COVERED SPRING 2021

COVERED 40 TRENTBRIDGE.CO.UK STORY BY Matthew Freeman FIREPOWER When Dawid Malan ascended to the top spot in the ICC’sT20I batting rankings, he joined aTrent Rockets teammate in basking in global acclaim. Malan’s counterpart in theT20I bowling rankings was Rashid Khan – a man whose position at the helm has seldom been challenged since he first hit the top in 2018. Both have since been retained ahead of the inaugural edition of The Hundred – and the pair are relishing the opportunity to play at a storied white-ball venue. “Trent Bridge – what a ground that is!” enthused Malan after his retention was confirmed. “Its reputation precedes itself – it’s one of the best grounds in the world to bat at in the shortest format. “That all of England’s highest ODI scores have been made there is testament to how good that wicket is.” With One-Day International scores threatening 500, and with the Outlaws regularly surpassing 200 inT20 cricket, Trent Bridge’s reputation as a white-ball batter’s utopia is deserved. But even so, Khan is confident that he can add to his illustrious record of global success this summer. “I don’t worry too much about what the conditions are meant to be like at a venue,” he said. “For me, it’s all about having self-belief, and knowing From the world’s top-ranked men’s T20I batsman and bowler to leading lights from the women’s game, a host of modern cricketing giants will call Trent Bridge home this summer for The Hundred. And all are excited to enjoy a sojourn at a venue which has become a white-ball paradise.