Durham’s Steel up for challenge
DURHAM opener Scott Steel has admitted that he faces a challenge to build on his impressive debut campaign in the Vitality Blast, especially in the absence of former opening partner D’Arcy Short.
The 21-year-old was outstanding at the top of the innings alongside the Australian, with the duo sharing stands of over 50 six times in 11 matches. Steel held his own next to the experienced left-hander, scoring 369 runs with a top score of 70. He watched a dominant Short from the non-strikers’ end, with the Aussie finishing as the PCA’s MVP for the competition due to his exploits with bat and ball.
Short departed the club at the end of the Vitality Blast and signed for Surrey for the new campaign before the pandemic disrupted the cricket schedule. Steel was already preparing for the task of replacing the Aussie’s impact at the top of the order, and is aware that his breakout season will have alerted the opposition to his strengths and weaknesses.
He said: “There’s a little bit more pressure on me, but whoever I open the innings with might also get off to a flier so I might not have to! I think it will be fun no matter what.
“This year is going to be a lot harder to back up that first season. The games are recorded and all the teams have access to that information. They will be analysing where I like to hit the ball and they’ll be out to target my weaknesses. I’ve been working hard in the off-season against spin bowling and trying to rotate the strike more to try to make those strengths of mine.”
Steel has revealed that he learned a great deal from Short his debut campaign in the Durham ranks about his composure at the crease at the top of the innings.
However, even the brilliance of the two openers could not secure a quarter-final berth for James Franklin’s men, who fell narrowly short in the North Group due to costly defeats to Yorkshire and Worcestershire on home soil.
The Durham youngster is looking to take both those positive and negative experiences into the new campaign where there will be greater onus on the performances of young English players due to the absence of stars from overseas in the competition.
“At first you think T20 cricket is all about fours and sixes,” he added. “But D’Arcy was very calm during the powerplay – he played himself in. After that he backed himself to clear the fielders once he was in. So it showed me that you can build an innings and then back yourself to play your shots when you’re in.
“You have to understand that matches can change in a split-second. Momentum can change so quickly and we had a a couple of those matches last season at home when we ended up on the losing side. At the same time you’re never really out of the game and you’re never quite in control until the result is decided.
“It’s a good thing young English players will get the experience because of overseas players not being involved There will be a spotlight on a few of the lads, but they will have to step up.”