The latest running of the NatWest T20 Blast, the English domestic T20 competition, gets underway on Friday night with some of the biggest names in the game heading to these shores at various points over the next three months to take part in what has the makings of being one of the best tournaments yet.
The Format
Although the ECB strive for change there is no change to the format this season. That means the 18 counties are still split into two groups – North and South and each side plays 14 group matches, predominantly on Friday nights, before the top four in each group qualify for the quarter finals.
The four quarter final winners will all then head to Edgbaston in August for Finals Day, the best day of cricket anywhere in the world where both semi-finals and the final are played in the same day to determine the champion for the season.
Recent Winners
2015 – Lancashire
2014 – Birmingham Bears
2013 – Northamptonshire
2012 – Hampshire
2011 – Leicestershire
2010 – Hampshire
2009 – Sussex
2008 – Middlesex
2007 – Kent
2006 – Leicestershire
North Group
The last three champions of this tournament have all come from the North Group and indeed both finalists for the last two years were also from this section which highlights how strong it is but I wonder if it will be as strong this year.
Northamptonshire have won the tournament and made the final in the last three years but a lot of their success was down to the impressive form of David Willey but he has moved to Yorkshire now. That is likely to improve Yorkshire when he is fit and around but I’m not sure he’ll be the difference from turning Yorkshire from an average side to a top quality one.
Nottinghamshire begin the season as the tournament favourites. In years gone by they have had a fearless batting line up but when you think that James Taylor has sadly been forced into retirement and they are unlikely to see too much of Alex Hales all of a sudden a few holes are appearing in that strength of theirs. I’m not convinced their bowling attack is of the necessary level to account for the weakening of the batting.
Leicestershire remain the most successful side in the history of English T20 with three tournament wins to their name and I don’t think they can be dismissed totally although I do wonder if they have the strength with the ball to compete. On the flip side Derbyshire are one of just two sides never to set foot at a finals day and I’m not expecting them to get there this season.
Worcestershire have made it out of the group in each of the last two years but have lost in the quarter final on both occasions. Last season they hosted a quarter final but for some reason chose to bat in the dark and found out that they couldn’t do it and lost! I like them to improve again but quarter finals is about their level I would say.
Durham haven’t really featured in the latter stages of this tournament for a while and with Ben Stokes likely to be missing a lot and John Hastings not being over this season I’m not expecting them to offer up too much either.
Birmingham Bears always have the incentive of hosting the final party in this tournament and there is nothing to stop them going well although as always I wonder about their batting especially were Ian Bell to get called back into an England squad. They have the attack to compete but even with Luke Ronchi around I’m not convinced about the batting.
Defending champions Lancashire look set to give a good account of themselves again this season. They won’t have James Faulkner but they do have Neil Wagner who should be fine at this level and they will have Martin Guptill for parts of the tournament to give their batting a real top class boost. They have young batsmen like Liam Livingstone and Alex Davies who are likely to have improved and their spin armoury is still in place.
South Group
Historically this was always seen as the strongest group of the two but the fading away of the likes of Somerset and to a lesser extent Surrey and Sussex in recent seasons have meant that it isn’t the case anymore although it should be said there are a few sides in this division open to improvement.
One of those sides may not be Hampshire however. Hampshire are on a remarkable run of having appeared at every finals day this decade but that run might come to an end this season. They look set to miss their captain James Vince for much of the campaign while death bowler Chris Wood has been ruled out for the season. Fidel Edwards is another long term injury too and I’m not sure Hampshire will cope with those absences even allowing for Shahid Afridi and Darren Sammy coming in for parts of the season.
Surrey are always at the head of the market and while you would expect them to go ok this season, especially when Aaron Finch and Dwayne Bravo are around, they might come up a little short when it really counts especially if Finch is called up for the Australia squad halfway through the tournament. If he leaves their batting looks a touch light.
Somerset are trading around the 10/1 mark and I’m sure a lot of that is down to the appearance of Chris Gayle for a few matches in June. He appeared for them last season and left carnage in his way but Somerset never fared too well even when he did blast it to all parts. Yasir Arafat definitely strengthens their bowling but there is too much coming and going for them to get a settled side which isn’t ideal.
Essex and Middlesex are around the 14/1 shots. Essex can bat all day but whether they can restrict sides with their bowling attack remains to be seen especially when they are away from home on some flat decks.
You would have to be blind to have not noticed the intent Middlesex have signalled for this tournament. They have been awful in this tournament for the previous two seasons but the signatures of Brendon McCullum and Mitchell McClenaghan catch the eye and with Eoin Morgan around a bit more these days too combined with Paul Stirling and Dawid Malan all of a sudden Middlesex have the power to do some real damage. The real question is whether they have the overall attack to restrict sides and that I’m unsure of.
Two sides open to all sorts of improvement are Kent and Gloucestershire. Kent will be disadvantaged by Sam Billings being away for the first week or two of the competition but in Tom Latham they have a solid overseas option. Kent are a young side with the likes of Sam Northeast, Alex Blake and Daniel Bell-Drummond likely to come on again and I wouldn’t be surprised if they get themselves into contention.
Gloucestershire won the Royal London One Day Cup last season which showed off their one day credentials and while their side has changed a lot they have some positive batsmen in their ranks not least Michael Klinger while Andrew Tye is a very clever overseas signing. They could go well.
Sussex look like another side ready to improve although how much they need to improve is unknown. But for one of the best innings you’ll ever see from David Willey in the quarter final last year the Sharks could easily have been at finals day and this tournament is anyone’s once you get there.
Glamorgan are the other side in this group but in truth I don’t see where they have improved and they will have needed to improve that’s for sure. I’m not convinced they have the batting to cope away from Cardiff and if you take Hogan out their bowling is hit or miss.
Betting
I’m going to take two bets for this tournament. The first is an outright punt and I’ll also have a group winner bet as well. The outright centres around Sussex who look to have done some nice business and have the personnel to make a real impression.
Sussex have often been guaranteed runs with Luke Wright one of the best in the country in this format of the game and he being well supported by the likes of Chris Nash, Matt Machan and Craig Cachopa but it is with the ball that I’m really encouraged by Sussex.
Tymal Mills and Ajmal Shahzad were always good options at this level and we saw in the T20 World Cup just how good Chris Jordan is especially at the death and with him not in the Test squad he should be around a lot more when he gets back from the IPL while Mustafizur Rahman looks a fantastic signing based on what we’ve seen of him in the last two months. Chuck in the addition of Danny Briggs, one of the best bowlers in the tournament for the last five years and this Sussex attack isn’t going to give up many runs this season.
At 14/1 I think Sussex are excellent value to go a couple of steps better than they managed last season even in a more competitive looking South Group.
In the North Group I’m eager to take on the two favourites Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire for reasons I’ve explained above. Worcestershire and Birmingham could be dangerous but I fancy the defending champions to give a good account of themselves.
Lancashire have signed well, they have a canny coach in Ashley Giles who knows how to get the job done and he has a good young side at his disposal. Spin attacks are big in this format of the game and Lancashire have a really good one in Stephen Parry and Arron Lilley while Steven Croft and Simon Kerrigan can also bowl spin.
Lancashire’s attack matches up to anything in this section with the possible exception of Yorkshire at full strength but they are rarely at full strength with their England call ups. 6/1 looks a fair price on them topping this group with the reinforcements they have.
Tips
Back Sussex to win NatWest T20 Blast (e/w) for a 2/10 stake at 15.00 with Skybet (1/2 1-2)
Back them here:
Back Lancashire to win North Group for a 2/10 stake at 7.00 with Bet365
Back them here:
