We’re living it up in the roaring Twenties
WE’RE halfway through the NatWest T20 Blast season and there is a real feeling we are finding our feet and gathering momentum.
The performances and results against Derbyshire Falcons and Leicestershire Foxes on Sunday and Tuesday were extremely pleasing and it resulted in two pretty convincing victories.
The great thing is that we have had different individuals stepping up to the plate to produce match-winning performances.
During my time with Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash, one of the key messages which came across was that the top five batters should be aiming for one big performance in every three or four games, and that is what we are starting to get at the Birmingham Bears now.
It’s unrealistic to expect a much better return from your batters in this format, simply because you have to be so aggressive.
Ed Pollock was excellent against Derbyshire and, likewise, Sam Hain at Leicestershire and the rest of the team have managed to chip in with contributions to take us to two formidable totals.
I thought our bowling and fielding at Leicestershire was our best of the season so far and it was fantastic to see Aaron Thomason take three wickets
eeing the young players come through is giving me major satisfaction. During the middle of my career, it was all about ensuring I was in the best place possible to perform for England. When I returned to Warwickshire and my international commitments died down, I made a con- scious decision to try to play a part in bringing on the next generation and it’s great to see that happening.
We now have two massive games against Yorkshire Vikings and Lancashire Lightning at home over the weekend to try to cement our place in the top four.
There have been very few one-sided games in the T20 Blast so far and every team you play is coming at you extremely hard.
I must give a word to our overseas players, Grant Elliott and Colin de Grandhomme.
Both have shown since they have been with us that they are very good players but they have also brought a huge positivity to the camp.
Given the way the four-day season has gone so far and the disappointment of our 50-over campaign, there were a few glum faces around Edgbaston. We all have a huge sense of pride in winning games for the club and, when that doesn’t happen, there is bound to be disappointments.
Grant and Colin have been very professional in everything they have done – and with a smile too, which is what we needed when they arrived.
Talking of arrivals, I would like to give a warm Warwickshire and Birmingham Bears welcome to Adam Hose, who we signed from Somerset yesterday.
Adam’s another of these exciting young cricketers who we are keen to bring into the club and his 59 off 28 balls against Middlesex for Somerset last week showed the power he has.
I’m sure all Bears are looking for-. ward to seeing him in action.