T20 Blast Off – Outlaws v Lightning preview

Trent Bridge plays host to what promises to be one of the most tantalising opening night encounters of the NatWest t20 Blast tonight.

Lancashire Lightning are the visitors to Nottingham, with both squads boasting some of the finest international talent England has to offer.

England’s swing-king James Anderson and wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler both feature in the Lightning squad, while the Outlaws boast an explosive line-up including former t20i number one Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, James Taylor and England new boy Harry Gurney.

Both sides were knocked out in the quarter-final stage of the tournament last year, but having won the ECB 40-over competition last season, the Outlaws are one of the bookies favourites to go all the way to the Edgbaston final.

Neither side has ever won the domestic t20 competition, with Notts finishing as runners-up in 2006 and making finals day in 2010. Lancashire’s best finish was also as runners-up in 2005 and they have also made finals day on four occasions, compared to Nottinghamshire’s two.

The two sides have already faced-off at Trent Bridge this season, with the home side winning the LVCC County Championship Division One match by 45 runs at the beginning of April. Ashwell Prince made a hundred for Lancashire in that match, while James Anderson and Tom Smith both picked up 5 wicket hauls. Nottinghamshire’s seamers shared the wickets around, while Samit Patel and Riki Wessels were both halted in the 90s.

Despite the rainy conditions in the county this week, Nottinghamshire come into the match off the back of a maximum points victory against Northants, in which Australian fast-bowler Peter Siddle and ex-England seamer Ajmal Shahzad both picked up four second innings wickets.

Lancashire on the other hand were defeated by ten wickets at Lord’s against Middlesex. There were some positives as Prince and Buttler continued their early season form with the bat, but the bowlers lacked potency with the ball.

Form in the four-day format will however go out of the window tonight, as one big performance from either of the sides’ international superstars could define the outcome of this game.

Key Men

Although he is yet to become a regular in their Championship side, Alex Hales is still the main man in the game’s shortest format. His breathtaking 116* to single-handedly guide England to victory over Sri Lanka in the World T20 back in March exemplified the sort of destruction he is capable of inflicting. Recalled from his brief loan spell at Worcestershire due to Steven Mullaney’s back injury, Hales was involved in their midweek win against Northamptonshire and he also made a half-century in the early win over Lancashire this summer.

Lightning signed England limited-overs wicketkeeper Jos Buttler from Somerset in the off-season, with the 23-year-old hoping the move might help him snatch the Test match gloves from Matt Prior. While the jury is still out regarding his suitability to the longer form, there is no argument about his one-day credentials. He is tidy with the gloves and utterly enthralling to watch with bat in hand. Buttler is well-known for his innovations and ability to manoeuvre the ball to all parts of the ground, but he also combines this with equally effective power hitting.

Team News

The Notts Outlaws include New-Zealand all-rounder in their squad for the match, while the fitness of seamer Andy Carter is a concern due to back pain. Director of Cricket Mick Newell will be forced to make a late call on the 25-year-old’s fitness, with Gurney, Adams, Shahzad and Luke Fletcher the likely seam attack. Steven Mullaney has recovered from a back strain and after scoring a hundred for the 2^nd XI he is likely to join Hales, Lumb, Taylor, Patel and Wessels in a formidable batting line-up.

Nottinghamshire Outlaws Squad:Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, James Taylor (C), Samit Patel, Riki Wessels, Chris Read, Steven Mullaney, Sam Wood, Ajmal Shahzad, Andy Carter, Harry Gurney, Luke Fletcher, Andre Adams

The Lightning have named a 13-man squad for the match at Trent Bridge, with coach/captain Glenn Chapple handing over the captaincy reigns to batsman Paul Horton. Pakistani overseas player Junaid Khan’s introduction has been delayed following difficulties obtaining his visa, although the left-arm fast bowler could make his Lightning return against Worcestershire Rapids at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday night. Youngsters Clark, Lilley, White and Reece are likely to compete for the final spots in the eleven, with Alex Davies missing out due to Jos Buttler’s inclusion.

Lancashire Lightning Squad: Paul Horton (c), James Anderson, Karl Brown, Jos Buttler, Jordan Clark, Steven Croft, Alex Davies, Kabir Ali, Arron Lilley, Stephen Parry, Luis Reece, Tom Smith, Wayne White.

