Derbyshire face two must-win games in NatWest T20 Blast
If we beat Leicestershire and Worcestershire in the T20s scheduled for the next two nights, Derbyshire will retain an interest in the competition. If they don't, they won't, simple as that.
There is no news on the squad yet, but expect little change as there are few alternatives. Tillakaratne Dilshan plays the first, then hands the overseas baton to Hamish Rutherford while we welcome back Alex Hughes and Will Davis to the competition.
Both opponents are beatable, but only if Derbyshire can shake the T20 monkey from their backs. They play really good cricket in the championship at times and have showed this summer that they are learning to bowl better lines and lengths in the T20s, although not yet consistently.
It is undeniable, however, that until our batting shows greater resilience than a pack of cards in the middle order, we won't win many games. An old head coming in with four wickets down would be great for us, someone like Sean Ervine perhaps, but such a move would be for another season.
Last year, we struggled in the power plays. This year we have done better, then undone all the good work by poor shot selection in the mid-section of the innings.
For now, let's hope that a poor week can be redeemed at the last. There are good enough players in the Derbyshire side to win at least one of these games.
They just need to believe it themselves.