This week marks the end of my injury period. Finally, I'm back playing the game rather than just thinking or talking about it.

My friends will be delighted that they will no longer receive calls or messages explaining just how bored I am when they are toiling away at their jobs, which don't tend to give them five weeks' paid leave in the middle of summer.

I was at Stratford-upon-Avon Cricket Club last week where Warwickshire thoroughly trounced Hampshire (I'll leave discussion of the match against Scotland to another week, perhaps).

It was delightful to have so many enquiries about the state of my fitness from the fans and supporters. I really appreciated the interest that was shown and it underlined to me the importance of the loyal fan base we have at Warwickshire.

It can sometimes become a little fraught but, in general, the relationship between supporters and players is very good. Compared to many sports, I think cricket fans are fairly reasonable in their comments and opinions.

I do remember one incident a couple of years ago, however, which seemed a tad harsh.

Nick Knight had scored more than 300 runs and taken a couple of great catches at slip in a match against Sussex at Edgbaston when he misfielded at mid-off to allow a single, which prompted a shout from the stands of "you're rubbish, Knight, rubbish!" Some people can be pretty difficult to please!

One of the most striking aspects of being injured is the isolation one feels from the rest of the team. Unable to perform on the field, the respect and bond that results from putting oneself in the position to succeed or fail tends to wither.

There is a real sense of comradeship that develops from taking the field together, from taking on the opposition and being a part in shaping the match. This is true regardless of the result and is the purest and simplest form of team spirit.

Nowadays, the term is used synonymously with the "extra ten per cent" teams are striving for and is often called upon when results have been unfavourable.

In this light, team spirit focuses on the social aspect of being a team. Successful teams tend to have good team spirit and vice versa for those struggling with form. I think there has been an overemphasis on this aspect of team interrelations.

There is no doubt that a losing team often has problems within the dressing-room but I don't think it follows that a team with good social interrelations will necessarily be successful on the field.

Those coaches that chase success by cultivating a social team spirit are, in my opinion, going about it the wrong way.

Create a respectful, challenging environment, where players are treated fairly and communication is open and honest, and the social bonding that good teams have will naturally follow.

As a former colleague once said to me at yet another team meal: "I don't need to eat another chicken burger to show I'm a team man."