Birmingham are certainly needy. Olly Stone and Henry Brookes are long-term absentees among their pace bowlers, Oliver Hannon-Dalby has had another setback, and Carlos Brathwaite, an integral part of their side in the group stages, has flown off to the Caribbean Premier League. And if Ryan Sidebottom ever hankered after adding to his solitary T20 outing, made last month, he is injured too.
To encapsulate the Bears' constant run of misfortune, Dan Mousley, their promising spin-bowling batter, returned from a broken finger and duly smashed another one in fielding practice.
We've basically sacrificed Stevens' ability with the bat and ball for Cox's fielding and potential big hitting at the backend. Means Denly and Leaning will have to share some overs.
Comments
DBD
Crawley
Denly
Billings
Leaning
Blake
Cox
Milne
Milnes
Qais Ahmad
Klaassen
Birmingham won the toss and put us in
Disappointed no Stevens
In the back row in front of the retirement flats. Lousy view, and I'm tall. Might have to stand!
DBD 26*. Billings 1*
Crawley 4, Denly 11
DBD out for 53
Billings 22*
We will see now
But we shall see ……
Hang on to yer hollyocks