Thursday, July 6th, 2017

Bumpy: Rapids Would Relish Experience Of T20 Blast Finals Day

Bumpy: Rapids Would Relish Experience Of T20 Blast Finals Day

Steve Rhodes has experienced the drama and excitement of NatWest T20 Blast finals day – and would love Worcestershire Rapids to follow suit.

Director Of Cricket Rhodes and Assistant Coach Matt Mason made a point of attending the annual Edgbaston spectacular three years ago.

It acted as part of the preparations should the Rapids break their duck and qualify for the most glamorous occasion of the domestic season.

The Rapids have appeared in three quarter-finals in the past five years and have often punched above their weight in qualifying from a North Group loaded with teams who play on Test grounds.

Now they will be looking to transfer their fine 50 over form in the Royal London One-Day Cup into the short format of the game.

Rhodes said: "Is it on the agenda to get to finals day? Very much so. We've been trying hard for many years and we've got through to knockout stages and not quite played our best in those games.

"We will be desperate to qualify again but so will another eight teams. Finals day, I've been there and experienced it with Mase (Matt Mason).

"We did a scouting trip and it was a wonderful day's entertainment and I'm sure if we can get through, our lads will love it.

"Will our 50 over performances give confidence for the T20? I think our game, what we tried to do in the 50 over stuff, might suit nicely for the 20 overs.

"Our personnel is not going to change too much. Obviously Mitch Santner will come into it.

"It will be quite an exciting team and that's the one thing you need to be successful at T20.

"You need players that can turn a game on its head but also together be such a strong unit because of the sort of qualities they possess which is aggression with the bat, skills with the ball that make life difficult (for opponents)."

Rhodes is relishing the contest with the Bears with the two teams again contesting the Norman Gifford Trophy.

He said: "We love playing against Warwickshire and the match here is already a sell out but the match at Edgbaston as well draws in really big crowds as well.

"We look forward to it. It's a shame it is the first game. When we play Warwickshire (Birmingham), it's our biggest game in the T20 and so maybe you'd like to play it after a game or two under your belt first.

"But it's the same for them."

Rapids (from):

Mitchell

Clarke

D'Oliveira

Santner

Cox

Leach

Whiteley

Hastings

Barnard

Rhodes

Tongue

Shantry