Durham vs Derbyshire - Day 4 and Lancashire T20 preview

On a day that started with England leading Australia a merry dance, before getting an Agar-doing, Derbyshire subsided with barely a whimper today.

Yes Agar the ‘orrible (at least in English eyes) became Agar the Magnificent and broke records at Trent Bridge with a wonderful display of clean hitting, but there was little prospect of that being replicated at the Riverside on a vastly different track. At least Tom Poynton gained some confidence with the bat that will stand him in good stead. After that, I’m struggling for positives.

We were well and truly hammered by Durham and that has been covered more than enough this week. The inquests will doubtless continue behind the scenes and one hopes for a positive response from the players next week at Chesterfield against Yorkshire.

More immediately, we turn our attention back to T20 tomorrow night at Old Trafford, where a repeat of our victory at the County Ground would do very nicely. The boys need to put this loss behind them, remember the way they have played T20 thus far (for the most part) and be well aware that a win tomorrow sees them in remarkably good shape as the group approaches the halfway stage.

The following squad has been announced:

Wes Durston, Chesney Hughes, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Wayne Madsen, Dan Redfern, Billy Godleman, Albie Morkel, Tom Poynton, Jonathan Clare, Peter Burgoyne, Tom Knight, David Wainwright, Mark Footitt, Mark Turner, Tim Groenewald

It is a tough team to call as the top six is unlikely to be changed from earlier games, but the attack will be dictated by the wicket. Lancashire often have slow tracks offering assistance to the spinners at home and I think that Peter Burgoyne or Tom Knight will play tomorrow alongside David Wainwright.

Slow bowling has been a great success in T20 across the globe and I think we will play an extra one tomorrow, especially after Mark Footitt’s expensive last two appearances. Clare, Groenewald and Morkel can handle that side of things and all offer more with the bat in what I expect to be a close encounter.

Simon Kerrigan should replace Stephen Parry for the home side, the latter having a broken arm while the former took seven wickets today. Lancashire will be desperate for revenge, especially as we have a game in hand on them and a point advantage in the group.

Old Trafford is a tough place to win, but there is enough one-day talent in the Derbyshire ranks, as we have seen, to be capable of doing so. No prediction from me though, as Krikk has to get their heads right after that Durham defeat.

If he does that, we’ll win. If he doesn’t…