WE still remain confident that we will get it right in Twenty20 cricket, although we accept that, mathematically, it's becoming very difficult for us to qualify for this year's quarter-finals.

I firmly believe that we would have won Friday's game at Durham had it gone the full course.

We started off with three big wickets in our defence of 135, and we were bowling really well.

We were on the right side of the Duckworth Lewis at Headingley last Sunday, but at Durham we were on the wrong side of it.

That's the joy of Twenty20 cricket in England, I guess!

We showed glimpses of what we were capable of with the bat, but we needed one big partnership or a big score, from maybe myself – a 60 or 70 that a team can build around. That's an important part of building good scores.

Forty off 20 balls was a good start for me, but I'd like to be going on and making those big contributions that we need.

Jack Leaning played well at the end, but we kept losing wickets and fell away.

We are so close to finding the right formula.

As an individual you are always wanting to improve and to make the best decision for the team. We all back each other to do that.

We didn't hit our straps in the first few games and have lost a few to weather, but I still believe that we are not that far away.

I hope people can get behind the fact that we're trying to change the culture, but nothing is built overnight.

As soon as you don't win a few games, people start panicking.

It's going to take a little bit longer than people may like, but we're confident that we're so close to playing some good T20 cricket.

The more we play with the attacking intent that we had at Durham, the more we will get better at playing in that style.

It's not always going to go right. We got 130, 140, when maybe we should have got 160, 170. If we keep playing in that style, it will turn.

It's Lancashire next up for us in the Blast, at home on Friday night, and we can't wait. It's a must-win game, but we're confident.

We've had some great battles with them down the years, and I'm sure it will be an exciting evening. It's a new game, a fresh game, and we don't carry any baggage.

In terms of the Championship game against Durham earlier in the week, we were in a great position, and we had a chance to win, but you aren't going to win many games when a guy gets 200 against you, and Keaton Jennings played superbly.

Every game this year we've had the chance to win it. If we keep getting in those situations and putting pressure on the opposition, eventually teams will crack.

This week's friendly against Pakistan A presents me with the ideal opportunity for some more match practice.

I have been hitting the ball really nicely all season, and my belief is that time in the middle is better than time in the nets.

I'd had three or four starts in the last few first-class games prior to Durham in the Championship earlier in the week, and not being able to go on has been frustrating, so it nice to get a couple of seventies and spend some time in the middle up there.

This week is also a good opportunity for me to captain a young side and see what we have got for the future.

Inevitably there will be lads in there who play a big part in our plans over the next few years. It will be exciting for us and them.

* Alex and his sponsors Pennine Business Partners are aiming to Hit Cancer for Six in 2016. They are donating £10 to the Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust every time Alex hits a six or takes a catch, and are asking cricket lovers everywhere to support this great cause that provides special care and support to young people fighting cancer. Visit Pennine Business Partners page on Just Giving https://www.justgiving.com/Pennine-Business-Partners