Being a pace bowler in Twenty20 cricket can be one of the hardest jobs in the game. One moment you can be a hero and the next ball a villain.
To be a successful in the shortest format of the game bowlers have to use all their skill to out think opposing batsmen. Bowlers try everything from pure pace to well disguised speed and line variations to get batsmen out.
The McDonald’s Super Smash this season will feature an exciting range of highly skilled pace bowlers hoping to produce moments of heroism for their teams.
Auckland Aces
Pace bowling was a key part of Auckland’s championship winning run last season and they will be hoping the addition of English import Tymal Mills will further enhance their title hopes this year. Mills’ potential combination with Auckland’s Mitchell McClenaghan and Lockie Ferguson is one to savour for radar gun attendants and fans alike. The Aces could have pace as a trump card this season.
Knights
In Scott Kuggeleijn the side in pink have one of the chief wicket takers recently in domestic cricket. The Northern player produced some of the quickest spells in last season’s competition and can really challenge batsmen. The Knights will be eager for him to once again lead their charge.
Central Stags
The Stags have one of the most skilful white ball bowling groups in the competition and their record of consecutive Ford Trophy wins is evidence of that. However the side will be eager to prove they can extend that record to the Twenty20 game. In an attack led by Seth Rance they have a collection of bowlers who can challenge batsmen and force them into tricky shots. A situation which can often lead to wickets in Twenty20 cricket.
Wellington Firebirds
The Wellington Firebirds enter the McDonald’s Super Smash with a new look fast bowling combination. In Hamish Bennett and English import Jade Dernbach they have two spearheads capable of exciting pace that can hurry batsmen up. The Basin Reserve based side will be hoping the two can help right their Twenty20 form after going from champions to the bottom of the table in the previous two seasons.
Canterbury Kings
A young brigade of bowlers and a wily experienced campaigner will lead the Kings in this season’s McDonald’s Super Smash. The combination of Edward Nuttall, Kyle Jamieson, Logan van Beek and Ryan McCone have already been causing batsmen issues this season. In Edward Nuttall the side have one of the form white ball bowlers from last summer. While in Kyle Jamieson they have the tallest bowler in domestic cricket who has been using his extra bounce with great success this season. Former Australian International Ben Hillfenhaus adds a wealth of Twenty20 experience to the Canterbury attack.
Otago Volts
Beaten in last season’s final the Otago Volts have an exciting group of bowlers looking to help them go one better this season. With pace options including Neil Wagner, Warren Barnes, Jacob Duffy and Christi Viljoen the Volts have a lively attack that will ask plenty of questions of opposing batsmen this season. Barnes in particular impressed last season with his extra pace. The former Aucklander causing a number of opposition batsmen trouble with his speed.
