Glamorgan will begin the defence of their Metro Bank One-Day Cup men's competition title when the competition begins on Tuesday 5 August.
The 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay has identified the players to watch, and young guns to keep an eye on, as they look at each county鈥檚 hopes of lifting the 50-over trophy when the final is staged at Trent Bridge on Saturday 20 September.
Group A
Derbyshire Falcons
Previewed by Nigel Gardner - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay.听
Captain: Brooke Guest
2024 Position:听Fourth (Group A)
2024 Most Runs:听Harry Came (281)
2024 Most Wickets:听Zak Chappell (17)
Why they can win the competition: Although Wayne Madsen, Aneurin Donald and Pat Brown are playing in The Hundred, Derbyshire could go deep into the competition if players like Zak Chappell and Australian opener Caleb Jewell fire. The return from injury of all-rounder Luis Reece adds quality and experience, while Ben Aitchison brings a cutting edge to the seam attack.听
Player to watch: Martin Andersson has played some significant innings in the Rothesay County Championship since he made the switch from Middlesex and with Madsen and Donald missing, this is a chance for him to play a leading role with the bat in the white-ball game. An outstanding fielder, his seam bowling will provide captain Brooke Guest with another option.听
Young gun:听Joe Hawkins impressed on his step up to the first team in the County Championship at Northampton and the 18-year-old off-spinning all-rounder is expected to get further chances to show his potential in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. A recent call-up to the England Under-19 squad is a measure of his progress and this competition provides a platform for him to build on that.听
Final thought: The Falcons were expected to be a contender in the Vitality Blast, but after a disappointing tournament they now have another opportunity to show they are a better one-day side than those results suggest. On their day, they have the players to mount a strong challenge and the disappointment in the T20 format could be a motivating factor over the next few weeks.
Essex
Previewed by Martin Smith 鈥� 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain:听Tom Westley
2024 finish:听Seventh (Group B)
2024 most runs:听Robin Das (309)
2024 most wickets:听Jamal Richards (15)
Why they can win the competition:听With only four players seconded to The Hundred 鈥� compared with six last year 鈥� Essex will in theory have a larger pool of players to pick from. However, their plans were disrupted when Indian pace bowler Khaleel Ahmed belatedly pulled out of his all-formats contract; Essex are busily trying to sign an overseas replacement for at least part of the competition.
Player to watch: Robin Das top-scored last year, highlighted by an unbeaten century in a rare win at Trent Bridge. He has not built on that this season with only a couple of disappointing outings in both the Rothesay County Championship and Vitality Blast. If he finally rediscovers his form, it could reignite his career and lead to a memorable few weeks.
Young gun:听Though still only 20, Luc Benkenstein has been a mainstay of Essex鈥檚 Metro Bank One-Day Cup team since his 2021 debut. He made his mark the following year with 6-42 against Glamorgan, though barely bowled last season because of injury. Now a Blast regular, the leggie will boost the spin options as well as adding big-hitting cameos down the order.
Final thought:听Essex have won just seven of 24 One-Day Cup fixtures since they reached the semi-finals in 2021 鈥� and four of 16 in the past two seasons 鈥� with some heavy defeats along the way. It is going to take a massive improvement in performance from essentially the same group of players, allied to some astute tactical acumen from captain Tom Westley, to turn around their white-ball fortunes after a torrid Blast campaign.
Glamorgan
Previewed by Blake Bint - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain:听Kiran Carlson
2024 Position:听Champions
2024 Most Runs:听Colin Ingram (297)
2024 Most Wickets:听Andy Gorvin & Dan Douthwaite (19)
Why they can win the competition:听As defending champions, the Metro Bank One-Day Cup has felt like a homecoming for Glamorgan, reaping their most success in recent years, winning in 2021 also. They鈥檙e under the same Head Coach as their previous titles, David Harrison (Richard Dawson is away with Welsh Fire) and a new exciting support staff including Ian Harvey who previously supported Dawson to success in this competition with Gloucestershire.
