Somerset welcome Gayle for a Blast
ESPNcricinfo brings you the team news ahead of the third round of the NatWest T20 Blast
Freddie Wilde
29-May-2015
North Group
Worcestershire v Leicestershire, New Road, 5.30pm
Leicestershire appear to be striking some good form following comfortable back-to-back wins over Derbyshire and Durham. Worcestershire, who lost their first match of the season last week against Birmingham, have replaced Alex Gidman in their squad with overseas player Colin Munro, who has spent the last month in the Mumbai Indians dugout. Shaaiq Choudhry and Charlie Morris, who were not selected last week, have been left out of the 12-man squad. Leicestershire are sticking with the same 14 from Thursday.
Leicestershire appear to be striking some good form following comfortable back-to-back wins over Derbyshire and Durham. Worcestershire, who lost their first match of the season last week against Birmingham, have replaced Alex Gidman in their squad with overseas player Colin Munro, who has spent the last month in the Mumbai Indians dugout. Shaaiq Choudhry and Charlie Morris, who were not selected last week, have been left out of the 12-man squad. Leicestershire are sticking with the same 14 from Thursday.
Northamptonshire v Birmingham, Northampton, 6.30pm
Northamptonshire have played just once this season, losing a rain-affected match against Durham. Birmingham, meanwhile, have played twice, winning once and losing once. The defending champions, Birmingham, who have won seven of the last ten encounters against Northants, have made one change to the 13-man squad that beat Worcestershire last week, leaving out Chris Wright and selecting Oliver Hannon-Dalby. Northamptonshire welcome Azharullah back into their squad. Shahid Afridi is set to make his home debut.
Northamptonshire have played just once this season, losing a rain-affected match against Durham. Birmingham, meanwhile, have played twice, winning once and losing once. The defending champions, Birmingham, who have won seven of the last ten encounters against Northants, have made one change to the 13-man squad that beat Worcestershire last week, leaving out Chris Wright and selecting Oliver Hannon-Dalby. Northamptonshire welcome Azharullah back into their squad. Shahid Afridi is set to make his home debut.
Derbyshire v Lancashire, Derby, 7pm
Derbyshire and Lancashire are both looking to bounce back from defeats last week and welcome stellar overseas signings Tillakaratne Dilshan and James Faulkner respectively into their squads. Derbyshire, who have lost both their matches this season, have fast-tracked the arrival of Dilshan to replace the injured Nathan Rimmington as their second overseas player and he will likely open alongside Hashim Amla to form one of the most formidable opening partnerships in the North Group. Greg Cork and Mark Footitt have been left out after playing against Leicestershire, while Alex Hughes also misses out. Dilshan and Tony Palladino come into the 13-man squad. Lancashire, who have won their last three matches against Derbyshire, have named a 15-man squad, bringing in Faulkner, Paul Horton and Rob Jones. Tom Smith was initially included but, having played a four-day match for the 2nd XI, is rested and replaced by Nathan Buck.
Derbyshire and Lancashire are both looking to bounce back from defeats last week and welcome stellar overseas signings Tillakaratne Dilshan and James Faulkner respectively into their squads. Derbyshire, who have lost both their matches this season, have fast-tracked the arrival of Dilshan to replace the injured Nathan Rimmington as their second overseas player and he will likely open alongside Hashim Amla to form one of the most formidable opening partnerships in the North Group. Greg Cork and Mark Footitt have been left out after playing against Leicestershire, while Alex Hughes also misses out. Dilshan and Tony Palladino come into the 13-man squad. Lancashire, who have won their last three matches against Derbyshire, have named a 15-man squad, bringing in Faulkner, Paul Horton and Rob Jones. Tom Smith was initially included but, having played a four-day match for the 2nd XI, is rested and replaced by Nathan Buck.
Durham v Yorkshire, Chester-le-Street, 7pm
A record crowd is expected at Chester-le-Street for the first match under the new floodlights. Durham were beaten convincingly by Leicestershire on Thursday and will hope the crowd can inspire them to a victory against a Yorkshire team who have won both their opening matches. Yorkshire have named a 13-man squad, leaving out Steve Patterson, who didn't play in last week's victory against Nottinghamshire. Durham have kept the same 16 men for consecutive fixtures.
A record crowd is expected at Chester-le-Street for the first match under the new floodlights. Durham were beaten convincingly by Leicestershire on Thursday and will hope the crowd can inspire them to a victory against a Yorkshire team who have won both their opening matches. Yorkshire have named a 13-man squad, leaving out Steve Patterson, who didn't play in last week's victory against Nottinghamshire. Durham have kept the same 16 men for consecutive fixtures.
