Tonight's the night

There was considerable comment around the boards last night about the poor performances by both Lancashire, against Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire against Leicestershire. I was as disappointed as anyone with the Red Rose county's display at Wantage Road and the team selection seemed a little odd. Lancashire fans seem bemused at the absence of Kyle Hogg, a good all round cricketer who has rarely featured this season. Fans seem to think that he's fit, but just not being selected, although a number of ours thought the same about Jon Clare. If Hogg is likely to be surplus to requirements at Old Trafford I'd love to see him at Derbyshire as he's a good all-round cricketer. Quite why Powell was playing instead of Kerrigan was another surprise, though maybe Peter Moores wanted him to have a rest before the quarter finals.

Andrew McDonald reaffirmed his all round credentials at Trent Bridge as a lack lustre home side went down to their local rivals, giving Leicestershire a lifeline for the time being. I said pre-season that McDonald would prove a good signing and he has done very well. Indeed, had he been available for the whole season they may well have been up there themselves.

All of which brings us to tonight. The bottom line is that if we're not good enough to beat an average Northamptonshire side and a Yorkshire one that, sans McGrath the other night looked very short on batting, we don't deserve to go through. There are some good players in this Derbyshire side and good players prove that on big occasions. In the context of Derbyshire cricket, tonight's game and perhaps the one on Sunday are massive, so we're looking for a few people to rise to the occasion and do their stuff.

If they do, we'll win.