The NatWest T20 Blast returns to Derby as the Derbyshire Falcons host the Birmingham Bears on Friday 17 June from 7pm, with a 13-man squad named for the fixture.
The match comes two days after the Royal London One-Day Cup fixture between the two teams was lost to the weather, as the Falcons suffered a third abandonment in a row.
Derbyshire have, however, begun their white-ball season in positive fashion, sitting top of their 50-over group, as well as being third in their NatWest T20 Blast division, having won two of their four Twenty20 matches to date.
Stand-in Captain Alex Hughes will continue to lead the squad versus the Bears, having won his first three matches as skipper before the three consecutive washouts. Wes Durston is still unavailable due to injury.
Young leg-spinner Matt Critchley currently boasts the best economy rate in the competition, and is looking forward to coming up against the Bears.
He said: “Birmingham have a strong side so we’re preparing and looking at their bowlers and batsmen, and deciding how we are going to be successful and hopefully win both this week’s games.
“We know they have some strong players; Bell, Trott, Chopra and the like but we need to try and find their weaknesses and work out how we go against them.
“We are going well in white-ball cricket and we must just keep going, it’s obviously frustrating not playing but at the end of the day we haven’t lost in six games.”
1. Billy Godleman
22. Chesney Hughes
72. Hamish Rutherford
4. Neil Broom
77. Wayne Madsen
5. Jimmy Neesham
26. Ben Slater
18. Alex Hughes
57. Shiv Thakor
20. Matt Critchley
23. Tom Poynton
36. Ben Cotton
7. Andy Carter
Birmingham Bears come into Friday’s match with a similar record to Derbyshire in this year’s tournament, having also won two, lost one and had one abandonment to secure five points from their first four matches.
Top-order batsman Sam Hain has been a revelation for the Bears, and hit a century in their opening win over Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge.
Five-time Ashes winner Ian Bell is the Bears skipper, and can call upon the significant talents of opening partner Varun Chopra and former Falcon Rikki Clarke who offers with both bat and ball.
The Bears will also be boosted by the news that England all-rounder Chris Woakes has been made available for the fixture, whilst overseas man Luke Ronchi will don the gloves.
Birmingham squad: Bell, Adair, Clarke, Evans, Gordon, Hain, Hannon-Dalby, Javid, Patel, Poysden, Ronchi, Thomason, Woakes
Click HERE to keep up-to-date with the game via our new Matchday LIVE page, sponsored by Showcase Cinemas de Lux.
You can also follow live updates on Twitter (@DerbyshireCCC) by using the #DERvBIR hashtag, plus updates will be available on Facebook throughout the match.
Supporters can also listen to live ball-by-ball commentary with BBC Radio Derby online HERE.
The Falcons face the Bears in the NatWest T20 Blast this Friday 17 June at The 3aaa County Ground and supporters can book their tickets in advance and save 20%.
Birmingham Bears – Fri 17 June – BUY
Notts Outlaws – Fri 24 June – BUY
Northants Steelbacks – Sun 3 July – BUY
Yorkshire Vikings – Sun 10 July – BUY
Lancashire Lightning – Wed 13 July – BUY
Worcestershire Rapids – Fri 22 July – BUY
