ESPNcricinfo joins up with our team of supporters to preview the North Group in the NatWest T20 Blast
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jul-2017North Group
Birmingham Bears
Captain: Ian Bell
Overseas: Jeetan Patel (NZ), Colin de Grandhomme (NZ). (Plus a third New Zealander, Grant Elliott, on a Kolpak)
One to Watch: Josh Poysden is a legspinner whose white ball skills earned him selection for England Lions and North against South last winter. That is, if he makes the cut.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2015 (semi-finals)
bet365: 12
Supporters Zone: As a Warwickshire – and Birmingham Bears – fan, I can’t help but be pessimistic about our chances in the NatWest T20 Blast. Time after time this season we have suffered from a batting collapse that our decent bowling attack can’t make up for. We will be lucky to get two wins. An early exit looks inevitable.
Luke Birch @BirchBirch1875
Derbyshire Falcons
Captain: Gary Wilson
Overseas: Matt Henry (NZ), Imran Tahir (SA)
One to Watch: A coach in their case. John Wright, the former New Zealand opening batsman, was a popular overseas player for the club, and has since enjoyed considerable success with India and most relevantly the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
Last Finals Day appearance: None.
bet365: 40
Supporters Zone: Will Derbyshire do well? Are you serious? This is Twenty20 and Derbyshire. OK, we have John Wright as coach and the bowling looks strong with Tahir, Henry and Viljoen proven talents. But our batting lacks power hitting at the top of the order and is over-reliant on Wayne Madsen. One pleasure will be the sell-out at Chesterfield against Yorkshire.
Gary Cunningham
Durham Jets
Captain: Paul Coughlin
Overseas: Tom Latham (NZ)
One to Watch: The captain, Coughlin, has the potential to enjoy this short format with both bat and ball.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2016 (runners-up)
bet365: 16
Supporters Zone: We’ll struggle to repeat last year’s success when we finished beaten finalists but we could challenge for the knockout stages. A strong seam bowling department could see stumps flying. As well as Wood and Stokes, if and when they are available, we’ve got Onions, Rushworth, and a new captain in Paul Coughlin. Where we’ll fail could be our top order batting. A couple of young guns will have to step up to keep us competitive.
Jack Taylor @JackLiamTaylor
Lancashire LightningCaptain: Steven Croft
Overseas: Junaid Khan (Pak), Ryan McLaren (SA)
One to Watch: Jos Buttler hasn’t been seen often in a Lancashire shirt recently, but he is set to be a regular over the next few weeks, and one of the big attractions of this year’s Blast.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2015 (Winners)
bet365: 14
Supporters Zone: We have the potential to go all the way to Finals Day. The availability of Jos Buttler is a huge bonus and arrival of Junaid Khan will improve the bowling which struggled for large parts of the last campaign. Lack of batting depth is still an issue but Buttler, Dane Vilas and Jordan Clark are all capable of batting in different slots if needed.
Ryan Smart
Alex Hales should be on a high after his Royal London Cup final feat•Getty ImagesLeicestershire Foxes
Captain: Clint McKay
Overseas: McKay (Aus), Luke Ronchi (NZ)
One to Watch: Ronchi, is an explosive batsman who has the ability to revive Leicestershire’s T20 glory days – they are still the only team to have won the title three times.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2011 (Winners)
bet365: 33
Supporters Zone: Leicestershire haven’t done themselves justice in T20 since their 2011 success but they will be confident of reaching the knockout stages this year. Their Powerplay batting was inconsistent last season, spin bowling too, but those issues have been addressed with the signings of Luke Ronchi and Callum Parkinson. Captain Clint McKay’s death bowling will be crucial.
Liam Gibbs
Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Captain: Alex Wakely
Overseas: Rory Kleinveldt (SA), Tabraiz Shamsi (SA), Seekuge Prasanna (SL)
One to Watch: Ben Duckett is keen to make his point to England after slipping down the pecking order since making his Test debut in the winter.Last Finals Day appearance: 2016 (champions)
bet365: 14
Supporters Zone: Northants Steelbacks have made three of the last four finals days and there is nothing to suggest that they can’t go well again. The squad is settled and Nathan Buck, added to the bowling ranks over the winter, is enjoying a new lease of life at Wantage Road. The batting line up looks strong with the inventive stroke play of key man Ben Duckett, supported by the big lads of Richard Levi, Josh Cobb, Adam Rossington and Rory Kleinveldt who regularly clear the ropes. The bowling unit looks strong with Seekuge Prasanna returning and new recruit Tabraiz Shamsi deputising for the first three matches. They will be supported by the criminally underrated Graeme White and a seam attack that now has some depth.
Andy Threlfall @andythrel77
Notts Outlaws
Captain: Dan Christian
Overseas: Christian (Aus), Ish Sodhi (NZ)
One to Watch: Alex Hales is on a high after his stunning Lord’s destruction of Surrey in the Royal London Cup final.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2016 (semi-finals)
bet365: 7
Supporters Zone: Following phenomenal success in the Royal London Cup, Nottinghamshire will be expected at T20 finals day. Their big hitters and skilful bowlers have no fear but might be hampered by fielding. Youngsters Luke Wood and Billy Root could shine when seniors rested. Great favourite Dan Christian returns as skipper. Expect usual fantastic atmosphere at Trent Bridge.
Chris Stanley
Worcestershire Rapids
Captain: Joe Leach
Overseas: John Hastings (Aus), Mitchell Santner (NZ)
One to Watch: Joe Clarke is an inventive batsman who has been a Lions regular for the last 18 months, showing he is on England’s radar.Last Finals Day appearance: None
bet365: 16
Supporters Zone: Worcestershire are enjoying an excellent season, and a strong seam quartet backed up by the batting power of Ross Whiteley and the skill of Joe Clarke should make great viewing. Our New Road home, with its beautiful panoramic views of the Cathedral, is surely the best backdrop to watch cricket against this summer. The biggest challenge to overcome is experience and history, as one of only two counties never to have reached Finals Day.
Jack Harrison
Yorkshire Vikings
Captain: Tim Bresnan (deputising for Gary Ballance)
Overseas: Peter Handscomb (Aus), Shaun Marsh (Aus)
One to Watch: Tom Kohler-Cadmore is a recent signing from Worcestershire who hit the fastest century in last year’s Blast.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2016 (semi finals)
bet365: 9
Supporters Zone: Yorkshire will have few problems filling gaps left by current England internationals as they have wealth of talent in up-and-coming players such as Karl Carver, Ben Coad and Tom Kohler-Cadmore. They have secured Peter Handscomb for the campaign but the decision to sign Shaun Marsh was questionable due to how many players they have to bat in the top 5. The number of top quality players makes the Vikings worth watching despite them not always living up to their potential. Should finish in the top four.
Henry Smith @henrycsmith863