Middlesex return to Vitality Blast action this evening under the lights of Lord’s where they’ll face Hampshire in a game starting at 6.15pm.
Hampshire come to Lord’s with just one win in the competition to date, secured against Middlesex at the Ageas Bowl last Friday, and Daniel Vettori’s men will be desperate to end a four-match losing run in the competition to turn their fortunes around before it becomes too late.
Having started their campaign with a victory at Lord’s three weeks ago against London rivals Surrey, Middlesex have struggled to find consistency in their performances in the shorter format since and will be looking for the big guns in the side to start firing at HQ tomorrow to lead the way.
In three of the last four Blast seasons fifteen points has been the target to secure quarter-final qualification from the South Group, whilst last year only fourteen points proved enough for Somerset. History would therefore suggest that Middlesex need to find at least another six victories from their remaining nine games in the group stages to give themselves a chance of progressing into the last eight.
If that starts tonight against Hampshire, then the pressure eases, and Middlesex can take momentum into a tricky tie down in Taunton on Sunday! If not, then Middlesex’s remaining fixtures start to become real ‘must-win’ encounters.
The mood in the Middlesex camp will be buoyed by their win inside three days against table topping Warwickshire at Lord’s this week, and having featured in that game, England Captain Eoin Morgan will lead the Middlesex side out at Lord’s against Hampshire this evening, in the absence of Dawid Malan.
Malan has been precautionarily withdrawn from tonight’s Blast game at Lord’s, as he felt some tightness in his right quad on the final day of Middlesex’s Championship clash with Warwickshire on Tuesday. He briefly left the field during the game but later returned to captain the side to victory. With Dawid being selected in the squad for the first Test v India at Edgbaston it Is felt that the right decision is to not to do anything to jeopardise his involvement in that match.
Tonight Middlesex have overseas representation in the form of Dwayne Bravo, who makes his final appearance for the club tomorrow, and Ashton Agar, the Australian spinner and big hitting batsman.
A seam attack comprising Steven Finn, Tom Helm, James Fuller, James Harris and Dwayne Bravo gives Morgan plenty of variety to choose from, whilst the spin department is led by the leg-spin of Nathan Sowter and supported by both Paul Stirling and Max Holden.
Max Holden, Paul Stirling, Stephen Eskinazi and Nick Gubbins fill the batting berths, with John Simpson behind the sticks!
A squad of thirteen has been named by Daniel Vettori for tomorrow evening’s clash…
Eoin Morgan (captain)
Ashton Agar
Dwayne Bravo
Stephen Eskinazi
Steven Finn
James Fuller
Nick Gubbins
James Harris
Tom Helm
Max Holden
John Simpson (wicket-keeper)
Nathan Sowter
Paul Stirling
Middlesex
Hampshire
