Yorkshire v Derbyshire preview

Jonathan Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Tim Bresnan, Karl Carver, Ben Coad, Alex Lees, Adam Lyth, Steven Patterson, Liam Plunkett, Azeem Rafiq, Joe Root, David Willey, Kane Williamson.

There's nine internationals in that Yorkshire squad that will play Derbyshire at Headingley tomorrow. That's how worried they are about the Falcons...

OK, for the benefit of new readers tuning in, I jest, but the presence of the Yorkie's England men in this one will make it a formidable task for Derbyshire. Whether you like it or not (I'd reckon most of the latter are down south...) they are the strongest club in the country at the moment. The men outside that side - Leaning, Sidebottom, Hodd, Rhodes, Brookes etc - tell of their strength and it is a very tough game for our lads tomorrow.

Realistically, we shouldn't be coming home with the points, so we should look at this as a benchmark of our team against the very best, to see how far we have come and how far we have yet to go. That we took a strong Warwickshire side to the last ball last night speaks volumes for progress. It was a game that we would have lost easily a couple of seasons ago, yet that same young attack that has been winning matches took a strong side to the last ball and could very easily have won.

As was pointed out earlier today by Adam, the toss played a factor, together with the only big innings of the match by Ian Bell. Had either of them gone the other way, the result could well have been different.

Of course, that's what your big players are for. They like to do their stuff when they play for their counties and that's why we are looking down a barrel tomorrow. Yet in saying that, there's again no disgrace in defeat and every chance to spring a shock. It's the cricket equivalent of the FA Cup third round and let's give them a damn good game. At the end of the day, they can only use one bat and bowl one ball.

It is a day when our bigger names and experienced men need to deliver, while the young guns can build a reputation.  As I write there is no news on the availability of Wes Durston, but his inclusion at the top of the order makes a huge difference to our Powerplay efforts. He'll not be risked if not fit though, so it comes down to whether Billy Godleman is deemed a better bet than Ben Slater to open, or we include the extra seamer in Ben Cotton.

Fingers crossed for a strong and fearless performance.

Win or lose, if we produce that there can be no complaints.