Player to watch:听Billy Root in a crucial stage in his career could have a more senior, important role to play. The 32-year-old in his final year contracted at Glamorgan has spent most of the season in the 2nd XI, often captaining, however came into his own with 296 runs in this tournament in 2024. With Mason Crane and Ben Kellaway selected in The Hundred, Root could be turned to with ball in hand also.
Young gun:听Jersey international Asa Tribe has shown significant signs of improvement from last year where he top scored with just 26 across six matches. A first red-ball century followed by an ever-present status in the Vitality Blast middle-order, Tribe鈥檚 influence on the Glamorgan side has come from nowhere. The 21-year-old with an ODI century on his record will look to play a big role at the top of the order this time around.
Final thought: Glamorgan will be missing a key part of their team鈥檚 success in this competition of recent years 鈥� Colin Ingram. The 40-year-old South African taking up a first assistant coach role is still eligible but is expected to step back from playing for this competition. Despite the lack of a frontline spinner, Andy Gorvin and Dan Douthwaite were joint top wicket takers (with Ed Barnard) in 2024. Douthwaite will be missing early as a short-term injury replacement in The Hundred, but if they can replicate that success with the step up from younger squad members, there鈥檚 no reason why this side can鈥檛 go back-to-back.
Gloucestershire
Previewed by Richard Latham - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
颁补辫迟补颈苍:听Jack Taylor
2024 Position:听Fifth (Group B)
2024 Most Runs:听Miles Hammond (363)
2024 Most Wickets:听Ajeet Singh Dale (13)
Why they can win the competition:听Less affected than most rivals by call-ups to The Hundred (only four), Gloucestershire proved themselves a one-day force by winning last season鈥檚 Vitality Blast. Despite making a nightmare start to that competition this summer, they reeled off four successive group wins at one stage, beating the likes of Hampshire and Essex.
Player to watch:听At the age of 32, Gloucestershire鈥檚 red-ball captain Cameron Bancroft boasts more than 3,000 runs in List A cricket at an average of over 40, with five hundreds, and will provide a wealth of experience at the top of the batting order. The Australia Test player has already produced innings of 163 and 176 in the Rothesay County Championship this season.
Young gun:听Seam bowler Aman Rao signed for Gloucestershire just before the start of the Vitality Blast and played in the first two group matches against Kent and Sussex. The 21-year-old Loughborough University student is sure to be given more opportunities in the Metro Bank One Day Cup and his height combined with an ability to swing the ball could see him make a significant impact.
Final thought:听With head coach Mark Alleyne involved in The Hundred, bowling coach Mark Thorburn takes charge for the second successive year and will be determined to make a better start that last season when the team lost their first two group matches before winning four of the next five and just failing to reach the knock-out stage.
Hampshire
Previewed by Alex Smith - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain: Nick Gubbins听
2024 Position:听Quarter-finals
2024 Most Runs:听Ben Brown (286)
2024 Most Wickets:听Brad Wheal (13)
Why they can win the competition:听Hampshire have been a force in 50-over cricket for a couple of generations, having only failed to qualify for the knockouts in one of the last six editions of the One-Day Cup. With largely the same set of players to pick from as 2024, Hampshire have experience at all ages. Scotland international Brandon McMullen's arrival from August 13 knits the team together with bat and ball, while Indian sensation Tilak Varma will be around for the opening three fixtures.
Player to watch:听Eddie Jack might still only be 19, but he has certainly graduated from simply being a 鈥測oung gun鈥�. The tall and very quick fast bowler put Test players KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal in his back pocket when playing for England Lions earlier in the summer, where Andrew Flintoff became a big fan. Expect him to be in the top wicket-taking reckoning.
Young gun:听Given his first professional deal to play in the competition, Ben Mayes comes with a gigantic reputation in age-group cricket. The 17-year-old batter is on England鈥檚 long-term radar with Under 19s and Professional County Club Select XI recognition this summer. Come for the wristy hockey-influenced boundaries, stay for the big scores. Fast bowler Manny Lumsden is also worth keeping an eye on.
Final thought:听Three successive progressions from the group stages, three heartbreaks in the knock-outs 鈥� with the last two inflicted by Leicestershire. Could this be the year they take the final leap to silverware? Former captain Jimmy Adams - a winner in two List A finals and now a highly-regarded coach - will step up to lead the side, with Adi Birrell leading Southern Brave Men in The Hundred. It may well be a good audition to taking the top job full-time when it next becomes vacant.
