We are now into the season of excess and office parties, extra drinking sessions and big portioned meals will soon begin to take their toll.

Please do not fall into the trap though of thinking that fitness is irrelevant for the forthcoming cricket season. Cricket does not have the physical demands of football or athletics, but being as fit as you can be will undoubtedly improve your performance.

Anyone that has batted with Slaps for more than an over will tell you how they wished that they had been that little bit fitter !

It is not only running between the wickets where being fitter will help. Bowlers will be able to bowl longer spells and stay fresh for longer. Fielders will obviously benefit from being able to chase down balls heading for the boundary.

Everyone’s individual fitness work will depend on their current level, but it is fair to say that we can all do better. Not only should we be watching what we eat and drink, but we should also be exercising whenever possible.

The footballers in our squad will be ticking over, but others may need to consider getting down the gym, going out for regular runs or even simply taking the stairs instead of the lift at work.

The season starts here.