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Metro Bank One Day Cup: Spotlight on Group B
Somerset get our Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign underway tomorrow with a home game against Warwickshire.
Ahead of the start of the competition, we thought we would take a closer look at our Group B opponents.
DERBYSHIRE
Captain: Brooke Guest
Overseas players: Haider Ali (Pakistan), Suranga Lakmal (Sri Lanka)
2022 finish: Seventh (Group B)
2022 leading run scorer: – Luis Reece (330 runs)
2022 leading wicket taker: – Ben Aitchison (13 wickets)
Key player: Luis Reece – Derbyshire will hope Reece has another good tournament, both with bat and ball. The all-rounder can score quickly once he gets in and his ability to swing the ball at a lively pace will bolster an attack that has been depleted by injuries and Hundred call-ups.
Young player to watch: Harry Came – Appropriately enough for someone whose father owns a vineyard, Came is maturing nicely in both red and white-ball cricket. The 24-year-old opener scored his maiden first-class hundred in May and played some important innings in the Vitality Blast, including a 34-ball 50 in Derbyshire’s record T20 opening stand against Leicestershire.
Final thought: The concern is the bowling with Lakmal still recovering from a groin injury, Aitchison out for the season and George Scrimshaw and Zak Chappell involved in The Hundred. It leaves the seam attack severely depleted although Lakmal should be available for the later stages but Sam Conners, Anuj Dal and Reece will have to perform well if Derbyshire are to make the knock-out stages.
DURHAM
Captain: Alex Lees
Overseas players: David Bedingham (South Africa), Migael Pretorius (South Africa)
2022 finish: Ninth (Group A)
2022 leading run scorer: Graham Clark (277)
2022 leading wicket taker: Chris Rushworth (12)
Key player: Alex Lees – The Durham white-ball skipper is in prime form with the bat in the LV= Insurance County Championship and will be determined to continue his form in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Lees scored two centuries and 562 runs in Durham’s run to the final in 2021, and his absence due to England duty last season loomed large over the North-East outfit’s fortunes. If he can maintain his red ball form, he could top score in the tournament this year.
Young player to watch: Ben McKinney – Durham have had a good history unearthing powerful left-handed batters named Ben; and McKinney will have the chance to prove his potential in the One-Day Cup. After starting the opening Championship game of the season, first-team opportunities have been hard to come by for the 19-year-old. But, the white-ball competition should suit his skill-set, offering a boundary-striker late in the order for Ryan Campbell’s men behind a potent batting line-up.
Final thought: Durham went from finalists in 2021 to a one-win campaign last season. Expect a response from Lees and his team, who could have the power in their batting line-up to make a similar run to the last four. The issue will be their bowling attack, with Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Ben Raine and Bas de Leede all playing in The Hundred. Migael Pretorius and the fit-again Paul Coughlin will provide valuable experience, but Durham will need one of their younger seamers to step up with overs and wickets.
GLAMORGAN
Captain: Kiran Carlson
Overseas player: Colin Ingram (South Africa)
2022 finish: Fourth (Group B)
2022 leading run scorer: Colin Ingram (342)
2022 leading wicket taker: Kiran Carlson (9)
Key player: Colin Ingram – The South African has been the mainstay of Glamorgan’s white-ball batting for a number of seasons now. Ingram was Glamorgan’s top runscorer in the 50-over competition last year and, after averaging 47 in the recently-concluded Vitality Blast, will again be relied upon to pace Glamorgan’s batting.
Young player to watch: Tom Bevan – Scored an imperious 134 runs off 103 balls in the win over Hampshire last year. More of the same would be very helpful if the ex-Millfield School product is given his chance again. Last season 2nd XI player of the year and John Derrick young Player of the Year.
Final thought: Champions in 2021, they came agonisingly close to reaching the knock-out stages again last season. Skipper Carlson sets high standards in the field, as well as with bat and ball. High energy earned them the title two summers ago. It will be a case of follow the leader.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Captain: Graeme van Buuren
Overseas players: Zafar Gohar (Pakistan)
2022 finish: Fifth (Group A)
2022 leading run scorer: Jack Taylor (401)
2022 leading wicket taker: Zafar Gohar & Paul van Meekeren (13 each)
Key player: Jack Taylor – Capable of providing mid-innings acceleration with powerful striking to all areas of the ground, the experienced all-rounder averaged 66.83 with the bat in last season’s competition and also did well with his leg-spin, taking 11 wickets, with an economy rate of less than six an over.
Young player to watch: Joe Phillips – The 19-year-old Cornishman, from Truro, is fresh from making his first-class debut in the LV= Insurance County Championship match against Glamorgan at Cheltenham. Before that he made 63 and 95 in a second XI game with Kent and is sure to be given plenty of opportunities in the 50-over competition.
