The final weekend of the Vitality Blast is upon us as Durham travel to New Road tomorrow (5:30pm) to take on Worcestershire Rapids in their penultimate T20 game.
A 13-player squad has been named to travel to the West Midlands in what is Durham’s 13th game in this year’s T20 competition.
Wayne Parnell is no longer available for Durham having suffered a pectoral strain ahead of the Yorkshire Vikings clash last Friday night with the South African returning back home.
George Drissell remains in the 13 having successfully opened the bowling last time out against Yorkshire – having played in his first T20 Blast game of the season.
Tomorrow’s game against Worcestershire Rapids is the first time Durham have faced the Pears in this year’s Vitality Blast, with Alan Richardson’s side having a successful campaign so far.
Worcestershire Rapids are currently third in the North group with 14 points and are very much in contention to qualify for the quarter finals, while Durham sit in 8th place 10 points.
Words from Ryan Campbell
“It’s not what we wanted, having been rained off against Yorkshire last week, .At the end of the day, there’s nothing we can do about it, it rained and we need to move on. I was pleased about George Drissell coming into the team and bowling three overs of magnificent off-spin, which will give him a pep-up for the rest of the season.
“Wayne Parnell was pulled out of the team moments before the game and was replaced by Jonathan Bushnell but this squad as they have done this season, continued to brush off anything that goes against them. The rain won in the end, but it was a positive night for Durham.
We now have two more big T20 games coming up against Worcestershire Rapids and Birmingham Bears starting on Friday at New Road. Worcestershire have been playing some good cricket, but we go there wanting to win, and hopefully we can end the T20 Blast campaign on a high.”
Squad v Worcestershire Rapids [30th June]
Jonathan Bushnell, Brydon Carse, Graham Clark, Luke Doneathy, George Drissell, Michael Jones, Alex Lees, Ben Raine, Luke Robinson, Ollie Robinson +, Nathan Sowter, Liam Trevaskis, Ashton Turner
Opposition Corner
Captain: Brett D’Oliveira
Overseas players: Usama Mir (Pakistan), Mitch Santner (New Zealand).
Finals Day appearances: 2 (2018, 2019)
Titles: 1 (2018)
2022 finish: Ninth (North Group)
2022 leading run-scorer: Colin Munro (323)
2022 leading wicket taker: Pat Brown (14)
Key winter moves: Worcestershire are hoping Adam Hose, signed from Warwickshire over the winter, can reproduce the firepower that saw him finish in the top three of run-scorers in last season’s competition – 557 – and the form he showed for Adelaide Strikers in the 2022-2023 Big Bash League.
The big question: Can Worcestershire recapture the form they demonstrated when winning the title in 2018 and then coming so close to retaining the title 12 months later? Since then they have failed to live up to expectations but stability should be provided by Brett D’Oliveira’s appointment as captain as he will be available – unlike Moeen Ali – to lead for the entire tournament.
Wildcard watch: Jack Haynes – On his day he is one of the most talented youngsters in the country and his England Lions call-up this winter will probably be the stepping stone to greater international honours. Has already showed his potential in T20 cricket for the Rapids.
Final thought: There is genuine optimism that the Rapids can live up to their potential with the recruitment of Bracewell and Santner, who will not only provide spin options but are also set to bat in what should be a powerful top six. There is also a belief that Pat Brown can recapture the form with the ball that won him an England T20 call.
Match Centre
The Club’s match centre will be in operation for the fixture with live scorecards, statistics & video highlights as they happen. You can watch the game live via Durham’s match centre and Worcestershire YouTube channel. Durham Cricket will have full coverage on social media, with a full match report at the close.