T20 plans clearer

After watching the second of the T20 games yesterday, Derbyshire's plans for the competition are a little clearer.

Billy Godleman will skipper in this format too, for one thing. He has improved considerably in the short form and you know what you will get with Billy. The charge down the wicket, the 'larrup' over mid on, or mid-wicket, the six over point, which was a highlight yesterday. More discerning opponents may try to tie him down with spin, but he will have his successes in the weeks ahead.

The only viable alternative, Alex Hughes, lost form at the wrong time and, while he will doubtless play a key role in the side, should focus on his game, without other distractions at this stage.

It doesn't look like there will be a second overseas player, unless something remarkable happens this week. Looking at yesterday's side, the batting will be fine, with remarkable depth and some genuine power in there. The addition of Leus du Plooy has given a solidity to the middle order we haven't seen for some time, his confidence and ability to score off nearly every ball heartening to see. So too Tom Lace, who has blossomed this summer and looks a really good, stylish player now. Don't forget that he has only just turned 21, so the potential is quite remarkable.

What encouraged me yesterday  - and I am factoring in the quality of the opposition - was the ruthless way that the side went about things, together with the batting depth. Critchley, Hughes and Hudson-Prentice, hard hitters all, were waiting to come in and there is great potential in that line up. For those who didn't follow the game, it was:

Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Lace, Critchley, Hughes, Hudson-Prentice, Hosein, van Beek, Watt

The question mark is over who gives way for Ravi Rampaul. I could make a case for Anuj Dal to be in there too, especially for his fielding, but Rampaul is our experienced 'death' bowler and someone must give way.

I could make a case for it being Hughes, but his T20 record is excellent, he was top wicket-taker last year and is a key fielder in the side, as well as being capable of lusty blows. I could also make a case for van Beek, but I have a feeling that he may just come into his own in the T20. His aggression, ability to bowl a quick bouncer and brilliance in the field may be a suitable counter to that 'wild ball' that drags down each over. Yesterday he took two wickets in his first over, and we wouldn't complain if that was a permanent feature.

You could even make a case for the exclusion of Hosein, with Lace as wicket-keeper. Harvey is the least likely of the side to score quickly, but were that likely to happen I think we would have seen Lace keeping yesterday. Besides, with a lot of the bowling likely to come from spinners, you need more than a stop gap. Peter Bowler did a decent job in our Refuge Assurance winning season, but he was largely standing back, which is much easier for any keeper.

I don't think, on what I have seen, that you can exclude Mark Watt. The Scot took a little stick on arrival for looking less fit than the rest of the side. I think it fair to address that now and yesterday he looked much more trim. He will never be skinny, nor an athlete in the body shape sense, but he is in the side for a specific strength.

Mark, again a youngster at only 22, has remarkable command of line and length. When he ambles up to the crease it looks quite innocent, but he is canny beyond his years. He rarely gives the batsman width, but watches them closely. Any sign of them using their feet and he drops his length to frustrate. He is a fine fielder from his own bowling and one ball, in the first game yesterday, summed up for me his combative nature.

The Warwickshire number three, Lamb, took a step outside leg stump as he was in delivery stride. Perhaps it threw him, but if so, he had the nous to run through and not deliver the ball. The next delivery, he bowled from around 23/24 yards, with a couple of steps less run up. It was still on the spot and the batsman, presumably taken unawares, played it back down the pitch.

In that moment I thought 'you'll do me'. It was combative, feisty even, a sign that he wouldn't be bossed. He bowled in both the Powerplay and at the death yesterday, yet still conceded only 19 runs. Like any bowler, there will be times when he will get stick, but his flight yesterday got him the big wicket of Agar, a good cricketer and he rarely seems to bowl too short or too wide.

Will we make the knock out stages? My head tells me no, because the absence of an extra top seamer  will hurt us on occasion. I look at other teams in a strong group and think that there will be times we will be chasing too many, even for a deep and talented batting side.

But Derbyshire have made us proud this summer, with some professional, polished displays. Be prepared for a few more of those, before this tournament concludes.

And if they get on a roll...