Final thought: The One-Day Cup offers a final chance for Gloucestershire to make something of a disappointing season, having failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Vitality Blast and struggled in the County Championship Second Division. Their chances are strengthened by having only two players selected for The Hundred and, despite a relatively small squad, they should be competitive.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Captain: Lewis McManus
Overseas players: Sam Whiteman (Australia)
2022 finish: Eighth (Group B)
2022 leading run scorer: Will Young (345)
2022 leading wicket taker: Nathan Buck (14)
Key player: Emilio Gay – He scored more than 300 runs in last year’s competition comes into the tournament in rich form having just scored his fourth Championship ton at Emirates Old Trafford. The stylish left-hander is pushing his case hard to be seen as an all-format player rather than a red ball specialist and his runs could be key to Northamptonshire’s success.
Young player to watch: Justin Broad – The batter signed his first professional contract in June following a string of impressive performances for the second team. Broad, who has also made nine international appearances for Germany, immediately became a regular fixture in the Blast and Championship, where he took useful wickets with his medium pace.
Final thought: With Northamptonshire sitting at the foot of Division One, the tournament offers a chance to kickstart their season with keeper Lewis McManus taking over as captain. While the experienced Rob Keogh, Ben Sanderson and Tom Taylor are managing injuries they are expected to feature, but this will also be an opportunity for the club’s talented young bowlers to stake their claims.
SUSSEX
Captain: Tom Haines
Overseas players: Cheteshwar Pujara (India)
2022 finish: Semi-finalists
2022 leading run scorer: Cheteshwar Pujara (624)
2022 leading wicket taker: Ari Karvelas (20)
Key player: Cheteshwar Pujara – The impact Pujara can provide, as captain and with the bat, shouldn’t be underestimated. Sussex were on no-one’s radar a year ago but he scored three hundreds as they topped the group and he led the side shrewdly. He returns in decent form too, having made 133 for West Zone during a brief return to India at the start of July.
Young player to watch: James Coles – Picked up nine wickets last year and his off spin has improved since while he also offers the promise of quick runs in the middle order. The 19-year-old has scored two Championship hundreds this season and the freedom with which he plays should be suited to the 50 overs format.
Final thought: Sussex will fancy a repeat run to the semi-finals, especially with Ali Orr, who made Sussex’s first 50 overs double hundred last year, and Steve Finn increasing their selection options after recovering from injury. Look out too for Ari Karvelas and Brad Currie to make an impact with the new ball while Sussex still have the option to recruit a second overseas player if necessary.
WARWICKSHIRE
Captain: Will Rhodes
Overseas player: Mir Hamza (Pakistan)
2022 finish: Sixth (Group A)
2022 leading run scorer: Rob Yates (412)
2022 leading wicket taker: Olly Hannon-Dalby (16)
Key player: Jake Lintott – The career trajectory of the left-arm wrist-spinner has hit it’s first dip after the astonishing rise of recent years. Without a The Hundred gig for the first time, the 30-year-old will be looking to rekindle the form and confidence which took him so far so quickly. If he does, a hatful of wickets could follow.
Young player to watch: Ethan Brookes – The highly-talented all-rounder is approaching a crossroads. Much of his cricket, especially with the bat, suggests he is ready for a sustained first-team chance but the competition for places at Warwickshire is high. A storming 50-over campaign would make his point to the coaches at Edgbaston and, should his first-team path continue to be blocked there, elsewhere.
Final thought: Interest remains high in 50-over cricket at Edgbaston and crowds have been excellent for the format despite the absence of key players in The Hundred. The Bears supporters enjoy seeing home-grown players fledge but this is the club’s only chance of silverware this season so they would appreciate a proper tilt at the trophy – qualification from the group, at least.
WORCESTERSHIRE
Captain: Jake Libby
Overseas player: Azhar Ali (Pakistan)
2022 finish: Ninth (Group B)
2022 leading run scorer: Jake Libby (332)
2022 leading wicket taker: Dillon Pennington (10)
Key player: Jake Libby – The prolific opener in all formats of the game will be skippering the side in an official role for the first time in the 50-over competition and provides stability and a calming influence for the younger players. Last season’s leading run-scorer for the Rapids provides the solid rock around the more powerful hitters can play.
Young player to watch: Kashif Ali – The first product of SACA to sign a contract with a first-class county, Kashif showed glimpses of his talent last summer, including a brilliant century on his List A debut versus Kent. A broken thumb checked his progress but expected to make a big impact in 2023 with his wristy stroke-play.
Final thought: Worcestershire were weakened by the call-up of several players at the 11th hour to The Hundred in 2022 and this was reflected in their results. Adam Hose will be a big miss with the Northern Superchargers but overall the squad is considerably stronger and capable of emulating their encouraging performances in the Vitality Blast.
