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Blast preview
With excitement building ahead
of the return of the NatWest T20
Blast, sides in the North Group are
readying themselves for what is a
hotly-contested battle for a place in
the knockout stages. Here we assess
the nine teams aiming for a top four
finish and the men that will be key to
their chances...
Birmingham Bears
The Bears could be able to call on
the vast experience of Ian Bell for the
whole season should he not reclaim
his England place.Whilst Bell and
JonathanTrott are perhaps renowned
as accumulators rather than rope
clearers, the Bears will be able to
punctuate the rest of their order
with big hitting batsmen, including
the likes of New Zealand’s Luke
Ronchi who joins them for the Blast
this season. Add to that off spinner
NatWest T20
Blast: North
Group Preview
Jeetan Patel, who is back in theWest
Midlands for another year and the
Bears have a well-balanced squad
heading in to the shorter format.
One to watch: Josh Poysden
For a number of years Twenty20
cricket has been the breeding ground
for young English spinners, with
Poysden perhaps the latest in line.
The 24-year-old leg spinner made his
T20 debut back in 2014 and during
his time with the Bears has been able
to learn under the tutelage of the
experienced Jeetan Patel.The 2016
season could see the pair bowling in
tandem across the competition.
Overseas:
Jeetan Patel, Luke Ronchi
Derbyshire Falcons
The Outlaws’ East Midlands rivals,
Derbyshire’s trip toTrent Bridge in
2015 brought with it a record crowd
for T20 matches at the home of Notts.
The rivalry speaks for itself and the
Falcons will be able to call on a large
range of talent across their squad.