Warwickshire v Derbyshire RLODC preview

It is good to see the confidence emanating from the Derbyshire camp ahead of recent games and it is no different ahead of the visit to Birmingham tomorrow to play Warwickshire (as opposed to Birmingham, who we play on Friday...)

That's assuming the weather improves. The footage of the area on tonight's news suggested it had seen torrential rain and floods. With more forecast tomorrow, the game looks likely to be truncated, if it starts at all.

There's enough talent in the squad to justify that confidence and if they all play to potential the side can give anyone a good game. Add it and team spirit to any group of players and there is a potent mix that makes them dangerous opposition.

The Derbyshire thirteen:

Billy Godleman
Chesney Hughes
Ben Slater
Hamish Rutherford
Neil Broom
Wayne Madsen
Alex Hughes
Shiv Thakor
Matt Critchley
Tom Poynton
Ben Cotton
Andy Carter
Will Davis

No Wes Durston for this one, though he may come into contention for Friday night at Derby. I'll not attempt to call the final eleven because you can't, without seeing the wicket and conditions.

Tomorrow's opponents are a good side, but they haven't enjoyed the best of results in one-day cricket so far. A few injuries haven't helped, nor the loss of the excellent Chris Woakes to England. With Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott and Sam Hain in the batting line-up they won't lack runs, but the bowling is missing Chris Wright, Keith Barker and Woakes, so looks a little more vulnerable. Having said that, in Jeetan Patel they have perhaps the best spinner in the current county game and a man who has given them excellent service.

The Warwickshire squad:

Bell, Adair, Ambrose, Chopra, Clarke, Evans, Hain, Hannon-Dalby, Javid, Patel, Poysden, Trott

If the game goes on the toss will be important, but there's enough in the Derbyshire tank, if they all play to potential, to win this one. Continued discipline, focus and hard work could make it count

And a win would put us in a very strong position in the group...