Forward of the 2024 Vitality Blast, which begins on Thursday, here’s a preview of the North Group, with Notts Outlaws among the many groups seeking to finish the streak of Southern-based winners.
Watch video games from the Vitality Blast reside on Sky Sports activities this summer season, together with a double-header on Saturday as Derbyshire Falcons play Leicestershire Foxes and Birmingham Bears meet Notts Outlaws.
The 2023 season was dominated by groups from the South Group, with Somerset beating Essex within the last after Hampshire Hawks and Somerset additionally reached Finals Day, whereas Notts Outlaws had been the most recent workforce from the North Group to win the T20 Blast once they took the trophy in 2020.
Who’re the gamers to look out for and which cricketers might put themselves within the combine for a Hundred call-up later this summer season? We take a better have a look at the groups concerned within the Northern Group…
BIRMINGHAM BEARS
- Captain: Alex Davies
- Abroad gamers: Hasan Ali (Pakistan), Aamir Jamal (Pakistan)
- Finals Day appearances: 4 (2003, 2014, 2015, 2017)
- Titles: One (2014)
- 2023 end: Quarter-finals
- 2023 main run-scorer: Sam Hain (481)
- 2023 main wicket-taker: Dan Mousley (21)
Key winter strikes: The Bears have fleshed out their bowling choices with the signings of seamers George Garton and Richard Gleeson. Garton has signed a three-year T20 contract whereas 36-year-old Gleeson has signed only for this 12 months.
The large query: Can the Bears overcome the knockout freeze that has seen them exit the event on the quarter-final stage previously three seasons? Lately they’ve performed some scintillating T20 cricket throughout the group stage however choked when the format turned to all-or-nothing.
Wildcard watch: All-rounder Ed Barnard’s type in his first season and a half since arriving from Worcestershire has been vastly spectacular, particularly with the bat. He has the instruments and the expertise to radically enhance on his forgettable first T20 marketing campaign for the Bears final 12 months.
Ultimate thought: Regardless of a flurry of success which introduced three Finals Day appearances between 2014 and 2017, the Bears’ Blast historical past has been largely fallow. A decade separated their first two Finals Day appearances and it’s now seven years since they final figured within the showpiece day in their very own yard.
DERBYSHIRE FALCONS
- Captain: Samit Patel
- Abroad gamers: Blair Tickner (New Zealand), Daryn Dupavillon (South Africa), Mohammad Amir (Pakistan, final six group video games)
- Finals Day appearances: One (2019)
- Titles: None
- 2023 End: Fifth (North Group)
- 2023 Main run scorer: Wayne Madsen (580)
- 2023 Main wicket taker: Zak Chappell (26)
Key winter strikes: Patel has received the Blast twice with rivals Notts Outlaws and his expertise and high quality in white-ball cricket could possibly be key for the Falcons this summer season. Amir’s scheduled arrival after the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup brings worldwide pedigree to the workforce.
The large query: The Falcons missed out on the quarter-finals within the final group recreation in 2023 and given the recruitment since then, will likely be assured of mounting a problem this season. Together with Patel and Amir, head of cricket Mickey Arthur has signed gamers with one-day honours to their names.
Wildcard watch: Patel, Ross Whiteley and Zak Chappell have tasted success in The Hundred so could possibly be snapped up if they’ve robust Blast campaigns. Aneurin Donald is able to batting pyrotechnics whereas Pat Brown’s variations with the white ball make him one other contender.
Ultimate thought: Though he turned 40 in January, Madsen is likely one of the high exponents of improvisation in T20 cricket. His hockey background permits him to conjure pictures throughout the wicket and if he has one other robust event, the Falcons might soar this summer season.
