SQUAD
LIKELY PLAYING XI
If they look to go for an RHB-LHB opening combination, then Miles Hammond could open alongside Finn Allen with Liam Livingstone slipping to no. 4.
Another alternate option would be to open with Daniel Bell-Drummond alongside Allen, and slip Livingstone to #4.
Dillon Pennington (Wild card pick) should get a nod ahead of Tom Helm. The reason being that Pennington has been expensive, but has picked wickets. He is an ideal PP bowler. Whereas, Helm has been economical with lack of wickets against his name.
Tom Abell has been out of action for almost a month with an acute hamstring injury. His selection could be subject to fitness, but he is likely to be a starter.
AREAS OF STRENGTH
1) They have gone heavy on express pace. They have Adam Milne, Dillon Pennington, and Pat Brown as options out of which only 2 will make the cut.
2) An in-form top 3 could prove to be lethal for any team. Finn Allen has been making runs in the Vitality Blast and is also the highest run-scorer for his team Lancashire.
Liam Livingstone just cracked the fastest T20I century for England and has been in fine form with 254 runs in the Blast at an average of 63.5.
3) To balance the express pacers, the signings of Chris Woakes & Benny Howell look really good to me. Howell’s been in a great touch with the bat too and has seen a promotion for Gloucester in the absence of Chris Dent. However, his major role in the competition is likely to be with the ball in the middle-phase.
4) Will Smeed is one of the emerging players coming through the Somerset ranks. If he plays, he will bat at #3 which would then push Moeen Ali down the order.
AREAS OF CONCERN
1) Just as I have observed with several teams, Birmingham Phoenix have the same problem when it comes to lack of left-arm options. To get a benefit of doubt, they had originally signed Shaheen Afridi. But with him pulling out, they have no left-arm pace option.
2) Another area of concern is that they do not have any left-arm spinner either.
3) Adam Hose‘s form is a major concern for them. Hose has found himself playing a new role this year for the Birmingham Bears. He has taken over the opener’s role with Ian Bell having retired. But, this hasn’t reaped dividends and it will be best to bat him where he is more suited, i.e. #4.
4) Pat Brown will be making a comeback after an injury lay-off. However, the concern for me with Brown is how inconsistent and expensive he turns out to be game after game. He is young and will improve as he progresses, but I felt he was unnecessarily fast-tracked into the England side + BBL and was quite rightly found out.
5) Tom Abell‘s fitness remains a question. He is said to be close to being match-fit.
VITALITY BLAST 2021 STATS (Relevant stats only)
Cricket Strategist 