Leicestershire Foxes
Previewed by Jon Culley - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain:听Peter Handscomb听
2024 Position:听厂别尘颈-蹿颈苍补濒蝉
2024 Most Runs:听Peter Handscomb (539)
2024 Most Wickets:听Tom Scriven (18)
Why they can win the competition: Winners in 2023 and semi-finalists last year, Leicestershire are a side brimming with confidence and no shortage of quality. Current man-of-the-moment Rehan Ahmed will be otherwise engaged, but overseas batting stars Peter Handscomb and Shan Masood and explosive opener Sol Budinger will compete for the spotlight in his absence. Why would they not fancy themselves for more 50-over glory?听
Player to watch:听After a relatively modest contribution to the Foxes鈥� Vitality Blast campaign, Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood will be keen to make his mark in this competition, playing a format in which he has enjoyed considerable success, averaging 52.48 with 15 hundreds. That could make the left-hander a dangerous opponent.
Young gun:听Josh Hull may be unavailable due to The Hundred, but Leicestershire can replace him with another 6ft 7ins fast bowler in Alex Green, who may still be growing at just 18 years old. Genuinely quick, Green took four wickets in three appearances in the competition last season and has further underlined his potential for England Under-19s against their India equivalents this summer.
Final thought:听The 2023 Metro Bank One-Day Cup Final will be forever remembered for wicketkeeper-batter Harry Swindells producing the match of his life, making a career-best 117 not out to rescue his side from 89 for six and set up an unlikely Foxes victory. It is a little poignant then, on the eve of this year鈥檚 tournament, that the Leicester-born player has had to announce his retirement from cricket at the age of just 26 because of a persistent finger injury.
Nottinghamshire
Previewed by Jon Culley - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain:听Haseeb Hameed
2024 Position:听Fourth (Group B)
2024 Most Runs:听Ben Slater (398)
2024 Most Wickets:听Rob Lord (11)
Why they can win the competition:听The Outlaws lacked consistency last year but with confidence high after a good season with the red ball they have enough quality - especially in the batting - to mount a challenge, even if call-ups to The Hundred will test the depth of their bowling resources, with the likes of Rob Lord and James Hayes hoping for the opportunity to impress.
Player to watch:听Opener Ben Slater is a batter opponents always hope to see the back of early, given an apparent penchant for List A cricket. His 68 appearances in the format have yielded more than 3,000 runs at a remarkable average of 52.75. A career-best 164 in a win over Surrey at Guildford last year took his List A centuries tally to eight.听
Young gun:听The outstanding batter in Nottinghamshire鈥檚 Second XI this season with close to 700 runs, 18-year-old right-hander Sam Seecharan is highly thought of at Trent Bridge and after making his senior debut in the last of the Outlaws鈥� Vitality Blast fixtures is likely to be given a chance to shine in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign.
Final thought:听The One-Day Cup sees Notts stalwart Paul Franks take on the role of head coach, with Peter Moores joining up with Trent Rockets for The Hundred. Franks - 20 years a Nottinghamshire player - has been assistant head coach since 2017, helping the county win the Blast (twice), the One-Day Cup and promotion to Division One in the Rothesay County Championship in that time. This is his first opportunity to lead the county to a senior title in his own right.
Surrey
Previewed by Mark Baldwin, 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain:听Rory Burns
2024 Position:听Eighth (Group B)
2024 Most Runs:听Ryan Patel (363)
2024 Most Wickets:听Cameron Steel (17)
Why they can win the competition:听It will be a tough ask given the absence of 15 leading players at The Hundred, but as in previous seasons Surrey will be approaching the Metro Bank One-Day Cup with a positive vision of the competition giving precious first-team experience to a raft of youngsters. There is still a hard core of senior players, too.
Player to watch:听Cameron Steel will be looking at this year鈥檚 competition as the perfect opportunity to showcase his proven all-round talents as a middle-order stroke-maker and leg-spinner with a knack of taking important wickets. A comparative lack of game time in Surrey鈥檚 Rothesay County Championship side this summer will only add to that desire.