DURHAM
- Captain: Alex Lees
- Abroad gamers: David Bedingham (South Africa), Ben Dwarshuis (Australia), Ashton Turner (Australia)
- Finals Day appearances: Two (2008, 2016)
- Titles: None
- 2023 end: Seventh (North Group)
- 2023 main run-scorer: Ollie Robinson (380)
- 2023 main wicket-taker: Nathan Sowter (24)
Key winter strikes: Durham have strengthened their shares on the home and worldwide entrance. They’ve signed skilled white-ball duo Colin Ackermann and Callum Parkinson from Leicestershire and Australian abroad pair Ashton Turner and Ben Dwarshuis, who’re Large Bash winners.
The large query: Might Durham be a darkish horse? They’ve underachieved in current occasions – only one quarter-final look previously seven years. However they’ve added some notable know-how within the aforementioned quartet and could have gained confidence from profitable Zimbabwe’s home title while on pre-season tour in March.
Wildcard watch: Six Durham stars are Hundred certain; Brydon Carse, Graham Clark, Callum Parkinson, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson and Nathan Sowter. Veteran Dutch all-rounder Colin Ackermann has Hundred expertise and contributed 180 runs and 7 wickets along with his off-spin to that Zimbabwean success. Good Blast type, and he is likely to be Durham’s magnificent seventh.
Ultimate thought: Durham’s squad will embrace three abroad gamers, however solely two can play. South African Check batter David Bedingham is registered simply in case there are any last-minute unavailability dramas. The county aren’t planning for England Males’s Check captain Ben Stokes to characteristic over the subsequent month earlier than the Check summer season begins, however anticipate crowds to swell if he does.
LANCASHIRE LIGHTNING
- Captain: Keaton Jennings
- Abroad gamers: Tom Bruce (New Zealand), Chris Inexperienced (Australia)
- Finals Day appearances: 9 (2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2022)
- Titles: One (2015)
- 2023 end: Quarter-finals
- 2023 main run-scorer: Daryl Mitchell (435)
- 2023 main wicket-taker: Luke Wooden (18)
Key winter strikes: Lancashire have misplaced Daryl Mitchell’s abroad runs however hope fellow New Zealander Tom Bruce fills the void. Australian all-rounder Chris Inexperienced provides useful expertise following a change to Nathan Lyon’s availability. Matt Parkinson, certainly one of solely two Lightning bowlers to take 100 T20 wickets, has joined Kent. England T20 fast Richard Gleeson is one other departure, changed by fellow speedster Mitch Stanley.
The large query: Have Lancashire obtained the expertise of their squad to win a second Blast title? Former captain Dane Vilas additionally departed late final summer season, whereas they could not see a lot of England quartet Jos Buttler, Tom Hartley, Liam Livingstone and Phil Salt because of World Cup responsibility.
Wildcard watch: Jos Buttler, Tom Hartley, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mitch Stanley, Luke Wells and Luke Wooden are already signed up within the Hundred. Be careful for all-rounder Tom Aspinwall, although. He’s but to debut in T20 cricket. However, in bowling quick and batting down the order, he performs his cricket in overdrive.
Ultimate thought: This season’s Roses matches will present some pleasant hearth, as a result of Lancashire coach Dale Benkenstein and his reverse quantity at Yorkshire, Ottis Gibson, are the closest of mates. They’re former team-mates at Durham and recurrently socialise when their groups play in opposition to one another. There will not be a lot else pleasant about these conferences, although.
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Lanky the Giraffe received this 12 months’s Vitality Blast Finals Day Mascot Race, streaking to victory as his rivals tumbled.
LEICESTERSHIRE FOXES
- Captain: Peter Handscomb
- Abroad gamers: Wiaan Mulder (South Africa), Peter Handscomb (Australia)
- Finals Day appearances: 5 (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011)
- Titles: Three (2004, 2006, 2011)
- 2023 end: Ninth (North Group)
- 2023 main run-scorer: Rishi Patel (390)
- 2023 main wicket-taker: Callum Parkinson (17)
Key winter strikes: 9 gamers from the Foxes’ 2023 marketing campaign have departed, notably former skipper Colin Ackermann and left-arm spinner Parkinson. Liam Trevaskis (ex-Durham) is a like-for-like alternative for the latter. Ben Mike returns from Yorkshire and Ben Cox (ex-Worcestershire) will hold wicket, with on-loan Hampshire duo Scott Currie and Ian Holland added to the squad.
