Natwest T20 Blast: Ones to watch

17:30 16/5/2014 sees the Natwest T20 Blast lifts off. With the rise of the Big Bash and IPL going from strength to strength this is England's answer to the global phenomenon that is Twenty20 cricket.

Despite inventing the concept, England has fallen behind the pecking order. So in order to catch up with the competition the re-branded T20 Blast looks to attract more audiences with fixtures played solely at the weekend (including Friday evening)

The hope is also to bring in big names into the competition that will draw in the crowds. In this blog I look at the players who will either bring in those crowds, emerge as England players or play crucial roles for their teams.

Aaron Finch

The big Victorian has an insatiable T20 record. He made a mark on England and Steven Finn when the first ball he faced of the English went all the way. He then continued in this vain to play one of the greatest international innings ever. Representing Yorkshire he will be the focal point of a strong side that has never had any real success in the competition.

Runs: 3244
Average 37.28
Highest Score: 156

Strike rate: 135.5

Jesse Ryder

In Jesse Ryder Essex have themselves a mercurial talent who on his day can be a world beater. Leg side dominant he can dispatch any bowler in the world but controversy always looms near. More recently known for his off field incidents however, and a lack of matches at the highest level could go against him. Put his canny medium pacers in the mix and Ryder can really be a force in this season T20.

Batting

Innings: 82

Runs: 2113

Average: 27.80

Highest Score: 90*

Strike Rate: 145.12

Bowling

Wickets: 22

Best Bowling Figures: 2/14

Average: 44

Economy rate: 8.08

Kevin Pietersen

KP. The name resonates throughout the game. He has been there done that and taken a few bowlers to the cleaners around the world. He no longer plays any form other then T20 and by the looks of things he is short of form. He has struggled in the IPL with his leadership credentials mocked in the Indian press. Pietersen, however, will come back and it would take a bold man to suggest that he won't come good this Summer.

Innings: 90

Runs: 2545

Average: 33.05

Highest Score: 103*

Strike Rate: 135.30

Reece Topley

The left arm quick will have a lot of interest in him this Summer from the England selectors. Ear marked as a future England player the Essex seamer has all the attributes needed to strike fear into opposition batsman. Peter Moores likes a Left armer and it is this style of bowling that has had such a impact in this format of the game. A good season from Topley could see him catapulted into England setup.

Wickets: 38

Best Bowling Figures: 4/26

Average: 13.78

Economy rate: 7.59

Will Gidman

The Gloucestershire all rounder has made a real impact in the first class game since moving from Durham in 2011. A late bloomer Gidman has excelled in the longer format and has the opportunity this year to make a real impact in T20. Having only played a handful of matches this could be the year Gidman makes a real name for himself and put his name in the mix for England spots. He has a first class bowling average of 21 so there are very few in the game as good with the ball as Gidman


Innings: 7
Runs: 78
Average: 13
Highest Score: 40*
Strike Rate: 86.66

Wickets: 1
Best Bowling Figures: 1/18
Average: 76
Economy Rate: 9.50

Sam Billings

There was a time in T20 cricket when teams thought that they could give a batsman the gloves and they just had to catch the ball without much issue. This concept was dismissed as quickly as it came to fruition due to impact that a quality keeper can make. Kent's long standing keeper Geraint Jones has been usurped by Billings in the first class game and the same is likely to happen in the T20 blast. Billings has some huge shoes to fill and after bursting on the scene with some excellent performances in front of the sky cameras needs to push on with his career. This is an excellent opportunity and one that Billings should grasp with both hands.

Innings: 22

Runs: 417

Average: 19.85

Highest Score: 59

Strike Rate: 103.99 

Catches: 15

Stumpings: 0

David Willey

Son of former England player Peter, Willey was a key component for a victorious Northants side last year. A big game player he can be destructive with the bat, as shown in the final last year, as well as an attacking bowling. He is also dynamic in the field, making him the complete three dimensional cricketer. Another good season for Willey could see him in line for an international call up. 