Young gun:听Ollie Sykes has already been blooded in all formats, including making 11 appearances to date in the Vitality Blast. But it was in last year鈥檚 One-Day Cup, when the big-hitting 20-year-old left-hander made his first three starts in the competition, that he initially gave notice of his huge promise with 87 not out against Essex at Chelmsford.
Final thought:听With no overseas player available, Surrey will be relying on the international experience of skipper Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Ben Foakes and fast bowler Matt Fisher 鈥� plus the know-how of Steel and Ryan Patel 鈥� to steer a predominantly youthful line-up in which the performances of the likes of Sykes, Josh Blake, James Taylor and Yousef Majid will be carefully monitored.
Worcestershire Rapids
Previewed by Sam Rhymes 鈥� 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay听
Captain:听Jake Libby听
2024 Position:听蚕耻补谤迟别谤-蹿颈苍补濒
2024 Most Runs:听Jake Libby (526)
2024 Most Wickets:听Jack Home (16)
Why they can win:听Worcestershire are blessed with the availability of many first-team regulars who are not affected by selection in The Hundred, meaning the majority of Alan Richardson鈥檚 first-choice eleven will be involved for the Rapids across the tournament. Skipper Jake Libby and mid-season signing Khurram Shahzad will look to show their quality and blend with some exciting youngsters to compete for silverware.
Player to watch:听Tom Taylor. Having registered the most wickets for Worcestershire so far this season, the right-arm seamer has been in stand-out form across all formats this summer for his side. The 30-year-old has made his name as a frugal opening bowler and will be looking to continue his consistent performances that have yielded him an impressive average of under 25 across both formats.听
Young gun:听Henry Cullen. The exciting 22-year-old wicketkeeper featured during this year鈥檚 Vitality Blast having been on the radar for some time at Visit Worcestershire New Road. His eye-catching displays for the 2nd XI have forced an opening into the senior set-up, with this competition the perfect platform for the cultured and efficient young batter to show off his skills.
Final thought:听A promising end to the Vitality Blast campaign will offer supporters hope that the Rapids white-ball form can extend further into the summer, with the likes of Ethan Brookes central to any hopes of bettering last year鈥檚 encouraging quarter-final finish. Having lacked consistency throughout the summer, the exciting crop of youngsters will be looking to breakthrough and enjoy successful campaigns in a side more than capable of challenging deep into the tournament.听
Group B
Durham
Previewed by Graham Hardcastle - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain:听Alex Lees听
2024 Position:听Fifth (Group A)
2024 Most Runs:听Colin Ackermann (316)
2024 Most Wickets:听Paul Coughlin (12)
Why they can win the competition:听Durham are coming off the back of an excellent Vitality Blast campaign, which saw them finish second in the North Group. They were 50-over finalists in 2021 and will be desperate to win their first white-ball title since 2014 when they won a previous incarnation of this competition. Their squad is well balanced and hasn鈥檛 been ravaged by the Hundred.听
Player to watch:听Ollie Robinson, the 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, hasn鈥檛 played in this competition since 2022 due to Hundred commitments. That season, he won the title as a Kent player. He scored a career-best 206 not out during that particular campaign. This season, he鈥檚 available to his county and is likely to be a linchpin of their top order.听
Young gun:听Wicketkeeper-batter Haydon Mustard, 19, is set for his first first-team exposure of 2025 in this competition. An ever-present last year in the lower middle order, the former England U19 posted a top-score of 35. He even hit a six in a match against Lancashire at Sedbergh which was caught in the crowd by his dad, Phil.
Final thought:听South African overseas quick Codi Yusuf is available for this competition. He represented the county in the Rothesay County Championship during the first half of the summer before heading off to Zimbabwe in late June and early July to make his Test debut for the Proteas, taking the new ball and claiming 10 wickets in a 2-0 series victory. He returned to the Riverside on a deal until the end of the season and will add significant firepower to Durham鈥檚 bowling attack.