The large query: The Foxes’ acquainted gradual begin was compounded by a woeful end as they completed all-time low of the North Group with 12 defeats, many by emphatic margins. They discovered a profitable components over 50 overs in 2023 – can they reproduce it within the shortest format?
Wildcard watch: A wildcard choose for Trent Rockets after taking 15 wickets within the 2022 Blast marketing campaign, Ben Mike missed out on The Hundred final 12 months following his swap to Yorkshire. All the time good for a number of late runs too, he’ll be eager to place himself again within the body.
Ultimate thought: With Ackermann’s departure specifically, it appears like a brand new period for the Foxes – however one which sees the one-time T20 kings in want of a revival. Simply seven dwelling victories in three seasons has left issues feeling flat at occasions on a floor that wants ambiance and pleasure. Australian worldwide Handscomb takes over the captaincy, with a morale-boosting opening-night win in opposition to Yorkshire his first goal.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STEELBACKS
- Captain: David Willey
- Abroad gamers: Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe, first eight video games), Ashton Agar (Australia – final 4 video games), Matthew Breetzke (South Africa)
- Finals Day appearances: 4 (2009, 2013, 2015, 2016)
- Titles: Two (2013, 2016)
- 2023 end: Sixth (North Group)
- 2023 main run-scorer: Chris Lynn (364)
- 2023 main wicket-taker: Andrew Tye (19)
Key winter strikes: Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara joins the Steelbacks for the Blast, whereas ex-Derbyshire paceman George Scrimshaw will likely be hoping to impress the selectors after his ODI debut final summer season. South African Matthew Breetzke arrives following blistering type in his nation’s home T20 tournaments, alongside highly-experienced Zimbabwe T20 captain, all-rounder Sikandar Raza.
The large query: Northamptonshire relied closely on the firepower of big-hitting Australian Chris Lynn throughout the previous two seasons. With some spectacular signings and a extra balanced aspect this 12 months, can the younger weapons step as much as assist the extra skilled, however older palms?
Wildcard watch: Ricardo Vasconcelos is contemporary from two huge Championship tons, the second scored at a white-ball charge in a run chase. Holding his personal alongside Lynn on the high of the T20 batting order final 12 months, Vasconcelos presents firepower and the flexibility to bat deep – and an additional wicketkeeping possibility.
Ultimate thought: And not using a County Championship win in seven video games, Northamptonshire need to relaunch their season with a profitable Blast marketing campaign. Skipper David Willey has a wealth of expertise round him in Bopara and Sikandar Raza (and Ashton Agar for the ultimate 4 video games) and this squad might mount a severe problem for the knockout stage.
NOTTS OUTLAWS
- Captain: Joe Clarke
- Abroad gamers: Dane Paterson (South Africa), Will Younger (New Zealand), Ben Lister (New Zealand, 30 Could – 21 June), Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan, 5-19 July)
- Finals Day appearances: Six (2006, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)|
- Titles: Two (2017, 2020)
- 2023 end: Quarter-finals
- 2023 main run-scorer: Joe Clarke (432)
- 2023 main wicket-taker: Shaheen Shah Afridi (22)
Key winter strikes: Main 2023 wicket-takers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Jake Ball have gone, as have membership legend Samit Patel and off-spinner Matt Carter. New Zealand’s Ben Lister and Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi fill the Afridi left-arm fast emptiness, whereas New Zealand batter Will Younger and ex-Worcestershire duo Jack Haynes and Dillon Pennington are extra new faces.
The large query: Can Joe Clarke shoulder the burden of captaincy and nonetheless ship huge runs? Regardless of his lack of expertise within the position, Clarke takes over the armband following Steven Mullaney’s transfer into teaching. But with Alex Hales lacking the later group video games, a lot could relaxation on Clarke’s batting too.
