Derbyshire v Leicestershire T20 - Preview

Shivnarine Chanderpaul could return for the game on Friday

More of the same would do nicely from Derbyshire tomorrow against Leicestershire, to keep their T20 hopes alive.

Following the extraordinary win over Nottinghamshire, interest should be high and the side is boosted by the possibility of a return for Shivnarine Chanderpaul. His expertise would be a real asset and allow a couple of timely tweaks to the side.

Albie Morkel has gone, as he was always going to do, in order to be fit for the Caribbean Premier League. He did well for us, perhaps even more off the pitch than on it, where his bowling was always probing and awkward. Perhaps his batting has gone back a little, as a result of being an in-demand hitter, rather than batsman who can hit the ball a long way (there is a difference) but he remains a fine cricketer who we would doubtless welcome back another year if his commitments allowed.

The squad in full:

Wayne Madsen, Chesney Hughes, Wes Durston, Dan Redfern, Billy Godleman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Alex Hughes, Richard Johnson, Peter Burgoyne, Tom Poynton, David Wainwright, Tim Groenewald, Mark Turner, Tom Knight, and Mark Footitt.

For what it is worth, assuming Shiv is fit, I would go with the following side:

Hughes (C)
Durston
Chanderpaul
Madsen
Redfern
Hughes (A)
Poynton
Burgoyne
Groenewald
Turner
Knight

I can hear the ‘ping’ of e-mails coming in, but with three seamers named and Groenewald sure to be one of them, Turner or Footitt surely plays, if only to offer a change of pace. We could go with more spin than a political press office, but one would assume that the four in the above team would be sufficient, aided by Alex Hughes if required.

As we know from the game at Grace Road, Leicestershire have good players and could easily beat us if we are not totally focused and committed. After the other night, our boys should realise that one hundred per cent effort can get results against the best of sides, but anything less from a team that is not blessed with genuinely outstanding players can leave you in trouble.

Forecast? I’m inclined to go for a win here. The players will be buzzing after the other night and Leicestershire’s defeat to Durham tonight makes it effectively a dead game for them.

For Derbyshire it is something considerably more than that. Win tomorrow and it’s a winner takes all against Durham to round things off.

Let’s hope they’re up for the challenge.