South Group
Kent v Surrey, Beckenham, 5.30pm
Kent followed last week's scintillating late heist against Hampshire with a tame defeat against Middlesex at Lord's on Thursday. They return to less opulent surroundings in Beckenham - though the ground is newly developed - to face Surrey, looking to get their season back on track. Surrey have named Azhar Mahmood and Moises Henriques, both straight from the IPL, in their squad, leaving out Aneesh Kapil and Vikram Solanki. Kent, still without the injured James Tredwell, have named an unchanged 13-man squad for their back-to-back matches.
Kent followed last week's scintillating late heist against Hampshire with a tame defeat against Middlesex at Lord's on Thursday. They return to less opulent surroundings in Beckenham - though the ground is newly developed - to face Surrey, looking to get their season back on track. Surrey have named Azhar Mahmood and Moises Henriques, both straight from the IPL, in their squad, leaving out Aneesh Kapil and Vikram Solanki. Kent, still without the injured James Tredwell, have named an unchanged 13-man squad for their back-to-back matches.
Glamorgan v Hampshire, Cardiff, 6.30pm
Both Glamorgan and Hampshire have won one and lost one and this match represents an important early fixture in their seasons, given the strength of the South Group. Hampshire were stung by a late surge from Kent last week but have named an unchanged 13-man squad for the trip to Cardiff. Glamorgan have named overseas player Wayne Parnell in their squad for the first time this season now that he has recovered from injury. Other than the addition of Parnell, Glamorgan are unchanged.
Both Glamorgan and Hampshire have won one and lost one and this match represents an important early fixture in their seasons, given the strength of the South Group. Hampshire were stung by a late surge from Kent last week but have named an unchanged 13-man squad for the trip to Cardiff. Glamorgan have named overseas player Wayne Parnell in their squad for the first time this season now that he has recovered from injury. Other than the addition of Parnell, Glamorgan are unchanged.
Essex v Somerset, Chelmsford, 7pm
Chris Gayle is set to make his highly anticipated Somerset debut against an Essex squad including Jesse Ryder, Ravi Bopara and Shaun Tait in front of what should be a big crowd at Chelmsford. Essex have already played four matches, while Somerset have played just one, but neither team has found the winning habit - Essex have lost three of their fixtures and Somerset were beaten by Sussex last Friday. Somerset have won their last two matches away to Essex, however. They have left out Craig Overton and Abdur Rehman and added Gayle, who will meet the squad for the first time when they arrive in Chelmsford. Essex, meanwhile, have added Tom Westley to last week's 14-man squad.
Chris Gayle is set to make his highly anticipated Somerset debut against an Essex squad including Jesse Ryder, Ravi Bopara and Shaun Tait in front of what should be a big crowd at Chelmsford. Essex have already played four matches, while Somerset have played just one, but neither team has found the winning habit - Essex have lost three of their fixtures and Somerset were beaten by Sussex last Friday. Somerset have won their last two matches away to Essex, however. They have left out Craig Overton and Abdur Rehman and added Gayle, who will meet the squad for the first time when they arrive in Chelmsford. Essex, meanwhile, have added Tom Westley to last week's 14-man squad.
Sussex v Middlesex, Hove, 7pm
Sussex have won their last two matches and are second in the South Group and, although Middlesex are fresh off a huge victory against Kent at Lord's, they have lost six of their last seven matches against Sussex. This is an intriguing match-up, with Sussex's powerful top order of Chris Nash, Luke Wright and Mahela Jayawardene against Middlesex's international pace trio of Kyle Abbott, Steven Finn and James Franklin. Middlesex have the same squad that defeated Kent while Sussex have made two changes to the squad that beat Somerset, leaving out Chris Jordan, who is in England's Test squad, and Matthew Hobden, who wasn't selected last week.
Sussex have won their last two matches and are second in the South Group and, although Middlesex are fresh off a huge victory against Kent at Lord's, they have lost six of their last seven matches against Sussex. This is an intriguing match-up, with Sussex's powerful top order of Chris Nash, Luke Wright and Mahela Jayawardene against Middlesex's international pace trio of Kyle Abbott, Steven Finn and James Franklin. Middlesex have the same squad that defeated Kent while Sussex have made two changes to the squad that beat Somerset, leaving out Chris Jordan, who is in England's Test squad, and Matthew Hobden, who wasn't selected last week.
Freddie Wilde is a freelance T20 journalist. @fwildecricket