the rest of the championships due to work commitments. That leaves us a little bit thin on the ground regarding batting, but it is a good chance to get the young players out there.

It was a stuttered weekend for many with the weather playing havoc with the schedule and that isn’t just for county cricket, it’s clubs too.

It’s very frustrating, it has been a poor summer so far, we had to squeeze in a game to beat the rain against Cornwell. It’s disruptive for everyone because the batters come on and have to play with a wet wicket and it is the same for the bowlers too.

We didn’t have a game at the weekend and now we are playing every other week for the last four games, which will take us to the middle of August.

The break in action isn’t anything to worry about in terms of momentum going forward, the players are still playing regularly for their clubs so they’re still getting practice in.

But for me, I know it’s hard when you’re working so they probably welcome the rest, three days of cricket is tiring, it’s a welcome break.