Both Middlesex and Hampshire’s 2016 NatWest T20 Blast campaigns get underway tomorrow evening at Uxbridge Sports Club’s Park Road Ground, with Middlesex hoping that this season’s short format campaign can find some renewed vigour under the new captaincy of Dawid Malan.
Throughout the campaign ahead Malan will have a wealth of top world-class talent at his disposal, which alongside a different approach from him at the helm, one can only hope will lead to a transformation in Middlesex’s T20 fortunes and make them a very different proposition to play against this year. The skipper will however be without a number of his key men for this opener at Uxbridge.
He takes charge of a fourteen-man squad that the club have named, which includes Australian overseas player Adam Voges, and youngster Ryan Higgins, who has been in blistering form for Middlesex’s Second XI this term, although Malan will have to wait patiently for likes of Brendon McCullum, Eoin Morgan and Mitchell McClenaghan to arrive back from the IPL and for Steven Finn to return from England International duty.
Despite their absence Middlesex’s side is still packed full of quality, power and penetration, and this will be the Middlesex faithful’s first opportunity to see winter signing James Fuller in action in the pink of Middlesex after his move from Gloucestershire last year. Fuller’s white ball expertise will add another dimension to Malan’s bowling attack as well as adding plenty of additional firepower with the bat.
In opposition, Hampshire come to Uxbridge with an incredible Twenty20 pedigree, having reached the Finals Day in every single one of the last six seasons; winning the trophy in both 2010 and 2012 and finishing as losing semi-finalists on each of the other four occasions.
Whilst James Vince, one of Hampshire’s most dangerous T20 players is absent through his call-up to the England Test side, this Hampshire still possess a real punch in all departments. With Darren Sammy and Shahid Afridi on board as their overseas players this year and the likes of Michael Carberry, Jimmy Adams, Sean Ervine filling a heavy hitting Hampshire batting line up, Middlesex will have to be at their best to overcome the visitors in what looks like being a testing opening encounter for Malan and his men.
Middlesex are pleased to announce the following 14-man squad for our first NatWest T20 Blast match of the summer, to take on Hampshire tomorrow, Friday 27 May at Uxbridge Sports Club:
Dawid Malan (c), James Franklin, James Fuller, Nick Gubbins, James Harris, Ryan Higgins, Ravi Patel, Harry Podmore, Ollie Rayner, Toby Roland-Jones, John Simpson, Nathan Sowter, Paul Stirling, Adam Voges.
Gates open at 4pm & the match is due to start at 5.30pm.
Tickets are still available to buy on the gate for this match from gates opening and cost £20 for adults, £10 for over 65s and £5 for under 16s.
Parking will be available in the field adjacent to the ground, and can be accessed via Park Road. Parking costs £3 for Middlesex members and £5 for non-members (per vehicle).
