NatWest T20 Blast: Worcestershire v Derbyshire preview
They may have beaten Derbyshire in the last T20 of the campaign, but Worcestershire will be in no doubt that they have a game on their hands tomorrow.
Derbyshire's players must be brimming with confidence right now after two wins in the championship and two in this competition, both against sides where there was perhaps a greater likelihood of defeat on track records and reputation.
Our hosts tomorrow are a good side and have enjoyed a fine season, though the loss of Saeed Ajmal to the international game will test the depth of their squad. They were in trouble against Derbyshire before Ross Whiteley played his innings of the season and took the game out of reach, albeit against a second string attack.
Tomorrow should be different and I don't expect major changes in the Derbyshire side. Marcus North will replace Shivnarine Chanderpaul, so we have an extra bowler too, never a bad thing. North will also be looking for a strong finish to the summer, as a player who could theoretically be available all of 2015. His pedigree is beyond dispute, but he needs a weight of runs in the closing weeks of the campaign to make a compelling argument for consideration next year.
There's an argument for either Ben Slater or Tom Knight to replace Scott Elstone, but the latter is a quick-scoring player who may just get the nod and get his form back on track. There was no shame in being dismissed by the ball that got him at Leicester, that's for sure.
As for Worcestershire, their squad is:
Mitchell, Oliver, Fell, Kervezee, Kohler-Cadmore, Whiteley, Cox, Leach, Choudhry, McClenaghan, Morris, Shantry, D'Oliveira
No Colin Munro in this competition, so Daryl Mitchell will lead the batting lineup, something he has done very well all summer. He's a good cricketer, perhaps one of the most underrated batsmen in the country and will be a danger at the top of the innings. Alex Kervezee is so often a thorn in our side too, so the recent good form will be tested, for sure.
We can win this, no doubt about it. With Wayne 'Bradman' Madsen in top form and others firing nicely, there's enough in our batting and bowling to keep the run going. It will be a good game, that's for sure.
Go get 'em lads!