DERBYSHIRE are to get ready for the new season with a tour to Barbados.

They are to join Division One counties Yorkshire, Lancashire and Essex on the Caribbean island for a 10-day trip which offers the chance to prepare for the new campaign with high-quality competitive action.

An even earlier start to the 2010 season – Derbyshire's first Championship match begins on April 9 – has prompted head of cricket John Morris to accept an invitation to take his squad to Barbados from March 15-25.

The tour will include a weekend Twenty20 tournament at the Kensington Oval against the three counties and a Barbados XI, 40-over matches against two of the county sides and a two-day match against the other.

There will also be chances to make use of net and practice facilities with guaranteed good weather and Morris believes that made the trip an opportunity too good to miss.

"I had a look at how early we start this season and if we got rained off in our practice matches – which is always possible at that time of the year – we could be looking at going to The Oval for our first Championship match having had no chance to play outdoors," he said.

"It's imperative that we get out on grass to practice and a tournament like this is perfect. It gives us the chance to play against three Division One teams and I'm sure that will be a good measure for us."

Derbyshire were last in the West Indies when they went to Grenada two years ago.

Yorkshire, Lancashire and Essex spent their last two pre-seasons in Dubai but the Bajan authorities made a big effort to tempt them away from the UAE this spring.