Warwickshire will look to extend their three-match unbeaten run when Northamptonshire visit Edgbaston on Wednesday.
Having been defeated in their opening One-Day Cup match by Derbyshire, they have since recorded impressive away victories over Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire with a washout against Lancashire sandwiched in between.
The Bears are still only fourth in the North Group however, but a victory here will move them into them into the play-off spots as they continue their quest to regain the trophy they won back in 2016.
Northamptonshire sit one point and two places behind their opponents, though if they are to move above them they will need to improve on their last visit to Birmingham in which they were defeated by six wickets in the Championship.
While the Steelbacks have won twice in this competition they would have been disappointed with their efforts last time out against Durham. Well placed at 167-3 chasing 257 to win, their middle-order collapsed and, despite some big hitting from Rory Kleinveldt, they fell five runs short. Another defeat here and their hopes of reaching the knockout stages will be hanging by a thread.
Key Men
Finding a way into England’s top order in the one-day game at the moment is virtually impossible, but if a spot were to become available then surely Sam Hain would have to be considered. In just three innings he has scored 282 runs in this year’s competition including two centuries. His success is no one off though, he averaged over 60 in one-day cricket across 2016 and 2017 and with the Sky Sports cameras at Edgbaston on Wednesday another opportunity to impress is available here.
Two years ago Ben Duckett was the talk of English cricket, and his fabulous form earnt him a place on England’s winter tours to Bangladesh and India. It didn’t quite work out for the batsman but there was a belief amongst many that he would return to the national setup again one day. Though his form in 2018 has deserted him, with just 106 runs to his name across both red and white ball cricket. His teammates will be desperately hoping he can rediscover the batting prowess that saw him average 63 in this competition back in 2016, starting in this match.
Team News
Chris Woakes is back with England after making his first appearance of the season for Warwickshire on Sunday. Keith Barker will likely return in his place, but the Bears may opt for a change of approach as the seamer has struggled for consistency in this tournament so far. A squad of 15 gives Jim Troughton plenty of options to choose from.
Warwickshire Squad: Jeetan Patel (c), Tim Ambrose (wk), Keith Barker, Ian Bell, Henry Brookes, Sam Hain, Adam Hose, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Ed Pollock, Josh Poysden, Will Rhodes, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Aaron Thomason, Jonathan Trott.
Northamptonshire Squad: TBA
Weather and Conditions:
Unfortunately the poor weather looks set to return on Wednesday with every possibility that this match will be abandoned. The forecast is better as the day goes on though, so hopefully some cricket will be played, even if the overs are reduced.
Over 750 runs were scored in the last match played at Edgbaston on what was an excellent wicket, however the torrential rain that flooded parts of Birmingham on Sunday will surely have an effect on the pitch that will be prepared here.
Date: 30th May 2018
Time: 2pm
Ground: Edgbaston
Odds (SkyBet): Warwickshire 8/13, Northamptonshire 5/4