Joe Clarke top-scored for the Notts Outlaws within the 2023 Vitality Blast
Wildcard watch: After two seasons on the principle roster, wicketkeeper Tom Moores saved his Trent Rockets shirt through a wildcard final 12 months after outscoring Alex Hales within the Blast, when solely Clarke totalled greater than his 371 runs. He will likely be seeking to do the identical once more with one other huge exhibiting.
Ultimate thought: After two below-par seasons, Outlaws have refreshed their squad sufficient to be early favourites. Whether or not they can justify that continues to be to be seen, however the addition of batters Younger and Haynes can stability Hales’ lowered availability and whereas bowler Josh Tongue, one other winter recruit from Worcestershire, is sidelined by harm, fit-again England fast Olly Stone will really feel like a brand new signing.
WORCESTERSHIRE RAPIDS
- Captain: Brett D’Oliveira
- Abroad gamers: Usama Mir (Pakistan), Nathan Smith (New Zealand).
- Finals Day appearances: Two (2018, 2019)
- Titles: One (2018)
- 2023 end: Quarter-finals
- 2023 main run-scorer: Mitchell Santner (404)
- 2023 main wicket-taker: Pat Brown (24)
Key winter strikes: Buying Usama Mir for a second marketing campaign is essential to the Rapids’ possibilities of additional success. He was initially signed final summer season for simply three video games however Michael Bracewell’s harm meant he returned to complete high of the batting and bowling averages.
The large query: Can Adam Hose put a difficult begin to the season in County Championship cricket behind him and present the white-ball type he demonstrates around the globe. He completed because the Rapids’ second-highest run scorer in his first season at New Highway. A destroyer of assaults at his greatest.
Wildcard watch: Nathan Smith will likely be tasting Blast cricket for the primary time and seeking to repeat the crimson ball type he has proven throughout the previous couple of months for Wellington within the Plunket Defend and within the Championship for Worcestershire. A lionhearted participant whose further tempo could also be essential within the powerplay and demise overs.
Ultimate thought: Worcestershire made huge strides ahead within the Blast final summer season after profitable simply two video games in 2022. Their squad seems to have enough high quality and stability to have the ability to problem to once more climb out of the group phases if they’ll overcome having 4 of their first 5 video games being away from New Highway.
Brett D’Oliveira will look to steer Worcestershire Rapids past their quarter-final end in 2023
YORKSHIRE VIKINGS
- Captain: Shan Masood
- Abroad gamers: Donovan Ferreira (South Africa), Shan Masood (Pakistan)
- Finals Day appearances: Three (2012, 2016, 2022)
- Titles: None
- 2023 end: Eighth (North Group)
- 2023 main run-scorer: Dawid Malan (546)
- 2023 main wicket-taker: Jordan Thompson (20)
Key winter strikes: Yorkshire signed rising South African worldwide Donovan Ferreira so as to add energy to their center order. The 25-year-old may also take the wicketkeeping gloves. Left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty has arrived from Surrey, whereas Dawid Malan transformed his contract at Headingley right into a white-ball-only deal.
The large query: Are Yorkshire going to have the bowling depth to make an impression? Seamers Mickey Edwards (foot) and Matt Milnes (again) have already been dominated out for the season with stress fractures, leaving little room for relaxation and rotation.
Wildcard watch: Eight Yorkshire gamers, together with Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Donovan Ferreira, Adil Rashid and Joe Root, will likely be concerned on this summer season’s Hundred. Leg-spinner Jafer Chohan was on Southern Courageous’s roster final 12 months however did not play. He ought to be key for the Vikings, and good type can catch the attention once more.
Ultimate thought: Yorkshire might do with a Blast increase. They’ve been a great distance wanting their pre-season title favourites tag within the first half of the County Championship Division Two marketing campaign. With their seam-bowling shares depleted, it could possibly be a case of spin it to win it, with Dom Bess, Dan Moriarty and Jafer Chohan all good to go.
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