Wagg makes his case

Graham Wagg's England ambitions remain as strong as ever - and he claims he does not need to leave Derbyshire to fulfil his dream.

In 2007 he did the double, taking 50 wickets and scoring 500 runs in first-class cricket. This year he repeated the feat, earning him Derbyshire's player of the season award and a spot in the England squad for next month's Hong Kong Sixes.

But personal success only satisfies the all-rounder up to a point.

He is aware Derbyshire need to improve their standings in all domestic competitions and a new two-year contract proves that he is more than happy to help them do it, as he continues to press for Test and one-day honours.

"The only reason I've signed at the club is because I'm happy," Wagg told ecb.co.uk.

Graham Wagg weighed in with 50 first-class wickets for the second successive season

"I'm happy here and I've not been pressurised into moving clubs to play for England.

"If I perform at the club, the selectors can't ignore me. As a team you've got to be winning things as well for people to really look at you."

Club success did not come in 2008. Derbyshire finished second from bottom in Division Two of both the LV County Championship and the NatWest Pro40 and did not progress from the group stage of the Friends Provident Trophy or the Twenty20 Cup.

Despite this, Wagg insists Derbyshire are moving in the right direction.

"The club is on its way up. It's not that rubbish ground Derby where no-one wants to go to any more," he said, proudly citing his side's unbeaten record at home in the County Championship in 2008.

According to Wagg, things look good for coming seasons too. Many of the players charged with improving Derbyshire’s form in 2009 are products of the club's thriving youth academy.

"We've got some really good youngsters coming through and they're going to be pushing for the England squad in the next couple of years," he said.

Dan Redfern, recently selected for the England Under-19 tour of South Africa, is one. Jonathan Clare, who was nominated for the young cricketer of the year award by the cricket writers' club, is another tipped by Wagg.

"It'll be a tough year for them but they've got to get their heads down and play a big role in our team next year," he confirmed.

Much is also expected of the county's overseas players, including Australia batsman Chris Rogers, who will return to captain the side next year nafter performing the job towards the end of this season. Kolpak pair Charl Langeveldt and Wavell Hinds were also impressive this year.

Wagg celebrates his hundred against Northamptonshire with team-mate Jonathan Clare

"I'd love them to come back every year," Wagg admitted, and happily all three have already signed for 2009, although head of cricket John Morris is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding potential new signings.

"John hasn't let me into it. So I just pray for John's sake and for the club's sake that we do get these players that we deserve to get."

As for next year, the 25-year-old added: "We are going to focus on the championship - that's the big competition."

But he also recognises the financial reward for Twenty20 Cup success could also be vitally important.

"There's huge money in that now and for a club like Derby that would be such a bonus, to get some silverware and of course the rewards in pound coins as well."

If Derbyshire are going to push for silverware it is the batting that needs work and not the bowling.

"We're up there with the bowling points. We've bowled teams out day in, day out but our batting's let us down quite a bit, so I think we need a bit of experience in that middle order."

Asked if his side underachieved last season, Wagg said: "It was a difficult time for Derby, but we played some fantastic cricket in all forms of the game.

"We beat some fantastic sides but the weather didn't help."

He points to highlights including the championship win at home against Essex.

"They set us 360 to win on the last day. We won that and I scored the winning runs.”

He also recalls some of the other performances that led to his player of the year award, including eight wickets and a crucial 56 against Worcestershire which was soon followed by a century at Northamptonshire's expense and a 10-wicket haul against Gloucestershire.

Wagg and Charl Langeveldt clinch a last-ball win over Nottinghamshire in the Twenty20 Cup

"Taking 10 wickets in the game and scoring 100 runs against Gloucestershire was an amazing achievement and I've never done that in a game before. It hasn't happened for Derbyshire in a long, long time."

It was that sort of form that got people talking and now Wagg has his sights firmly set on an place in the national side.

"My ambition is still to play for England. I'm still young. I'm only 25 still so I've got a long time left in the game.

"I'm expecting another 10 years in the game and to keep on achieving these sort of achievements will be outstanding. I always want the ball to run in and bowl and I always want to get out there and bat."

Wagg was released by Warwickshire and banned for a year after testing positive for cocaine in 2004, but his selection for the Hong Kong Sixes is another step on the path to a full international debut.

And, judging by his form over the last two seasons, few would bet against him making that advance.

He knows that the consistency he showed with bat and ball for Derbyshire in 2008 needs to extend into 2009 and beyond.

"I haven't finished yet," he warned.