T20 Match Preview: Derbyshire v Northamptonshire
Played two, lost two. We're playing the reigning champions, and we're live on Sky.
Recipe for disaster or for a cricketing feast?
I genuinely can't call the Derbyshire side at the moment, but I remain convinced that we're a far better team than results have so far shown. I think we've yet to find our best side and that, when we do, we will start to make an impact.
There's a certain irony in the fact that our 'poster boy' for T20 cricket is one I'd consider omitting on current form. Chesney Hughes isn't in great nick as a batsman, and, if we're only bowling him for an over, as in the last game, I'd be inclined to put Tom Knight in. I'd open with him, tell him to give it a slap and not worry if he gets out early. He could then bowl four overs and is a mobile fielder, so there'd be a lot to like in his involvement.
Wes Durston's bowling would keep him in, but his current struggles with the bat would see him drop down the order in my side, allowing Scott Elstone to take his place.
Here's my side: one in which spin would play a full and important part:
Moore
Knight
North
Elstone
Madsen
Hughes (A)
Durston
Cross
Palladino
Groenewald
Footitt
Four seamers and four spinners to give the skipper plenty of options, but let's see if we can make better use of the Powerplay tomorrow. If we're 65-3 in six overs, so be it, but we'll have a long batting line up to build things again and have the impetus for a sizeable score.
Northamptonshire have announced a 13-man squad that will be keen to maintain a challenge for their title. They have some powerful hitters in the side, and, if we don't mix the bowling up more than in previous games, I fear the worst, to be honest. Their squad:
Kyle Coetzer*
Muhammad Azhar Ullah
Ian Butler
Maurice Chambers
Steven Crook
Ben Duckett+
Rob Keogh
Richard Levi
Rob Newton
David Sales
Matthew Spriegel
David Willey
Graeme White
I hope for a better display and would love to report on a win tomorrow night.
That's assuming it stops raining sometime between now and then...