Weekend warmer

Chewing the nails yet? Thinking over the next few days and what it will bring for Derbyshire's young team?

Me too. I've checked the weather forecasts (not bad for Derby and Chelmsford, wet in Wales) and scoured the web for news of the respective teams (not much at this stage).

I'm still pretty optimistic, but then you probably guessed that. Whether we have enough in the tank to take the silverware is a moot point, but there's still a healthy lead over Kent and a more slender one over Yorkshire. On the face of it, Kent have the easier final fixture, but with weather set to play a part you can never legislate against someone producing a special performance. With players like Walters, Wagg, Allenby and Wallace in the side you can never write Glamorgan off and if the ball swings then they will not lie down and die. They won't want to finish bottom, so have a big incentive to produce a performance in the last game of the season, something that was often a feature of Derbyshire's darker campaigns.

Yorkshire have hit form at the right time and have a fine batting side. Anthony McGrath has been a key man for them in recent games and shows the value of an older head in the later middle order. Kent have it in Darren Stevens (with Nash, Powell and Jones) and they have it in McGrath. Such players have been in tight corners during run chases and when batting for draws and they are worth their weight in gold in such circumstances. Yet I'm still not convinced by their bowling. Sidebottom's return has given them a little more, but as we're concerned about our batting, the Yorkshire fans must have concerns about that attack bowling teams out if they go up. Our attack and their batting would be a terrific side....

Their chances of a win will depend on the Essex side. David Masters makes a huge difference to the attack, as we saw at Derby and if he plays Yorkshire will have their work cut out, especially if he is partnered by the precocious talent of Reece Topley. We might also see Ravi Bopara and Alistair Cook play for them, who alongside Shah and ten Doeschate would give our northern neighbours a few nightmares. If the ECB are serious about getting England players into county cricket when they can, as they said during Tredwellgate, then Bopara and Cook should be, though doubtless the ECB will now want them to rest before next summer's Ashes...

Derbyshire? Well, we don't know what strength side Hampshire will field in the light of their cup final next weekend. Somewhat selfishly, I would probably settle for their under-13s. They are likely to rest anyone with a niggle, as only a bizarre combination of circumstances could see them promoted and they will face a Derbyshire side who will be up for one last fight, still smarting from Canterbury.

It's interesting, as promotion would see Derbyshire face some very difficult cricket next summer, perhaps, as I wrote the other night, before this young side is fully ready to cope with it. We are committed, and rightly so, to an Academy bringing through talent and we would remain very competitive in division two. The top tier would bring a different level, however and one simply cannot accelerate experience. Nor is there necessarily the money to go and sign players who have it - which may be counter-productive anyway, as the young players would then not get it themselves. Should we get there, fans should accept there will be challenges and be tolerant of learning curves. If we don't, there will be disappointment, but we carry on in the established manner. I read the other day that several counties had approached Derbyshire to discuss the club's blueprint, so we must be doing something right.

I don't expect many changes in our side. If Jon Clare was fit I would like to see him replace Mark Turner, but I can't see any other changes. The only realistic batting switch would see Chesney Hughes come in, but I think that unlikely at this late stage, unless Paul Borrington has any reaction to his nasal surgery.Alex Hughes is another pushing for a place, but his time will come another year.

Irrespective of concerns over our batting, if you asked Kent or Yorkshire if they'd like to swap with us right now they'd say yes, without doubt. A maximum bonus point draw would mean one of those sides would have to win to pip us for the title. Both would need to do so to prevent promotion in such an eventuality.

Can we score 400?That, I don't know. We'd need a big innings from someone and contributions around it, but three bowling points and a win would get promotion, if not necessarily requiring the purchase of a new trophy cabinet and "polishing the silverware" being added to someone's job description. No doubt there will be pitch inspectors descending from helicopters should five wickets go down before lunch on the first day...

Despite my reservations about the batting, I'm going to predict a win and if we do that, what happens elsewhere is irrelevant. Yorkshire may nick the silverware, but I'd comment more on that when I see the Essex squad. If a full Essex side plays - and they should field one, given the importance of the match  - I cannot see Yorkshire beating them unless set a very generous chase on the last afternoon. Indeed, bowling first would give the white rose county their best chance, so that powerful line-up can take them close on Friday.

So, slipping effortlessly into parochial mode, let's hope that Yorkshire bat first....

More tomorrow.