eight weeks, taking him close to the start of the Derbyshire tour late next month.

Smith has already been out for two weeks because of the injury, which ruled him out of the Barbados trip next month though he is still hopeful of returning in time to play against the English county team.

"The injury was a very serious injury,'' he revealed. "I picked it up from being too motivated about the tours. I was doing aerobics, cross-country with my students and riding bikes and was overdoing it.

"If I'm not ready for Derbyshire I will be honest and tell them because I wouldn't want anybody playing for me who was not 100 percent. So I wouldn't do it to the board.'' The BCBC's master schedule for the coming season indicates that the limited overs league play gets under way on Sunday, April 18 and the Camel Cup will be held on May 15 and 16.

The Central Counties begins on Saturday, May 22; the Benson and Hedges on July 3-4; the Western Counties on Saturday, July 10 and the Eastern Counties on Saturday, July 17.

The Knockout Cup starts on Sunday, July 18 while the dates for the annual Cup Match are July 29 and 30.

WENDELL SMITH.