Change of format, change of fortunes?

There is always a buzz of anticipation ahead of the new T20 campaign. By the time that it starts, on Friday, we will have played a couple of friendlies, sussed out the best personnel to use and be as ready as we can be to give it our best shot.

Despite Durham and despite Leicestershire, this really hasn't been  a season of gloom and doom. Yes, we have failed to push home from winning positions and ended up losing, but I recall plenty of summers when we seldom got into a winning position. I also recall signings that made no sense at the time and even less from distance and summers where the chances of T20 wins, let alone qualification were slightly better than me being voted Miss World.

There have been issues, but like all of us in life, sometimes there are mitigating circumstances and, as I have written before on this blog, none of us know what is going on in the background in people's lives. Going back a few years, I recall people being highly critical of a particular player when I knew, though it wasn't common knowledge, that his mother was seriously ill. That's why I always reserve judgement and draw shy of being overly critical. Just as you and I might hope for consideration in such circumstances, so might anyone else.

The T20 is a fresh start and crucially one in a tournament in which we did well last year. Only a freakish innings by Shahid Afridi, admittedly aided by inflexible captaincy from Gary Wilson, saw us out before finals day. There were wonderful, breathtaking displays that we wouldn't have dared to dream of in previous summers.

We go into this year with largely the same personnel. Imran Tahir has been replaced by Wahab Riaz, mystical twirlies swapping places with eastern exocets. Then we have traded Matt Henry for Lockie Ferguson, Kiwi for Kiwi. Henry has followed a somewhat disappointing stint for a golden one with Kent, while Ferguson, a serious pace merchant, can cement a growing reputation with a good spell with us.

Left arm and right arm express pace...lovely. IF they get their lines and lengths right it could be spectacular, but could leave the fielders chasing leather if they don't. At that pace, as we know with Hardus Viljoen, two inches difference on pitching makes a huge difference to the extras, while an edge past the keeper is always likely to be four.

I just hope that our three genuine quick bowlers don't each try to be the fastest gun in the west. It has happened before, when Viv Richards and Ian Botham batted together, but rarely for long, as they each tried to outdistance the other in hitting. I'm not especially fussed by who is the quickest, as long as they all do their job and don't have extras mounting with undue haste.

Few will fancy facing them and the bowling would appear to be in rude health. With Ravi Rampaul and Safyaan Sharif as options, we won't lack for seam. Matt Critchley and Wayne Madsen will offer spin, while Alex Hughes is often very effective in this format. Luis Reece will be sorely missed though, with bat as well as ball.

The batting? Well,  I guess there's always a chance of a late innings in a friendly winning an opportunity, but we are likely to be close to last year's line up. It was effective then and, while plenty have concerns about it, the hope will be that we aren't chasing big scores too often. If we are, the bowlers haven't done their job.

I expect Matt Critchley to reprise his fine pinch-hitting role of last year, with the only question mark whether he is partnered by Ben Slater or Billy Godleman. Calum Macleod should bat three, with Wayne at four and Alex Hughes at five. The decision will then be on whether we can play both Gary Wilson and Daryn Smit, or bring in a younger batsman who would likely be more mobile in the field.

For what it is worth I would have Smit behind the timbers, because his glove work off the fast bowlers would be crucial, and would start at least with Wilson at five. He hasn't shown batting form for some time, but from the available candidates I think offers the best chance of success. If it doesn't work, then we will need to rethink it.

Barring last week curve ball signings from local cricket or trialists, my side for the opening game would be:

Critchley
Slater
Macleod
Madsen
Wilson
Hughes
Smit
Viljoen
Riaz
Ferguson
Rampaul

Yes, there are shortcomings, but I reckon seventeen other counties will feel the same, or sixteen, if we exclude Nottinghamshire. Yes a top order batsman of repute would have been handy, but so would his availability and the money to pay for him. There are nevertheless runs - big runs, fast runs - in that top order and we must hope that they fire.

I have every confidence that John Wright and Dominic Cork will again do a fine job for us. I have equal confidence that Grant Bradburn will be an excellent and experienced asset too.

From there it is down to the players, the rub of the green and as much support as we can offer them.

We all start on nought. Let's see how it goes from here.