A decent chance?

Having given the matter some thought, I think that we could do well in the 20/20 this year.

We have powerful batsmen and importantly a number of all-rounders whose presence will ensure that we both bat long and have plenty of variety to keep changing the pace of the bowling.

Only John Morris knows the side that he will put out and who is fit or injured, but for what it is worth, I'd like to see us go with this side, now that we know Chris Rogers is having a well-earned break.

Dan Birch
Greg Smith
Wavell Hinds
Rikki Clarke
James Pipe
Graeme Wagg
Dominic Telo/John Sadler
Jon Clare
Jake Needham
Charl Langeveldt
Nayan Doshi

I'm assuming that Greg Smith is fit but think he and Dan Birch would make a powerful opening pair. I'm resting Stubbo because of his shoulder problem that prevents him throwing too easily and am including Dom Telo as he is such a brilliant fielder at point. In these games a few runs saved is worth a great deal, and he could come in and stabilise or accelerate as required. With Lasher Langeveldt at 10, there is plenty of batting and good totals are within our compass.

With Langeveldt, Clare, Wagg and Clarke to bowl fast medium and Smith together with Wavell Hinds to bowl medium pace, we could also afford to play both spinners. Varying the pace and taking the pace off the ball is crucial in these games and with eight bowlers we would be very well equipped for any surface. While Doshi has lost his place latterly to Jake Needham, he has the best record of any bowler in 20/20, while Langeveldt had an extraordinary tournament in South Africa prior to joining us, with hat tricks, four wicket overs and a remarkable average.

It will come down to the batting, without doubt. If this lot fire they could be awesome, but they could backfire badly and be 37-5 in seven overs. We just don't know, but I feel we are better equipped for the razamatazz than we have ever been. Although I'm not a huge fan of the tournament, I look forward to our performances and think we just might surprise a few people.