We've had a look at the top batsman and top bowler markets as well as who might lift the trophy in 2017.
After months of discussion about the new domestic Twenty20 competition, attention turns to the existing T20 Blast as it gets underway on Friday. One Day Cup winners Nottinghamshire dominated the North Division last year before being knocked out on finals day to eventual winners Northants. The Outlaws don’t have a particularly good record in the Blast but with Alex Hales no longer a part of England’s Test Match setup and the likes of Samit Patel and Steven Mullaney enjoying a great start to their season they ought to be a real force. Australian Dan Christian and New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi join the squad for their T20 campaign.
There are a number of standout names for the tournament’s top batsman. As mentioned, Hales will be available for the majority of the summer for Notts having only played twice for his county in last year’s competition. Kevin Pietersen has re-signed for Surrey for the campaign and will be very keen to finish his career in English cricket on a high. Jason Roy enjoyed a highly productive Blast in 2016 scoring 495 runs in his 12 matches and will fancy his chances at topping to leaderboard. At the top of the Middlesex order will be recent England debutant Dawid Malan and Brendon McCullum. Priced at 15/1, Malan is my pick to be the tournament’s top batsman this season. He has an excellent record in the competition and scored 368 runs in 2016.
As far as the bowlers are concerned, Gloucestershire seamer Benny Howell was last year’s leading wicket taker with 24 wickets in 15 games and is the joint favourite to lead the way in 2017. Other leading candidates in the top tournament bowler market are England bowlers Chris Jordan, Mason Crane, Tom Curran and Tymal Mills. With 21 wickets in last year’s Blast and at a longer price of 22/1, Tim Bresnan is a contender, however my pick is the previously mentioned Ish Sodhi. The Kiwi leg-spinner has a represented his country in 12 T20 internationals taking 21 wickets at an average of 14 in the process. If he can replicate this form in the domestic competition, and Notts reach the latter stages of the competition, he will be right up there come the end of the tournament. 25/1 is too good to turn down.
