At the start of his 20th pre-season, Darren Stevens says he is feeling better than ever and desperate to put a disappointing 2015 campaign behind him.

Stevens turns 40 on April 30 and despite the final game of 2015 marking his 250th in First Class cricket, the former Leicestershire man admitted it brought a close to one of the most disappointing seasons of his career.

The all-rounder scored just 635 runs in 15 matches at an average of under 28 last season, with 158 of them coming from his final two knocks of the summer.

It was the first time since 2001 that he had not reached three figures in red-ball
cricket.

Stevens led the bowling averages with 61 Championship scalps at an average of 20.36, although the 419 overs he bowled was second only to Matt Coles in workload.

He said: “I was disappointed with last year. I was maybe a bit tired from the bowling and it affected my batting.

“I want to make amends this season. I have worked hard on my technique, really practising my shots. Hopefully, we’re starting to see the benefit already.”

Stevens – who enjoys a benefit year at Kent this summer – hit 67 in the opening game of pre-season against Essex and then smashed 64 from 28 balls in a T20 win against the same opponents.

He said: “I have struggled early in the season every year but I have worked on my batting over the winter but not done too much bowling, (even playing for Victorians in Bangladesh Premier League in November and December), as I wanted to rest after last season.”

He added: “Ideally I’d like to score double the runs as last year and take the same number of wickets, just in fewer overs.”

With Sunday’s opening game at Worcester looming, Stevens echoed the senior figures at the club in targeting a successful start to the Specsavers County Championship Division 2 campaign.

He said: “One thing we have brought up in pre-season is that we want a good start.
“All the sides that have gone up have got off to a good start. The one promotion place this year makes it even harder so it’s even more important.”