Kent Spitfires
Previewed by Fred Atkins - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captains: Harry Finch and Grant Stewart
2024 Position:听Seventh (Group A)
2024 Most Runs:听Jack Leaning (262)
2024 Most Wickets:听Matt Parkinson (12)
Why they can win the competition:听Only three first-teamers are playing in The Hundred and the white-ball squad looks significantly stronger than the red. Kent won this competition as recently as 2022 and six of the team that surprised a full-strength Lancashire in that final are still with the club, although whether the Warwickshire-bound Nathan Gilchrist will be selected is uncertain.
Player to watch:听Harry Finch keeps on reinventing himself. A player who openly admits he wasted the first part of his career with Sussex, he got a second chance at Kent, taught himself to keep wicket and this year has starred at both number three and as an opener in the Vitality Blast. Asked what he鈥檇 try his hand at next, he replied: 鈥渇ootball鈥�.
Young gun:听Orpington-born, batting all-rounder Ekansh Singh has broken into the Rothesay County Championship side this season and recently starred for the England Men U19s, making a century in the second Youth Test at Chelmsford. The 19-year-old also went to school in Tonbridge, a town that鈥檚 nurtured talent including Colin Blythe, Colin Cowdrey and Ed Smith.
Final thought: Politics derailed Kent鈥檚 2024 campaign - Ben Compton was sidelined, reportedly due to his contract situation, and Kent sorely missed his ability to pace an innings, as a bowler-heavy line-up threw away a chance of qualification. This time round the business has been done early, with Compton and Joey Evison, player-of-the-match in the 2022 final, both signing new deals while leg-spinning all-rounder Mohammed Rizvi has been signed after impressing with the 2nd XI.
Lancashire
Previewed by Graham Hardcastle - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain:听Marcus Harris听
2024 Position:听Ninth (Group A)
2024 Most Runs:听Josh Bohannon (274)
2024 Most Wickets:听Charlie Barnard (8)
Why they can win the competition:听As mixed as their performances have been in the Rothesay County Championship this summer, Lancashire were excellent in the Vitality Blast, finishing top of the North Group and qualifying for the quarter-finals. If they can transfer that momentum into 50-over cricket, they will have a chance. But their senior players have to be better in this competition than they were last year.
Player to watch:听Josh Bohannon is Lancashire鈥檚 linchpin batter in this format and has been their leading run-scorer in the past two campaigns, scoring a century in each of them. Former England Lions captain Bohannon is likely to bat at number three with the aim of batting through the innings and cashing in at the end.听
Young gun:听Left-arm spinner Charlie Barnard led the way for the Red Rose in last season鈥檚 competition with eight wickets and impressed hugely on their pre-season tour of India. A wily spinner, an old head on young shoulders type, the 20-year-old took four wickets in three Vitality Blast matches in late May and early June and should be front and centre over the next month.
Final thought:听Lancashire, bottom of the pile last year, have not won a major List A title in more than a quarter of a century but came close in this competition in 2022 when they were beaten by Kent in a Trent Bridge final. Australian overseas batter Marcus Harris will captain the Red Rose, with Keaton Jennings and Sir James Anderson both having been selected in The Hundred. They have also signed emerging batting all-rounder Arav Shetty until the end of the season.
Middlesex
Previewed by Ben Kosky - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain:听Ben Geddes听
2024 Position:听Sixth (Group A)
2024 Most Runs: Joe Cracknell (306)
2024 Most Wickets:听Luke Hollman (12)
Why they can win the competition:听One cause for optimism should certainly be the depth of Middlesex鈥檚 pace attack. Ireland left-armer Josh Little will bring plenty of international white-ball experience to the table, supported by a clutch of exciting young talents such as Noah Cornwell, Naavya Sharma, Sebastian Morgan and Jamie Feldman 鈥� all under 21 and hungry to impress.
Player to watch:听Ben Geddes. The 24-year-old has performed well in both four-day and T20 formats since his winter move across the Thames from Surrey, can bat anywhere from one to seven and has earned his captaincy opportunity. With many top-order regulars involved in The Hundred, the 50-over tournament should provide further opportunities for Geddes to shine.
Young gun:听Naavya Sharma. The pacy 19-year-old was leading wicket-taker for England Under-19s in their Test series against Sri Lanka last summer and Middlesex were unafraid to pitch him in at the deep end for their County Championship campaign this year. Sharma bowled consistently, repaying the club鈥檚 faith by claiming six wickets in their innings victory over previously undefeated Leicestershire.