Weather and Conditions

The forecast is for overcast conditions but it should remain warm and dry. The possibility of humid weather could help the seam bowlers on a ground that has a reputation for assisting swing. This will please England duo Anderson and Gurney, who opened the bowling together against Scotland last week. The pair will however go head-to-head tonight and could be competing for a place in England’s limited-overs’ line-up against the touring Sri Lankans later this month.

Opta stat

Nottinghamshire Outlaws have won 38, tied one and lost 18 of their 57 completed home Twenty20 matches at Trent Bridge.

Date: 16th May 2014

Ground: Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Time: 6.30 pm 

Flat Track Bully’s Alternative Ashes XI (summer 2013)

(Please note that any players guilty of “boring” cricket have been made unavailable for selection.)

1. David Warner
2. Shane Watson
3. Kevin Pietersen
4. Michael Clarke ©
5. Steve Smith
6. Brad Haddin (wk)
7. Stuart Broad
8. Graeme Swann
9. Peter Siddle
10. Ryan Harris
11. James Anderson

Openers

As per the above rules, picking a pair of opening batsmen from this summer’s Ashes series is a rather tricky decision. The difficulty lies in that England’s openers, Alastair Cook and Joe Root, a) batted far too slowly, and b) didn’t score enough runs. Last time around in Australia, Captain Cook was England’s hero, scoring a mammoth amount of runs (766) and anchored the English batting line-up to some big totals. There was no such repeat this time around however, as Cook made just three fifties and reverted back to his old ‘pushing one to first slip’ method of dismissal. As for Root, his 180 was an outstanding innings under very little pressure, but the Yorkshireman’s submissive stance – having been promoted to opening the batting – was simply dreadful for the modern day (t20 junkie) cricket fan to watch. Less casual supporters will remember the headline “Edgblaston” from back in 2005, the day when England scored 400 runs in one day. Root, Cook and Trott all failed to entertain in such dramatic style. Talk about digging in…

Subsequently, it is two Australians who slot in at the top of the order for FTB’s Ashes XI. Chris Rogers – who impressed for a man of his age – nudged and nurdled far too much for our selectors liking. Thus, Australia’s conundrum man Shane Watson finds himself opening the batting once more. His lusty style and canny knack of getting out LBW all the time is just the sort of thing cricket fans today want to see. Likewise, everyone loves a pantomime villain, and the XI would not be the same without Australia’s very own [insert Rocky Balboa opponent here] David Warner. His boxing skills, twitter antics and plentiful stroke play certainly got his name trending. Thus having showed (in glimpses) the sort of destruction they are both capable of piling upon an opposition attack and therefore, these bully boys are in the FTB team.

Middle-order

            Now you know the rules by now – no boring batsmen allowed. Sadly this means our man-of-the-series Ian Bell doesn’t actually make our series best XI. Okay, so he made a stack of runs including three hundreds and two fifties, but who wants to see someone stealing all the limelight, eh? We’d much rather watch Michael Clarke for example, who one day might get out to the ball of the series or on another, might get a massive score. After all, this side needs a skipper who refuses to let his team get bowled out and so Mr Tactical Declarations gets our vote. As for the other two batters, Kevin Pietersen picks himself on ego alone, but more importantly, he scores at more than one run an over. He’s a mystery, he’s an enigma and he’s a run-scorer. Steve Smith, like KP, very much bats in his own way, but who cares about technique when you score runs quickly and consistently? Despite not being selected for the initial squad, Smithy did his country proud and was arguably the tourist’s most consistent player with the bat. Without Belly, this team probably needs a bit of consistency.

In the wicket-keeping department, batting slightly higher than perhaps he ought, is Brad Haddin. Now there’s a proper batsman. No man at mid-wicket? Lovely jubbly. He also took a fair few catches behind the stumps (when he wasn’t letting the ball pass in between himself and first slip) and you probably need that in your Test team. Not that he had much competition for the gloves, because the usually irrepressible Matt Prior batted like Glenn McGrath with his eyes closed for the whole series. So yeah, we’ve gone for five batters and a keeper. Six batsmen is so last week.

Bowlers

Yep, we’ve got five of them and if you weren’t particularly impressed by our flat-track-bullies at the top of the order, this lot will get your tongues wagging more than a troupe of IPL cheerleaders. At seven, it’s Stuart “I only walk when I run out of petrol” Broad, because what this team doesn’t need is gentlemen. Screw the spirit of cricket; this is the flaming Ashes! Broad is big, bad and he’s a much better all-rounder than James Faulkner and Chris Woakes. Broady was back with the bat and on a roll with the ball this series, so his selection is a no-brainer. The same applies for team mate Graeme Swann – the offie with bags of character, magic spinning fingers and hands as safe as houses. He gives it a whack too and we like that, so much so that we’ve promoted him to number eight.

