David Hussey is ready to do his part with bat and ball to ensure Notts beat Durham in their final group game and confirm a home tie for the quarter-finals of the Twenty20 Cup.
Twenty20 Cup North Group
July 6: Durham Dynamos v Notts Outlaws
Start time: 5.30pm
Live ball-by-ball coverage is available online from BBC Radio Nottingham. Click here.
The Aussie admits he has yet to truly hit his stride in the competition despite several cameo knocks, but is confident he can produce the goods at the Riverside tomorrow.
He said: “I think I’ve been hitting the ball quite nicely but without posting a big score, which has pretty much been true of Mark Ealham and Chris Read as well.
“We haven’t really got going but I’m determined to help the team pick up another home quarter-final.
“It’s testament to the way our top order have been playing that we’ve still been putting the scores on the board.
“Stephen Fleming, Graeme Swann and Samit Patel have been on fire, and it’s about time I contributed as well.”
Hussey’s off-breaks have also been getting some action in the games, with the occasional slow bowler picking up three wickets.
And with Graeme Swann out after picking up a thigh strain at Headingley, the 29-year-old may be needed to turn his arm over again - something he’s very happy to do.
He added: “I enjoy bowling as it keeps you involved in the game. I try and practice as much as possible and look at it as another string to my bow.
“In Twenty20 I’m there as an extra option for Flem, to fill in if someone gets a bit of tap. It’s paid off with a few wickets for me but unfortunately at Headingley I went for a few too many runs in-between.”
Squad news:
Director of Cricket Mick Newell admitted he was down to the bare bones after another player went down to injury. Swann’s thigh strain rules him out of the trip north, although it’s hoped that he will be fit to play in the Championship match against Essex starting on Sunday.
Will Jefferson was drafted into the XI for the Yorkshire game as a replacement for Swann and although the opener suffered no ill-effects to his hamstring strain, he will not be risked as he continues his recovery.
AJ Harris is to see a knee specialist about the problem first suffered in the Twenty20 Cup match with Lancashire, while Charlie Shreck is still on crutches following his badly bruised shin.
Team:
Fleming (capt), Shafayat, Patel, Wagh, Hussey, Read (wkt), Ealham, Franks, Clough, Ferley, Francis.