I AM absolutely desperate to play in a Lord’s final.

That’s been the burning desire in my heart and mind when I’ve been out on the field during the last couple of Royal London One-Day Cup matches, and I’m sure it’s the same with all the other lads as well.

Going into the last two group games against Lancashire away and Northants at home next week, we still have our England players available, so hopefully we can put in two good performances. If we do, I reckon we wouldn’t be a million miles away from being top of the table.

I was obviously delighted with my 24 not out to help get us over the line at Derbyshire on Wednesday, and it’s got to be up there with the best feelings I’ve had so far in my career.

I was actually quite peeved that I didn’t get to bowl at the death in their innings, so I guess you could say I took my frustration out with the bat.

It sounds quite weird to suggest that my side injury suffered at the start of the season has actually helped Yorkshire win a game, but it’s one way of looking at it given the amount of time I spent working on my batting.

With a side injury, I was allowed to bat after three weeks. So it’s been different in that sense.

To be able to play in the second team as a batsman, not worry about the bowling, and think about it that way, you learn more about the game and chases and things like that.

There was only one way I needed to play at Derby, which was to try and hit boundaries at the end. But I do feel as though I can add value with the bat for Yorkshire in other situations, including in the Championship.

I always say it doesn’t take me long to learn from situations. Often, I only need one or two mistakes before I’ve learnt from it.

A couple of years ago, with them having Ravi Rampaul and Hardus Viljoen, I’d maybe have gone out there thinking ‘They’re quick, they’ll try and hit me in the head’. I’d maybe go out there with a negative attitude.

But a big confidence booster for me was being picked in the North v South series in Barbados in March, being able to go out there with a lot of guys who are among the best players in the country at present.

There was one lad whose mentality stood out for me, and that was Alex Davies. He just has that mindset of ‘I’m winning at all costs’. That’s not in a nasty way, but his attitude was ‘I’m better than you’.

That’s rubbed off on me a little bit, and before I went out to bat at Derby, I told myself ‘There’s only one winner here’.

We play Lancashire next at Old Trafford on Tuesday. If he opens the batting and I open the bowling, it will be a pretty good contest.

It’s been great having the IPL guys back over the last few games, with Dave Willey playing his first game this season for us at Derby.

I’ve spoken before about how we are good mates. Having said that, I’ve already told him that he’s nicked my spot in the batting order. Number three? That should be me now!

Seriously, though, we travelled to and from Derby together, and he was telling me about some of his experiences at the IPL, what he’s learnt and little stories of how MS Dhoni goes about stuff. It’s been nice to pick his brain on death bowling and stuff like that, where to set fields.

It’s all information that will help me progress.