Hawks’ attack – closest thing cricket has to Total Football!
Champions Hampshire start their defence of the Vitality Blast T20 silverware against Somerset at Taunton tomorrow.
Here, The News takes a look at the Hawks’ prospects – and those of their South qualifying group rivals.
HAWKS
Captain: James Vince
Overseas players: Nathan Ellis (Australia), Ben McDermott (Australia)
Finals Day appearances:
9 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022)
Titles: 3 (2010, 2012, 2022)
2022 finish: Winners
2022 leading runscorer:
James Vince (678)
2022 leading wicket taker: James Fuller (23)
Key winter moves:
How do you improve a flawless bowling unit – which dominated in the powerplay, squeezed in the middle and defended at the death? Bring in Benny Howell, who has 191 career T20 wickets at 22.48. Everything else that made the Hawks great in 2022 stays the same.
The big question: Can they defend their crown? No team has managed to do it before, you wouldn’t bet against them if they can get on a run like last year. Having one man score almost 700 runs and four bowlers claiming 20 or more wickets – with five regular bowlers averaging under 23 – will be hard to replicate.
Wildcard watch: Tom Prest - Other than McDermott, almost all of Hampshire’s likely starters already have a Hundred gig locked down. Prest is the legible man out, although he spurned the big lights to guarantee playing time in the One Day Cup last year.
Final thought: Barring maybe James Vince, Hampshire are a team of excellent cricketers rather than superstars. It is head coach Adi Birrell’s way. The bowling attack is perhaps the closest thing cricket comes to Total Football.
SOMERSET
Captain: Tom Abell
Overseas players: Matt Henry (New Zealand), Peter Siddle (Australia)
Titles: 1 (2005)
2022 finish: Semi-finals
2022 leading runscorer: Rilee Rossouw (623)
2022 leading wicket taker: Ben Green (21)
Key winter moves:
Big-hitting Tom KohlerCadmore is expected to
open the batting following his move from Yorkshire, while New Zealand Test player Matt Henry should boost the seam attack and could prove an experienced option for bowling at the death.
The big question: Can Somerset maintain form throughout a competition they have only won once? Last year, having sailed through the group with some devastating displays, they failed to do themselves justice in the semi-final against Hampshire.
Wildcard watch: Ben
Green - proved himself with bat and ball in limited overs games last season, smashing 157 in a 50-over game against Durham and finishing as the team’s top wicket-taker in the Blast with his seam bowling.
Final thought: Spectators at Taunton look guaranteed more batting fireworks with Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Banton and Will Smeed, but taking wickets could hold the key to qualifying for Finals Day.