Ryan Campbell has named a 14-player squad for Durham’s opening Vitality Blast fixture away to Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road.
Alex Lees will lead Durham out for the first time since being appointed white ball captain and will be looking to get Durham off to winning ways when they get underway at 6:30pm tonight.
Durham go into the T20 Blast on the back of a strong start to County Championship Division 2 season where they currently top the league table.
Ashton Turner will make his return to the Durham side after being announced as a replacement for Tristan Stubbs. Turner landed in the country last Saturday and got some practise under his belt for the Seconds against Yorkshire earlier this week.
Brandon Glover is in line to make his Durham debut against his former club having joined Durham on a 2-year deal through the winter, while Bas de Leede who made his first-class debut for Durham against Yorkshire is also included in the 14 and could also make his Durham T20 debut.
Promising Academy quick Luke Robinson is named in a Durham senior squad for the first time. Robinson plays his club cricket with North East Premier League side Philadelphia.
Words from Alex Lees
We have had a great start in the County Championship and there is a real good feeling around the group at the moment, we now want to take that momentum into the Blast starting this week at Northampton. We want to play that dominant type of cricket but that is just natural with T20 cricket nowadays, sometimes we over complicate T20 cricket, it is just about enjoying it. It is really exciting to have Ashton Turner back with us, he is a high quality performer who has been superb for a number of years now so his experience will be vital in the dressing room this campaign and I will be able to lean on him for that advice.
Squad v Northamptonshire Steelbacks (26 May)
David Bedingham, Graham Clark, Luke Doneathy, Bas de Leede, Brandon Glover, Michael Jones, Alex Lees*, Stanley McAlindon, Ben Raine, Ollie Robinson+, Luke Robinson, Nathan Sowter, Ashton Turner, Liam Trevaskis.
Opposition Corner
Captain: David Willey
Overseas players: Chris Lynn (Australia), Andrew Tye (Australia)
Finals Day appearances: 4 (2009, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Titles: 2 (2013, 2016)
2022 finish: Seventh (North Group)
2022 leading runscorer: Chris Lynn (516)
2022 leading wicket taker: Ben Sanderson (16)
Key winter moves: England white ball all-rounder David Willey returns to his childhood club after seven seasons with Yorkshire. In a controversial move following his early return from the IPL, he was awarded the captaincy just two weeks before the start of the Blast, replacing long-time skipper Josh Cobb. Australian quick Andrew Tye provides extra bowling firepower alongside returning countryman Chris Lynn.
The big question: With Lynn’s explosive hitting up top, the Steelbacks started strongly last year but fell away sharply, ending their Blast campaign with four straight defeats. Can they sustain their challenge this year and go one step further with the addition of Willey and Tye?
Wildcard watch: Saif Zaib – Came of age last season, nailing down a first-team place and earning himself a short-term Hundred deal with Northern Superchargers. While he didn’t play, his call-up was just reward for a consistent Blast campaign (311 runs), and a strong start to the One Day Cup with 136 against Essex. He also adds another bowling option with his slow-left arm deliveries.
Final thought: Northamptonshire have bolstered their squad and in Lynn and Tye, boast the Big Bash’s all-time leading runscorer and second highest wicket-taker. Willey, with 107 England caps and plenty of captaincy experience, now has to galvanise the club after a tough start to the Championship and several injuries.