Gayle force will be the ultimate test says Quinn
ESSEX set the benchmark for the 2016 NatWest T20 Blast campaign with their impressive win over Glamorgan this week and Kiwi bowler Matt Quinn insists the Eagles can consistently reproduce that level of performance.
Auckland-born Quinn – a former New Zealand A seamer – joined Essex this season and has impressed with the white ball after a side strain curtailed his early-season involvement.
His 4-35 against Surrey on the opening night of the Blast was followed up by 1-26 against Glamorgan and having also made his first-class bow for the side this week, the 23-year-old has clearly settled in well at Chelmsford.
The Eagles have made the knockout rounds of the Blast every year since 2012 and with Ravi Bopara as captain this year, Quinn sees no reason why they cannot go all the way this time.
“After the win over Glamorgan, Ravi told us that this is the benchmark for our season,” he said. “The side have done very well over quite a few years in whitea ball competitions and if we can play like that consistently I’m sure we’ll go far again. It’s huge having someone with Ravi’s experience in the side – and thrown in someone like Tendo (Ryan ten Doeschate) who captains in the red ball and we have some great leaders.”
Next up for the Eagles is tonight’s trip to Taunton to take on the might of Chris Gayle and Somerset. Gayle was castled early by Tymal Mills on his opening night for Somerset but his 92 had helped the county claim a three-wicket win over Essex last summer.
But after an eighth win in a row against Glamorgan – who had punished Surrey at the Oval last Friday – the Eagles will be full of confidence and Quinn is relishing tainge on the self-styled Universe Boss.
“Taunton with guys like Chris Gayle and Mahela Jayawardene is probably the toughest test you can get in this competition,” he said. “But if we can prove ourselves against them we can go well against anyone – though the most important thing is to take it one game at a time.
“We are challenging for red-ball promotion as well and we want to make sure we keep our heads down.
“For me I am just glad to be out there and contributing – both with the red ball and the white ball.
“The early injury was frustrating but in way it was a blessing in disguise as it let me get settled and now I am looking to take any chance I can get.”
Four wickets in the County Championship draw with Northants this week shows Quinn could prove be a versatile signing and he insists the Chelmsford faithful have not seen his best yet.
“I didn’t expect to come straight into the first team – I thought this year would be a lot of 2nd XI stuff – so it’s been pleasing to get involved,” he added.
“I don’t feel I have quite found my rhythm yet – that will come with games and I hope I can continue to contribute to a team that have started so well.”
Also tonight Surrey take on Sussex under the lights at Hove and the toss could prove all-important – Surrey’s last eight matches on the road have been won by the side who bats first.
Elsewhere Glamorgan welcome Hampshire to Cardiff and they will need to be wary of Chris Wood who took career-best figures of 4-16 when Hampshire last travelled to face the Welsh side.
And while Gloucestershire are full of confidence after a fine start to the season, they will head to Kent knowing that they have only won there once before.