T20 Blast Finals Day combined XI: Who joins Rilee Rossouw and Richard Gleeson?

SAM MOAKES creates a side from Hampshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Somerset's top performers

James Vince (Hampshire)

14 matches, 653 runs at 54.41, SR 146.08

James Vince hasn’t just been classy in the Blast this year, he’s been destructive. The Hampshire captain is currently the tournament’s top scorer with 653 runs at an average of 54.41, and is one of just two players in competition to have scored more than one hundred this year. Vince’s top score, an unbeaten 129, came against Hampshire’s opponents on Saturday, with the former England international scoring at a strike rate of over 200 against Somerset in June.

Adam Lyth (Yorkshire)

15 matches, 518 runs at 37, SR 177.39

As international fixtures have depleted Yorkshire’s batting depth, Adam Lyth has remained a constant run-getter at the top of the order. The 34-year-old, who has recently committed his long-term future to Yorkshire, may have only faced 292 balls this tournament, but he’s accumulated 518 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 177.39. He hasn’t reached three figures this year, but Lyth’s five half-centuries have kept Yorkshire afloat during multiple team changes this year.

Ben McDermott (wk) (Hampshire)

15 matches, 401 runs at 26.73, SR 140.70, 15 catches & 3 stumpings

It’s been a case of go big or go home for the Australian wicketkeeper-batter this year, but he’s been the pick of the keepers heading into Finals Day. McDermott has six single-figure scores in his last ten T20 matches, but contributions of 83, 50, 30 and 61 have won some important clashes for Hampshire; the latter was the top-score of the quarter-final victory against Birmingham Bears. The Aussie also has the second highest number of wicketkeeping dismissals in the tournament, with 18 in 15 matches.

^{Adam Lyth [Stu Forster/Getty Images]}

Rilee Rossouw (Somerset)

15 matches, 600 runs at 50, SR 197.36

Vince may have scored more runs in the 2022 Blast, but Rilee Rossouw is probably the player of the tournament so far. The South African’s 93 runs from just 36 deliveries set up Somerset’s record-breaking total against Derbyshire in the quarter-final, showing some resilience after a trio of low scores. With Tom Banton not firing at his best this campaign, Rossouw has been even more integral to Somerset’s journey to Finals Day this year, scoring 600 runs at a strike rate of 197.36. The 32-year-old has scored just under a boundary ever three balls he has faced, including a tournament-high 40 sixes.

Harry Brook (Yorkshire)

12 matches, 434 runs at 43.40, SR 165.64

A breakout star in all formats this year, Harry Brook has been integral to Yorkshire in the Blast with the likes of Dawid Malan, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow on international duty. The youngster has scored 434 runs at an average of almost 43.40, and while his top score is 77, he has consistently contributed 30-plus scores to get keep his side in and around the knockout places. Only two players have scored more runs at a higher strike rate than Brook (165.64) in the Blast this year.

Tim David (Lancashire)

15 matches, 387 runs at 32.25, SR 180

The Lancashire trio of Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone and Tim David may have looked eye-watering before the tournament, but David has been the only one to regularly feature for Lightning. The middle-order batter has more than impressed, notching up 387 runs from just 215 balls this tournament – he’s faced at least 25 fewer balls than anyone else in the top-20 run scorers. His top score of 66 from just 32 balls against Yorkshire proved crucial in winning the Roses clash and personifies the importance of David to Lancashire this year.

^{Tim David [Shaun Botterill/Getty Images]}

James Fuller (Hampshire)

15 matches, 273 runs at 34.12, SR 150.82, 20 wickets at 19.6, economy 7.84

One of three Hampshire bowlers to make this XI, James Fuller occupies the allrounder spot at No.7. Not only has he taken 20 wickets at an average of 19.60 in the tournament, but he’s done so at a phenomenal economy of 7.84 to limit Hampshire’s opponents to low totals. He picked the perfect time to take his tournament-best figures, finishing the quarter-final against Birmingham with 4 for 17 after decimating the Bears’ middle order. Fuller is also his side’s fourth-highest run-scorer, notching up 273 runs at 34.12.

Liam Dawson (Hampshire)

15 matches, 17 wickets at 21.58, economy 7.34

With the tournament’s top-wicket-taking spinners, Simon Harmer and Jake Lintott, out of the competition, Liam Dawson is the primary spin-bowling option in this side. The Hampshire allrounder has 17 dismissals at an average of 21.58 this year, but his economy of just 7.34 is the most impressive part of his game. No bowler left in the competition to have taken more than 14 wickets has a better economy than Dawson.

Brad Wheal (Hampshire)

11 matches, 21 wickets at 15.42, economy 8.60

Yes, another Hampshire inclusion, but Brad Wheal deserves it. The Scot has taken at least one wicket in all 11 Blast matches he’s played in this year, including combined figures of 6 for 76 in his last three matches as Hampshire made sure of their place in the knockouts. He took career best T20 figures of 5 for 38 against Glamorgan in June, and has been a mainstay with the new ball for the Hawks.

^{Brad Wheal [David Rogers/Getty Images]}

Peter Siddle (Somerset)

10 matches, 17 wickets at 15.76, economy 8.08

His Somerset teammate Ben Green may have taken more wickets in the Blast, but Peter Siddle was less expensive and took his wickets at a far superior average so gets in our XI. Siddle’s 17 wickets at an average of 15.76 are even more impressive when you consider Taunton’s small boundaries, while his economy of 8.08 shows his nous. Siddle has taken at least one wicket in his last nine Blast matches, including 3 for 10 in the semi-final against Derbyshire.  

Richard Gleeson (Lancashire)

14 matches, 23 wickets at 16.34, economy 7.83

Fresh from his debut in England’s T20I side, where he claimed the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant in his first appearance, Richard Gleeson returns for contention for Lancashire as the highest wicket-taker left in the competition. The 34-year-old has taken his 23 wickets at 16.34 this year, while Tom Hartley is the next highest for Lancashire with 17. His economy of 7.83 is also mightily impressive, and he will likely play an important part if Lightning are to have a successful Finals Day.

Related Topics

• T20 Blast Finals Day: All you need to know