NatWest T20 Blast: South Group preview
Friday 7th July 2017
The NatWest T20 Blast starts today with two groups of nine counties battling for a place at Finals Day at Edgbaston Stadium on Saturday 2 September.
Kent Spitfires start the season on Sunday at The County Ground, Beckenham against Essex Eagles with New Zealand stars Adam Milne and James Neesham set to make their debut alongside home-grown talent including England and IPL batsman Sam Billings.
Andy Wilson brings you a round-up of the runners and riders in this year’s Blast…
Essex Eagles
v Kent Spitfires on July 9 (The County Ground, Beckenham) – Buy Tickets
Captain: Ryan ten Doeschate
Overseas: Mohammad Amir (Pak), Tamim Iqbal (Ban)
One to Watch: Amir – fresh from his Champions Trophy triumph with Pakistan, he will give the Eagles real star quality.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2013 (semi finals)
Gloucestershire
v Kent Spitfires at The Spitfire Ground (Tue 18 Jul, 6.30pm) – Buy Tickets
Captain: Michael Klinger
Overseas: Klinger (Aus), Thisara Perera (SL)
One to Watch: Has to be Klinger – a run machine for the last four seasons.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2007 (runners-up)
Somerset
v Kent Spitfires (Thu 27 Jul, 6.30pm) – Buy Tickets
Captain: Jim Allenby
Overseas: Corey Anderson (NZ)
One to Watch: Roelof ven der Merwe – easily overlooked, but his combination of powerful hitting and off-spin is crucial to Somerset’s balance.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2012 (semi finals)
Glamorgan
v Kent Spitfires at The Spitfire Ground (Sun 30 Jul, 3pm) – Buy Tickets
Captain: Jacques Rudolph
Overseas: Rudolph (SA) – plus fellow South Africans Colin Ingram and Marchant de Lange as Kolpaks.
One to Watch: Ingram – hit a record-equalling 29 sixes in last year’s competition to lead Glamorgan to a home quarter final.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2004 (semi finals)
Sussex Sharks
v Kent Spitfires (Fri 4 August, 7pm) – Buy Tickets
Captain: Ross Taylor
Overseas: Taylor (NZ)
One to Watch: Tymal Mills – desperate to get back on the field after suffering back problems following his lucrative IPL stint, and could form a mouthwatering pace combination with Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer and George Garton.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2012 (semi finals)
Hampshire
v Kent Spitfires (Friday 11 August, 7pm) – Buy Tickets
Captain: James Vince
Overseas: George Bailey (Aus), Shahid Afridi (Pak)
One to Watch: Mason Crane – 20-year-old leg-spinner who showed his star potential in two T20 international appearances for England last month.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2015 (semi finals)
Surrey
v Kent Spitfires (Fri 18 Aug, 7pm) – Buy Tickets
Captain: Gareth Batty
Overseas: Aaron Finch (Aus), Kumar Sangakkara (SL), Moises Henriques (Aus)
One to Watch: Kevin Pietersen – making a welcome return to the domestic scene after a two-year absence.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2014 (semi finals)
Middlesex
Captain: Brendon McCullum / Dawid Malan
Overseas: McCullum (NZ), Tim Southee (NZ)
One to Watch: McCullum – linking up with Dan Vettori, his former New Zealand team-mate who has been appointed as a specialist T20 coach.
Last Finals Day appearance: 2008 (Winners)