TWO stars of Australia’s popular Big Bash event take centre stage closer to home next week when the Floodlit T20 Cup returns to the home of Kenilworth Wardens.
Dan Worrall and Alex Keath have both featured for Melbourne Stars in recent seasons, alongside high-profile teammates including Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen and David Hussey.
And the two Aussies are set to cross paths once again at Glasshouse Park next Monday (August 10) when their respective English clubs Knowle & Dorridge and Berkswell cross swords on the competition’s opening evening.
All-rounder Keath goes into the contest with a psychological edge, after thrashing a Birmingham Premier League record 246 from Berkswell’s attack last month.
However, Worrall’s club currently sit second in the League and enter the fourth Carrick Travel Cup having recently reached the prestigious Birmingham League T20 Knock Out finals day.
Looking ahead to the Floodlit Week, Worrall said: “We are playing some decent cricket at the moment, especially in the 20/20 format, so we are quietly confident and very much looking forward to the tournament.”
Hosts Kenilworth Wardens have claimed the trophy for the last two years and captain Martin Donald is hopeful his team can build on their recent good run of league form, and mark their long-standing professional Sitanshu Kotak’s retirement by completing a hat-trick.
He said: “We’ll give it a good go. We hope to get a bit of luck and go from there.
“We have won it twice now, and it would be great to come out as victors for a third time. Kotak is in great form, and it would be lovely to see him off with a trophy.”
Leamington lifted the cup three years ago and are currently riding high in the Birmingham League Division One. Skipper David Bailey are full of confidence heading into the tournament.
He added: “We have recruited very well this year, and are especially strong in the T20 format.
“Zack Fagg has been batting at the top of the order for us, where he gives it a real whack, while Jamie Marsh has just joined us and started with three five wicket hauls and a hundred.”
Round-robin matches take place on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5.30-7.50pm and the final is scheduled for 7pm on Friday.
Entry is £5 per car or £2 on foot, with bar and catering available. Live score updates and daily post-match interviews can be found via the twitter feed @kwardens.
