Derbyshire v Leicestershire preview

Well, according to today's Derby Telegraph, we can still qualify for the quarter finals of the 20/20 if we win our remaining games in this group.

You'll know by now that I am a mad keen Derbyshire fan so will realise how much it hurts to say this, but there's more chance of me changing sex in the next ten minutes.

It's not that we're a bad side, far from it, but we're inconsistent and that is even more frustrating. We COULD beat all the sides in this group, but we won't because a good performance is not carried forward. I know that there will be the usual knee-jerk reaction from some fans. "Sack Morris, sack so-and-so" will be imminent, but it would serve no purpose at all. Morris has done a good job during the winter and for the most part of the season until this tournament, but now he and Andrew Brown face their biggest test so far in galvanising the batting for the return to Championship cricket and the Pro40.

Of course, there are still 20 over matches left to play and for the sake of honour I hope we can beat Leicestershire twice at the very least. I would still play Stubbo in the side, irrespective of the state of his shoulder as he's likely to get a few runs, the commodity we have lacked. Dom Telo needs time in the Seconds and in the League to get used to our wickets and John Sadler needs to discover some of the form that made him a decent player at Leicestershire.

Most of all, Rikki needs to come good, as his batting season has been solely dependent on one innings against Warwickshire. He looks a good player when he's at the crease and seems to find ways to get out that are unfortunate and appear careless. I know he cares deeply about his game and I know he likes to play his shots, but perhaps the time has come for him to play a "percentage" innings and grind out a score (in the Championship).

No worries with the bowling and we'll almost certainly have a battle of the seamers when Championship cricket returns with Clare, Langeveldt, Wagg and Lungley battling for three spaces. With Clarke as fourth seamer (and Smith possibly fifth in due course, or off spinner) Nayan Doshi should return after a good 20/20 in which he has outbowled Jake Needham.

For tomorrow's side I would like to see us field:

Stubbings
Smith
Hinds
Clarke
Redfern
Pipe
Wagg
Clare
Needham
Langeveldt
Doshi

When Championship cricket comes back I would play:

Stubbings
Rogers
Hinds
Clarke
Redfern
Smith
Pipe
Wagg
Clare
Langeveldt
Doshi

Dan Birch has done well in the Championship but I'm not yet convinced and Redfern is a huge talent who needs exposure at a higher level. Smith really has to come in and the big decision is in the bowling. Assuming Lungley is fit along with Kevin Dean we have real competition for places. I find it hard to leave out Tom but how can Clare be omitted after his performances this season? Langeveldt and Wagg are certainties so Mr Morris will earn his corn here for sure...