As the 14^th T20 competition approaches in England we look at the runners and riders in the 2016 NatWest T20 Blast. We assess the merits of Derbyshire Falcons in the Northern Group.

PREVIOUS BEST: Quarter-Finals 2005

OTHER YEARS: Failed to progress from the group phase in all other seasons. The only county never to make Finals Day.

HEAD COACH: Graeme Welch (right).

CAPTAIN: West Durston, the county’s leading T20 run-scorer took charge ahead of the 2015 season in which the Falcons won four matches and but for defeat in a couple of close games could easily have made the Quarter-Finals.

OVERSEAS PLAYERS: Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom and James Neesham (All New Zealand)

FULL SQUAD: Wes Durston, Wayne Madsen, Chesney Hughes, Billy Godleman, Tom Poynton, Shiv Thakor, Tony Palladino, Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, James Neesham, Andy Carter, Tom Milnes, Scott Elstone, Greg Cork, Tom Taylor, Harvey Hosein, Alex Hughes, Ben Cotton, Harry White, Matt Critchley, Ben Slater, Tom Knight, Will Davis.

FALCON’S CHANCES

Derbyshire Falcons can certainly take inspiration from near neighbours Leicester City who have enjoyed a fairytale season winning football’s Premier League. Their Kiwi trio could prove the solidity and quality Derbyshire require to take a second step into the Quarter-Finals. New Zealanders currently know how to win one-day matches and all three can easily gel into an already tight knit camp.

Along with Wes Durston, Chesney Hughes and Wayne Madsen there is no shortage of fire-power at the top of the batting order. Neesham too provides experience with the ball and alongside Tony Palladino and Andy Carter can galvanise a young but extremely promising seam attack.

For coach Graham Welch it has been baby steps so far, but he now has a more mature side capable of taking greater strides forward.

KEY MAN - CHESNEY HUGHES

Big Chez (25) has been a source of frustration. Gifted with all the shots in the book he so often sold his wicket to cheaply, but there have been signs over the last 18 months that he is moving up a level.

His early season form in the Championship has been excellent with 116.5 average from the first four games with two centuries.

His off-spin bowling can be more than useful too and if he performs like he can in a format made for him then Derbyshire could be in for a thrilling summer.

ONE TO WATCH - ALEX HUGHES

A talented 24-year-old all-rounder whose lower order runs could provide the Falcons with a huge boost and whose seam bowling in the middle-overs can be economical and earn valuable wickets.

THE WORD ON THE STREET

“My position – captaining, batting at the top of the order and bowling my off-spin – is important to the team,” said Wes Durston. “I am learning on the job but I do have a lot of experience in white-ball cricket and I learnt a lot about the game last year. For my first year, I was pleased with how I did and I am hoping to build on that in 2016. We want to build on the improvements that we made last year and from the year before, We are confident that we can make that improvement. Everybody is a year older and more experienced. I know that we are going to be competitive with the squad that we have.”

Graeme Welch: “To have three internationals, all of whom are teammates in New Zealand, available for the entire NatWest T20 Blast campaign is massive and will provide us with stability on the field and within the dressing room.”