Final thought:听Middlesex are notoriously slow out of the blocks in this tournament, having failed to win their opening fixture since 2019 鈥� a year that also brought the county鈥檚 most recent appearance in the knockout stages. Despite losing spinner Zafar Gohar to injury, Middlesex鈥檚 bowling options look strong. The question may be whether they can put match-winning totals on the board 鈥� the likes of Sam Robson, Ben Geddes and Joe Cracknell may need to go big more often than not.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Previewed by Jeremy Blackmore - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain:听Lewis McManus
2024 Position:听Eighth (Group A)
2024 Most Runs:听Prithvi Shaw (343)
2024 Most Wickets:听Justin Broad (13)
Why they can win the competition:听Despite losing more players to The Hundred than ever before, Northamptonshire boast a strong squad who mounted an impressive challenge in the Vitality Blast. They are boosted by Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who has been in devastating form in the Rothesay County Championship and Tim Robinson, fresh from New Zealand鈥檚 recent white-ball tour of Zimbabwe.
Player to watch:听Last season鈥檚 leading wicket-taker, allrounder Justin Broad is firing with bat and ball, with back-to-back scores of 150 plus in the Championship during July.听
Young gun: After impressing in the 2nd XI and Academy, 17-year-old spinner Nirvan Ramesh recently signed a two-month rookie contract and was named in the squad for the recent Championship game against Derbyshire to give him more experience. Highly rated by the coaching staff he looks set to feature during the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Final thought:听Northamptonshire need to channel the white-ball form that saw them open their T20 campaign with six straight wins. Even without key bowlers in Ben Sanderson and George Scrimshaw, Northamptonshire can call on a battery of seamers led by Broad and the experienced Luke Procter. The Steelbacks will also hope Kiwi international Robinson can help plug the run-scoring gap left by the prolific Saif Zaib on Hundred duty.
Somerset
Previewed by Richard Latham - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain: James Rew
2024 Position:听贵颈苍补濒颈蝉迟蝉
2024 Most Runs:听Andy Umeed (492)
2024 Most Wickets:听Jack Leach (15)
Why they can win the competition: The loss of eight players to The Hundred is less than last season when Somerset still finished runners-up in the One Day Cup, winning six of their eight group games and a semi-final against Leicestershire before losing a rain-affected final against Glamorgan. That was the third trophy to narrowly elude the team last summer and the bitter memory will strengthen resolve to go one better.
Player to watch: Alfie Ogborne was a regular in Somerset鈥檚 One Day Cup team last season, claiming ten wickets, including two in the final against Glamorgan. The 22-year-old left-arm seamer from Yeovil supported the club as a boy and will be desperate to make an impressing after beiong named in the squad for recent County Championship games without making the final eleven.
Young gun: At the tender age of 17, Thomas Rew already boasts the fastest century for England Under-19s, made against India this summer, and looks set to follow elder brother James into the Somerset team on a regular basis, having made his debut in this season鈥檚 Vitality Blast. Long rated the club鈥檚 brightest prospect, the One Day Cup looks sure to showcase his special talent.
Final thought: Even without the players on duty in The Hundred, Somerset have enough experience blended with exciting young talent to deservedly rank among the favourites for the One-Day Cup. Support for 50-over cricket remains strong at the Cooper Associates County Ground and the team are guaranteed fervent backing while looking to capitalise to the bat-friendly pitches at their home venue.
