T20 Blast: Who makes our team of the season?

We take a look at the top performers in this year's shortened and re-vamped Vitality Blast, which even took us into October – giving us our latest-ever finish to a cricket season

• As 2020 leaves English cricket behind, Nottinghamshire end it on top

DANIEL BELL-DRUMMOND

The Kent opener was ever-present during his side’s Vitality Blast campaign. The 27-year-old scored 423 runs at 42.30, with a top-score of 89 – notching three fifties.

With a strike rate of over 150 too, he was explosive at the top of the innings – the firepower that all sides dream of during the first six overs.

In the T20 player index, he ranks 189th – just behind Ryan ten Doeschate. A maiden T20 crown still eludes him. Will 2021 be his year?

LUKE WRIGHT

What is there to say about this man, other than he just sets the game alight. At the age of 35 he is still impressing game after game and we have been seeing that for over a decade now.

The third-highest run scorer in the Blast this year with 411 of them, at an average of 37.36 with two fifties.

Striking the ball at 137 runs per 100 balls isn’t a bad return either and if any of the top three had a bad day at the office, Wright would be more than capable to be the anchor for the middle and lower orders to have a go!

He just misses out on the top 200 in the T20 player index at 208th but is in good company with the likes of Peter Siddle and Essex’s Simon Harmer keeping him company.

BEN DUCKETT

Blast champion, Duckett, played such an important role on Finals Day – scoring an unbeaten 53 in the final following on from his 13 in the semi-final against Lancashire.

Duckett scored 340 runs in 11 matches at an average of 42.50 and a top score of 86*. With four fifties in the campaign he can’t have many complaints – there are even discussions now about whether or not England should include him in any future plans.

At 330th in the T20 player index, Duckett has the talent to rise up the chart and become a leading force in T20 cricket.

_{Ben Duckett sweeps during the Vitality Blast final}

WILL JACKS

Jacks has been a name on the tip of many tongues after a stellar year for Blast runners-up Surrey.

Scoring 309 runs at an average of 34.33, with a top score of 33 and a strike rate just below 150 isn’t a bad return. Don’t forget his wicket-taking ability too; he took 13 of them at 16 each, with best figures of 4-15 against Kent.

At 335th in the T20 player index rankings, he’s not far behind Duckett. He took his opportunities this year and has the potential to kick-on.

IAIN COCKBAIN

A poor semi-final aside, Cockbain was the main man for Gloucestershire this year. 399 runs in 11 innings at an average of 44.33 with three fifties and a top score of 89.

At three, he had a strike rate of 169.78 which is seriously impressive. Solid at the top of the order, he had the ability to take games away from the opponent.

Ranked 256th in the T20 player index, he’s ahead of Joe Root and Sam Billings.

ALEX DAVIES

The Lancastrian has been imperious behind the sticks this summer, topping the dismissals charts with 11.

He also averaged 31.55 with the bat which has been more than useful as Lancashire made it to yet another Finals Day.

Sitting 192nd in the T20 player index with a win percentage of 63.6% in his last 33 matches isn’t bad going at all.

_{Alex Davies had a great year for Lancashire with both bat and gloves}

RYAN HIGGINS

A top performer this year for Gloucestershire with 16 wickets. Innings best figures of 4-34 against Worcestershire showed that he has what it takes to be a real force. A strike rate of 13 is also not to be sniffed at.

With a win percentage of 66% in T20 cricket, he sits 285th in the T20 player index and has the ability to be a real match winner for the Bristol outfit.

GEORGE GARTON

The Sussex man had a steady campaign, claiming 14 scalps at 16.50 apiece. Like Higgins, he has a 4-for also – his against 4-27 came against Middlesex.

His T20 player index ranking of 900th doesn’t do his performances any justice as he is better than his stats suggest. The 23-year-old has a bright future ahead of him if 2020 is anything to go by.

TOM SMITH

Another Gloucestershire talent. Smith, who hasn’t had the easiest time of it in recent years made it to Finals Day and ended the competition with 14 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 17.35, striking almost once every three overs.

At 382nd in the T20 player index, he’s not a million miles behind Worcestershire seamer, Pat Brown. Although given the bizarre nature of this pandemic-stricken year he’ll be mightily pleased with his efforts.

DANIEL MORIARTY

This young spinner has made the most of any opportunities this year. With several Surrey players on international duty, he was given his chance and did not disappoint.

17 wickets in 13 games was a fine effort by the 21-year-old. Averaging 18.29 at a strike-rate of 15.8 bodes well for the future.

He may be only be ranked 639th in the T20 player index but this guy will do doubt rocket up the chart in years to come. He has the talent, so time will tell.

_{Moriarty had a great season for Surrey}

JAKE BALL

Can you leave the top wicket taker of the competition out of the Team of the Season? I think not.

Ball has been excellent all year and ended up with 19 wickets in his 10 matches at an average of 13.63 runs each – striking almost every 11 balls. Unbelievable.

The T20 player index ranks him at 470th with a win percentage at 61.1%. With stats like those above, you can definitely see that he’s a match winner and we would be mad to leave him out!

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