Derbyshire v Lancashire T20 game 11

It should be another big night in Derby tomorrow, as the county side play host to Lancashire in a crucial encounter. 

They're all big games now, but having looked at the fixtures and net run rates, as long as Derbyshire don't lose the latter advantage that they have they **might** qualify with two wins from four. Northamptonshire, probably the team we are chasing down, also have to play both Lancashire and Birmingham, while like us they also play Durham, who are likely to be in the mix. As we have already seen this year and in seasons past, anyone can beat anyone else at T20 on a given day.

Lancashire welcome back Phil Salt from England duty, which will be an added complication for an already difficult challenge. But if we are to have any credibility in progressing in this competition, we need to win these games. 

A Derbyshire squad of fifteen has been announced and the challenge for Mickey Arthur is to select the correct eleven. Most of the side picks itself, but there is a decision on two places, those being, for me, between Luis Reece, Cam Fletcher Alex Thomson and Ross Whiteley. If Fletcher is fit, he should get the nod, but Reece has bowled in recent games. Then again, Whiteley played a big role in the win over Nottinghamshire on this ground and is important in the field. Thomson did very well against Yorkshire, but his involvement will depend on the pitch.

My eleven first and then the remainder of the squad, with Reece and Whiteley to share fifth bowler duties:

Donald, Lloyd, Fletcher, Madsen, Patel, Whiteley, Guest, Reece, Chappell, Brown, Amir plus Thomson, Came, Dupavillon, Wagstaff

While Salt is back for the visitors, there is no Buttler or Livingstone, so it could have been worse! They are currently second in the group, behind Birmingham and bring the following squad: 

Jennings, Aspinwall, Balderstone, Blatherwick, Bruce, Croft, Green, Hartley, Hurst, Lavelle, Mahmood, Salt, Wells, Wood.

It will be a tough game, but as I mentioned the other night, we now have two world-class bowlers in our attack and that counts for something. There is also plenty of power in the batting lineup and it only needs one or two of these to come off and we are capable of beating anyone. 

Having said all of the above, the forecast for Derby tomorrow is not good, with what looks like a fifty per cent chance of rain throughout the day and into the evening. Whether that results in a reduced overs game or a washout is anyone's guess.

But either way, the game looks to be very much worth a watch. 

And if the Derbyshire of the last two games turns up, who knows what might happen?