DERBYSHIRE, it could be argued, might as well stay at home next Saturday. They are not so much underdogs in the NatWest Trophy final as underpuppies.
Included in their ranks are two obscure Australians, from Petersham and Perth; a battered old batsman who stands so far from his stumps that he could be considered a commuter; a keeper who walks in with the bowler in the manner recommended for remoter parts of the field; an overseas player who hits across the line and might be suffering from jet-lag at Lord's and a couple of young batsmen whose spirit exceeds their experience. Moreover their bowling bumbles along like an old wagon-train, once the shine has been removed anyhow.
Meanwhile the formidable powers of Lancashire are ranged against them, a Test match opening pair - John Crawley can be taken Down Under as reserve opener - a belligerent middle order; a round-armer of a spinner and a pace attack capable of swinging oranges. Oh yes, and a captain in his last month in office and possessed of powers that can seem demonic.
Moreover Wasim Akram has a bad memory to erase. Last time he played in a final at Lord's, against Derbyshire in 1993 as it happens, he sent down an extraordinarily nasty delivery, a spiteful beamer at Chris Adams that told a sorry tale about its purveyor.
Doubtless Wasim is determined to repair the damage and to leave his adopted county with a smile. He is likely to be replaced next year by a spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan or Stuart MacGill.
To top it off, Lancashire have an accomplished coach and their opponents none at all. Derbyshire, also, endured all sorts of strife last winter whereas Lancashire have not had a serious row for a couple of years now, which is not bad for them.
On paper Derbyshire have not, as Brian Close used to put it: ``A cat in hell's chance''. Cricket, though, does not bow lamely to reason's instructions. A single ball can turn a match, a coin can decide the issue. A hero can emerge from some unsuspected quarter. Every player, green or grey, will feel hippopotamuses stomping around in his stomach, for all are vulnerable, all have hearts that can beat too strong and heads into which doubts can creep from some unquiet corner. Legitimate hope springs eternal.
The Dalesmen have played some boisterous, almost reckless cricket. Years ago Derbyshire batsmen seemed to be all left elbow and front pad. Now they approach their task in the swashbuckling way favoured by a younger element not so much reared as unleashed, for England is moving past the era of sporting welfare that C L R James and others felt imposed such restrictions.
Diffidence has been swept away and now it is a matter of restoring respect for fundamentals. To see Derbyshire bat in Taunton a fortnight ago was to detect a mood that was vigorous and assertive. They seemed to be pacing themselves to last 60 overs. It might be their best length.
Among the Derbyshire batsmen, Michael Slater, who will return from the Australian Commonwealth Games training camp just in time to play, is a daring and increasingly flawed opener while Kim Barnett remains strong, independent and idiosyncratic. As they showed in a partnership in their semi-final against Leicestershire that took their team from prickles to prosperity, Robin Weston is an accomplished technician and Ben Spendlove a gifted stroke player. Several biffers can be found further down the list.
Also Derbyshire can depend upon Dominic Cork and Kevin Dean to swing the ball in the morning. Dean, indeed, has impressed throughout the season, as left-armers continue their revival. Fellows like Vince Clarke and Matthew Cassar, the aforementioned Antipodeans, are more likely to chip in than to offer the full potato but they cannot be forgotten either. Derbyshire do not seem serious enough to be inhibited.
In other words it could go either way. Undoubtedly Lancashire will be the overwhelming favourites. They could win the game in the first hour, with bat or ball. They can sustain their effort in the field or at the crease. They do not depend upon one or two players.
Their chief handicap may be that lots of their cricketers will expect themselves to play dominant roles and, accordingly, might play with too much circumspection. If things go wrong they may be grateful for Graham Lloyd's beefy blows.
Derbyshire need a bit of luck to add to their opportunism. And Lord's will be its magnificent and majestic self, at once an inspiration and an intimidation. It is not a bad way to bring down the curtain upon a saturated season.