Innings: 38

Runs: 466
Highest Score: 60
Average: 19.41
Strike rate: 122.30


Wickets: 53
Best Figures: 4/9
Average: 17.30
Economy Rate: 7.14

Luke Wright

Axed for the up coming ODIs and T20Is after starring in the Big Bash and participating in the World T20 must be a bitter pill to swallow. Sadly the participation in the World T20 was that, it was a rather limp showing from the man who was in the team of the tournament. His reaction to the dropping will see whether Wright can once again find a way back into the side. Gun ho bat, athletic fielder and decent operator with the ball are all attributes that when they come together make Wright the ideal T20 player. If they do come together expect a title challenge from Sussex.

Innings: 165

Run: 3831

Highest Score: 117 

Average: 25.71

Strike Rate: 145.11

Wickets: 79

Best Bowling Figures: 3/17

Average: 32.44

Economy Rate: 8.54

Pietersen to carry the flame for the forgotten men of English cricket

Tomorrow sees the start of the 2014 IPL auction. There are three major talking points before the tournament start. For one will a spot fixing scandal mar the tournament once more, secondly Delhi Daredevils emptying out their roster and starting again, this then loses the biggest talking point of the auction... How much will KP go for?

The record so far stands at $2.4 million spent on Gautam Gambhir by the Kolkata Knightriders in 2011 and this is expected to be smashed. Despite the cap for a squad being £5.87 million Pietersen is still expected to reach up to £3 million.

Now that England have let their prized possession go IPL teams will be like vultures trying to secure the talents of a man averaging nearly 40 in T20 cricket and can single handily win a game. The reason why he is now such a hot ticket is that he is available for the full IPL season unlike many other overseas stars.

Being available for the full IPL is incredibly crucial if players want to attract suitors. This is even more important for English players who do not have countrymen representing them as IPL coaches.

Coaches who see countrymen in their domestic tournaments are more likely to sign them. Domestic players do not get the same exposure as international players and so often have to rely on coaches having previous knowledge of their performances. This makes it easier for Australian and South African players because the majority of the coaches are from these nations.

This means that out of 11 Englishmen going in to the auction many will be left alone. It also means that the ones who have put there names in the auction do not have major national team aspirations or expect to only play in some part of the auction

Due to contractual obligations with Nottinghamshire Alex Hales and Samit Patel have to have the maximum starting price. This is a move to warn off teams who are going to sign them and rarely use them as the price tag means that they will be a focal point for the franchise to some extent. It was put in place more specifically so that if they did play in the IPL it would be financially worth it for the players rather than performing for their county.

This could prove as a stumbling block for Patel, however his performances while in India for England may persuade owners to sign him up. Hales and his T20 performances in the Big Bash will definitely get him a team.

The players in the next price bracket I have decided to label as forgotten men of English cricket. Craig Kieswetter, who was man of the match in the 2010 T20 World Cup, has fallen right down the pecking order with the performances of Jos Buttler and the emergence of Ben Foakes, He didn't have the strongest of Big Bash's but his all rounder status and availability may prove to be reasons for a potential purchase.

Luke Wright, who is seen by England as mercenary T20 player, despite him constantly rejected this status, performances in the Big Bash means he will have suitors fighting for him. Rikki Clarke, who has been in the shadow of Andrew Flintoff, was given limited opportunity for England and, despite consistently strong performances for Warwickshire, will never be given another chance. This is seen as a chance to cash in before retirement but his lack of exposure means that it will be a surprise if he is picked up.

Ravi Bopara has played in the IPL before so he will looked out for especially at the lower price tag. Ian Bell's lack of X factor may go against him with the razzle dazzle of the IPL looking for huge hitters rather than touch players, with the only example going against this trend is Mahela Jayawardne. Also with a One Day International series starting before the tournament finishes both will leave early.

Dimitri Mascarenhas is unattached, as is Simon Jones, but both are ageing and their best cricket is behind them. Their low prices and experience may make them a attractive purchase, but they have been left out of the England set up for many years now and even if they do get bought I can't see them playing in too many matches.

Jade Dernbach, whose horror show down under, will struggle to find a suitor as his recent performances are fresh in the memory. Even though he is consistently one of the better performances in the English Twenty20 he has not carried this form into international cricket.

There will not be much English interest in this tournament, as has become a trend of recent years, apart from the KP factor. Outside of KP there will be a few names making the odd appearance but with Eoin Morgan deciding to focus on County cricket there will not be the same level of interest.