LANCASHIRE: Gareth Cross, the wicketkeeper-batsman, will continue to deputise for the injured Luke Sutton in tonight’s Twenty20 Cup floodlit match away to Derbyshire. Steven Croft is likely to retain his place and the squad also includes Nathan Astle, who hit two half-centuries in last season’s competition for Durham.
SUSSEX: Mark Robinson, the cricket manager, has defended the county’s handling of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who is doubtful for Pakistan’s tour to England because of a groin injury. “We have always been aware of his value, not just to us but to Pakistan,” Robinson said. “We have done all we can to ensure he stayed fit.”
HAMPSHIRE: The club is installing a stretch of beach at the Rose Bowl for the Twenty20 fixture against Sussex on July 7. There will be strawberries and cream during the competition to coincide with Wimbledon. Iain Brunnschweiler, the former wicketkeeper, will be giving the match announcements as “DJ Brunchy”.
KENT: Kent have signed Tyron Henderson, 31, an all-rounder from East London, to replace Justin Kemp, who has returned to South Africa. The batsman and medium-pace bowler will be available for the Twenty20 matches before a decision is made whether he will continue as an overseas player.
DURHAM: Graeme Bridge, the left-arm spin bowler, could make his first appearance of the season, having been picked in a 13-man squad for the Twenty20 Cup match against Yorkshire at Headingley today. Jon Lewis, the elder statesman of the batting line-up, is the only member of the side not to be included.
WARWICKSHIRE: With Ian Bell and Alex Loudon on England duty for the rest of the week, the club are hoping Nick Knight (groin) and Jim Troughton (calf) pass fitness tests before today’s visit to Northampton. Paul Harris, a tall, left-arm spinner from South Africa, is on trial and is a possible replacement for Nick James (suspected broken hand).
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: Darren Bicknell and Jason Gallian will be among the absentees when the county begin their Twenty20 push away to Leicestershire at Grace Road today. Mick Newell, the director of cricket, has challenged younger players such as Will Smith and Samit Patel to seize their opportunities.
MIDDLESEX: Ben Hutton, the captain, is still recovering from shingles and will miss the start of the Twenty20 Cup campaign against Surrey at Lord’s today. Scott Styris will continue to lead the team. Injured Ed Joyce will not play again until the next championship match away to Warwickshire at Edgbaston on July 14.
YORKSHIRE: Jason Gillespie will have his first taste of Twenty20 Cup cricket when he plays against Durham at Headingley today. Gillespie did not play for South Australia in the 20-over competition that was introduced in January. Ajmal Shahzad, the right-arm medium pace bowler, is also included in a 12-man squad.
TODAY’S FIXTURES
Twenty20 Cup
5.30 unless stated
MIDLANDS/WEST/WALES DIVISION: Cardiff: Glamorgan Dragons v Worcestershire Royals (7.0). Northampton: Northamptonshire Steelbacks v Warwickshire Bears. Taunton: Somerset Sabres v Gloucestershire Gladiators.
SECOND DIVISION
SURREY: The decision to rest Mark Ramprakash from the C&G Trophy matches to keep him fresh for championship cricket helped him to become the first batsman to score 1,000 first-class runs in a season for the first time in his career. He is expected to play a full part in the Twenty20 Cup, which starts against Middlesex at Lord’s today.
WORCESTERSHIRE: The club’s Twenty20 Cup preparations have been hit by the call-up of Vikram Solanki to England’s one-day squad for the match against Sri Lanka tomorrow. Ben Smith will have fond memories of his previous meeting with Glamorgan after scoring the second fastest Twenty20 hundred, in 42 balls, against them last year.
ESSEX: The club, who can select from an injury-free playing staff, still have tickets left for all their Twenty20 home matches. “Walk-ups should have no problem for our first match at Chelmsford on Wednesday but people should buy ahead for our floodlit matches as tickets may not be available on the day,” a spokesman said.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE: The county will be without Hamish Marshall, the New Zealand batsman, for the Twenty20 Cup because of his broken thumb and possibly Phil Weston, who has an injured hand. However, they will be boosted by the return of Ian Harvey, who has scored three quickfire centuries in the competition.
DERBYSHIRE: The break from championship cricket has come at a good time for the club, whose form has begun to dip. Tom Lungley, Jake Needham and Graham Wagg will be given chances during the Twenty20 Cup, while Marcus North, the overseas replacement for Travis Birt, will play against his former county, Lancashire, today.
SOMERSET: The televised Twenty20 fixture against Gloucestershire today is expected to be sold out. Justin Langer, the Australia opening batsman, will play in this form of the game for the first time for Somerset, the champions. No damage was done to the outfield or the pitch at Taunton by the staging of a concert last week.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE: The club still had nearly 1,000 tickets left yesterday afternoon for the visit of Warwickshire to Wantage Road this evening. “We still have tickets for all our Twenty20 home games,” Mark Tagg, the chief executive, said. “A lot went earlier in the season, but demand has tailed off since the (football) World Cup began.”
LEICESTERSHIRE: Experience is likely to hold the key in the Twenty20 campaign this season. Jeremy Snape has recovered from a thumb injury in time for the opening match against Nottinghamshire at Grace Road today, while Darren Maddy, one of the first players to embrace the format, is back in form after struggling early in the season.
GLAMORGAN: An inflatable assault course, a bouncy castle — it must be Twenty20 Cup time. Glamorgan kick off at home to Worcestershire this evening and will start all their home games at 7pm and play under lights. Brendon McCullum, who helped Canterbury to win New Zealand’s domestic 20-over cup, makes his home debut.
TODAY’S FIXTURES
NORTH DIVISION: Derby: Derbyshire Phantoms v Lancashire Lightning (7.0). Leicester: Leicestershire Foxes v Nottinghamshire Outlaws. Headingley: Yorkshire Phoenix v Durham Dynamos.
SOUTH DIVISION: Beckenham: Kent Spitfires v Essex Eagles. Lord’s: Middlesex Crusaders v Surrey Lions. Arundel: Sussex Sharks v Hampshire Hawks.