Two Aussies are up next as they were the only two didgeridoos that eve nr looked like taking more than two wickets. Peter Siddle is a marvellous chap, isn’t he? With aggression pouring out of his ears like steam, a Lion’s roar waiting to emerge from his mouth, he hits the pitch hard and gets the ball to talk. Moreover, he takes wickets aplenty and even when he is sent in as the night-watchman, he still scores at more than a run a ball. Watch and learn England. As for Ryan Harris, nobody knows how he has made it this far without being shot down by injury, but Ryno proved in this series that he is a damn good bowler when his body allows him to be. May all the Australian physiotherapists and masseurs be given knighthoods. Oh and don’t forget that Mr Harris enjoys a little skip to square leg and a big thrash of the old willow. Blooming brilliant.

Last but not least, it’s Jimmy. Okay so he went AWOL for a couple of Tests, but he’s got to be the finest operator of the swinging ball currently playing Test cricket. That ball to Clarke at Trent Bridge was nigh on unplayable (a bit like FTB’s Ashes XI). In fact, in light of this team selection, hopefully the ICC will allow the return series Down Under to be played in a quirky new format involving Tests, ODIs and t20s, with a point system deciding the winner of the urn. Because no matter what the format, this furiously competitive bunch of showmen would entertain the crowds until the clowns come home.

Finn and Cowan possible casualties for Lord’s Test

Wow! It’s fair to say, that the first Investec Ashes Test of the summer was an absolute belter. With more twist and turns than a Monaco Grand Prix and drama lurking around every corner, the Trent Bridge encounter was one of the most dramatic Test matches of the decade. In a match reminiscent of the Edgbaston 2005 Ashes Test, it was again England who triumphed by the smallest of margins. The tiniest of inside edges proved to be the difference between the two sides, as Jimmy Anderson took his 10^th wicket of the match to remove Australian wicket-keeper Brad Haddin. It was a case of so near yet so far once again for the crestfallen Australians.

But if the first Test is anything to go by, the remaining nine matches of this year’s Ashes double-whammy are going to an enthralling contest. England hold a 1-0 lead going into the second Test at Lord’s on Thursday and have subsequently named an unchanged squad. Whilst the batting line-up will remain untouched, there is a strong possibility that England may make a change in the bowling department, with Tim Bresnan potentially coming in to replace Steven Finn.

Finn, who took match figures of 2-117, is clearly short of confidence and rhythm. As the second Australian 10^th wicket stand threatened to change the game, Brad Haddin targeted the lacklustre Finn, hitting him for three boundaries in the one over. Sky pundit Bob Willis suggested Finn’s below-par performance was due in part to England’s preference to prepare a flat, turning wicket, in order to favour the spin of Graeme Swann. Michael Clarke believes England will continue to prepare such pitches, and therefore Finn’s undoubted threat on bouncier, faster wickets could thus be nullified. Jonathan Agnew believes Finn needs game time with his county side Middlesex in order to regain his confidence. However, with the next Test at his home ground, there may still yet be hope that Finn might retain his place. Nasser Hussain has called for Finn to play at Lord’s, providing there is a bit of pace in the pitch. Yet if the wicket throws up another slow, low deck, it is highly likely that Tim Bresnan will be introduced into the series. Having bowled well in the Champions Trophy and scored a ton in England’s warm-up match against Essex, the Yorkshireman undoubtedly deserves a place in the side.

As for the Australians, it is likely their side will remain similar also. Although Jackson Bird and Nathan Lyon will hope to play a part in the series, strong performances from Siddle, Starc, Pattinson and Agar mean the Australians will probably stick with their current bowling unit. One position in the XI that may come under consideration however is the number 3 slot, after a below-par performance in the first Test by Ed Cowan. Cowan, who made a golden duck in the first innings and was dismissed by the part-time off-spin of Joe Root in the second, was a complete nervous wreck at the crease. The shot he played first ball to James Anderson looked every bit the stroke of a man playing in his first Ashes Test and whilst many of his Test mates rose to the occasion, Cowan crumbled under the pressure. David Warner and Usman Khawaja will thus believe they have a chance to break into the team at some point during the series, although Cowan will probably be given another chance at Lord’s. Both fans and selectors alike will be hoping that (if selected) he can regain his composure for his second Ashes Test.

