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COVERED

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.