Sussex Sharks
Previewed by Bruce Talbot - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain:听John Simpson听
2024 Position:听Ninth (Group B)
2024 Most Runs:听Tom Haines (326)
2024 Most Wickets:听Henry Crocombe (10)
Why they can win the competition:听Sussex regard the Metro Bank One-Day Cup primarily as a development competition and the focus will again be on giving youngsters opportunities. Many will be better for the experience they had in 2024, even though they only won one game, and if they can make a good start they could make the knockout stages, as they did in 2022 with a similarly inexperienced team.听
Player to watch:听Henry Crocombe was one of the stars of Sussex鈥檚 Vitality Blast campaign with 15 wickets in his nine games and he was their leading wicket-taker in the One-Day Cup last season. With his strong action, the 23-year-old is capable of bowling with serious heat and will relish his likely role as leader of the seam attack.听
Young gun:听George Thomas has had few opportunities since his winter move from Somerset, but the opening batter offered glimpses of his potential when he broke into the Vitality Blast team. He made his maiden hundred in this competition last year for his former county and a run of games will offer the 21-year-old an opportunity he should relish.听
Final thought:听Batting coach Grant Flower will be in charge for this competition, and it will be interesting to see his approach. Sussex only won one game last year, but they lost twice by one wicket and were competitive in most. John Simpson, who missed three games last year, will be captain for the tournament which is a welcome development. So is the return to Arundel which stages its first one-day game since 2013 against Kent as part of a four-day festival of cricket.听
Warwickshire
Previewed by Brian Halford - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain:听Ed Barnard听
2024 Position:听Semi-finals
2024 Most Runs:听Ed Barnard (433)
2024 Most Wickets:听Ed Barnard (19)
Why they can win the competition:听Semi-finalists last season, Warwickshire have some talented young players who drive the team in this competition. A year on from the under-performance in the last four against Glamorgan at Cardiff, those emerging players are more experienced and better-equipped to handle the bigger, make-or-break games.
Player to watch:听Kai Smith. The wicketkeeper batter is pushing hard to become a regular in all formats. Solid behind the stumps, he bats with a freedom and power which can transform games. His unbeaten 130 from 104 balls against Worcestershire at Edgbaston in this competition last season was a scintillating exhibition of how to turn pressure back on the opposition.听
Young gun:听Hamza Shaikh. Although only just turned 19, top-order batter Shaikh has some first-team cricket under his belt now in both first-class and 50-over formats. His 84 and 112 as captain of England Men U19s against India at Beckenham last month suggests he is ready to take the next step and deliver match-shaping innings for his county.听
Final thought:听Ian Westwood鈥檚 first season as head coach at Edgbaston has contained some promising signs - Warwickshire have delivered some eye-catching Rothesay County Championship wins and qualification for the Vitality Blast quarter-finals. To lift the Metro Bank One-Day Cup would assure supporters that their side is settling again after the long period of transition since winning the 2021 County Championship 鈥� and also underline Ed Barnard鈥檚 credentials to be the next club captain.听
Yorkshire
Previewed by Graham Hardcastle - 黑料专区 Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain:听Dom Bess听
2024 Position:听Sixth (Group B)
2024 Most Runs:听Will Luxton (247)
2024 Most Wickets:听George Hill (17)
Why they can win the competition:听Added to Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid and Joe Root, Yorkshire have - as things stand - only got two other players away at the Hundred. They are Jafer Chohan and Jordan Thompson. They are determined to put right a failed Vitality Blast campaign which saw them win only five games and finish second bottom in the North Group.听
Player to watch:听All-rounder George Hill, aged 24, is having a great summer, especially with his seamers. He has topped the 40-wicket mark in the Rothesay County Championship and has gained England Lions recognition. In the last few years in 50-over cricket, Hill has posted a score of 130 in the middle order and has returned a haul of 6-30 with the ball.
Young gun: Commentator David Lloyd lives close to top-order batter Will Bennison鈥檚 club, Sheriff Hutton Bridge, and has watched lots of the 18-year-old. Bumble even announced Bennison鈥檚 maiden rookie professional contract on Yorkshire鈥檚 social media accounts last month, saying: 鈥淗e鈥檚 the real deal鈥�. Bennison loves to score runs in big chases. Expect to see him later in the competition, as Yorkshire start off with experience.听
Final thought:听With Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan - Yorkshire鈥檚 Championship and T20 captains - away at The Hundred, spin-bowling all-rounder Dom Bess will lead Yorkshire鈥檚 pursuit of a first limited overs trophy since 2002. They beat Somerset in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy final that year when current head coach Anthony McGrath was in the team. The White Rose will have Pakistani top-order batter Imam-Ul-Haq available to them for the duration of the competition, and look well placed to have a crack at the title.
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