See you at Lord’s.

England vs. New Zealand – First Test Review: England’s victory not quite so comprehensive…

England’s dramatic victory on the fourth day of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s was certainly a perfect way to begin the international summer of cricket (if indeed, you are an Englishman!). Led by fast bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson, England’s bowlers skittled the Black Cap line-up for just 68 in their second innings, to romp to victory by 170 runs.

The result, however, rather flattered England, who, up until the morning of the fourth day, were struggling at 180-6, just 205 runs ahead. In fact, after dismissing England for 213 in their second innings on the fourth morning, Brendon McCullum’s men must surely have felt a victory of their own was well within their sights. In the end, their own dismal display with the bat, in conjunction with a two brilliant spells of bowling from Broad (7-44) and Anderson (2-23), crushed any hopes they might have harnessed prior to the final innings of the match.

So, firstly the positives for England and after some rather uncharacteristically flat bowling performances in the previous series, their seam attack was back and all guns blazing at that. In the first innings, the leader of the unit Anderson lead by example, passing 300 Test match wickets as he picked up figures of 5-47. His ability to swing the ball both ways caused the Kiwis numerous problems, with only Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor providing any sort of resistance. Steve Finn also managed to pick up four wickets, which must have been a big boost for his confidence, after a slow start to the summer with his county Middlesex. Thus, if the first innings was all about Jimmy, then the second was undoubtedly all about Stuart Broad, who claimed the man of the match award for his stunning eleven over spell. Broad has come under criticism in recent times for bowling too short and thus it was unsurprising that his success here was because of his much fuller length. As George Dobell of ESPN Cricinfo rightly points out, despite his mercurial nature, Broad has the ability to truly become a world-class bowler.

Elsewhere, Joe Root on his Lord’s debut continued his sparkling early season form with two maturely manufactured knocks of 40 and 71. The young Yorkshireman, who scored 179 whilst captaining the Lions against the Black Caps last week, looked every bit the man in form, playing shots all around the ground, as he took his first-class total for the summer to 757 runs. His frustration at being dismissed by Tim Southee in the second innings underlined the high expectations Root has of himself and it was clear that he was disappointed to have failed in his quest for a three figure score. It is surely only a matter of time before his name ends up on the coveted honour’s board. Nonetheless, his performance on an occasion where so many experienced batsmen struggled, shows that this lad has an exceedingly bright future ahead of him at international level.

Minus the performance of Root and Jonathan Trott’s fifty, there was little else to shout about from England’s batting ranks. First time around, nearly all of England’s top order got starts, and yet none went on to post a big score. Had it not been for Root and Trott’s century-stand in the second innings, England could well have found themselves staring defeat in the face. Matt Prior for one will certainly be hoping that his pair is not a sign of things to come this summer, for England’s wicketkeeper-batsmen, vice captain and 2012 player of the year has a critical role to play within this side. Elsewhere, Nick Compton’s performances will come under increased scrutiny should he continue in the same vain, for many believe that Joe Root is a better long term prospect at the top of the order.

As for New Zealand, despite good knocks from Taylor and Williamson, their second innings showing clearly suggests a lack of nous when dealing with a swinging ball. The Black Caps must quickly develop a strategy for dealing with the deadly lateral movement provided by the English seamers or resign themselves to a series loss. The Kiwis will, however, be pleased with the efforts of their bowling attack, which at one stage looked like they had placed their side in a potentially winning position. Tim Southee’s match figures (10-108) will have been a particularly pleasing highlight for the tourists, and Trent Boult’s potential in swing-friendly conditions is also something which England cannot ignore. The possible return to the side of experienced left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, is also a promising development, as the Kiwis look ahead to Headingley. For if their batting line-up can back up their bowling and fielding performance in this match, then there is no reason why McCullum’s men can’t snatch a series draw from the second and final Test.

England meanwhile will be hoping to build upon this performance in the second Test and bounce back from their below-par displays in New Zealand. Should Anderson and Broad hit their straps once again, and the batsman kick on from those solid starts, then in reality, Alastair Cook’s men should comfortably win the series. However, as highlighted, England’s victory at Lord’s was by no means an inevitability and the Kiwis are without doubt capable of upsetting the odds at Headingley.