Wisden’s T20 Blast team of the tournament so far
With the County Championship resuming on Sunday, now feels like the right time to reflect on the T20 Blast season so far.
Here’s a team featuring some of the finest performers in this season’s tournament.
Stevie Eskinazi – Middlesex
10 matches, 390 runs @ 48.75, SR: 141.30
The Middlesex opener finished second in the Blast run-scoring charts in 2020 and has been in excellent touch this year, too. In four consecutive matches from June 24 to July 1, Eskinazi reeled off scores of 102*, 64, 91* and 59.
Alex Hales – Nottinghamshire
11 matches, 382 runs @ 47.75, SR: 172.07
While his England exile continues, Hales remains a titan of the domestic game. An unbeaten 101 off just 66 deliveries against Lancashire last week was the fifth T20 hundred of his career.
Will Jacks – Surrey
11 matches, 369 runs @ 170.04 | 4 wickets @ 29.50, ER: 6.21
An explosive presence at the top of the Surrey order, Jacks has impressively built upon a fine season in 2020 when he was named the Blast MVP. His off-breaks are more than handy as well.
Jonny Bairstow (wk) – Yorkshire
4 matches, 295 runs @ 73.75, SR: 175.59
Despite playing in just four matches before departing for England duty, Bairstow still merits a place in this side. After half-centuries in back-to-back innings, Bairstow went to three figures against Worcestershire off just 48 balls while struggling with an ankle injury he sustained mid-innings.
Glenn Phillips – Gloucestershire
9 matches, 421 runs @ 70.16, SR: 165.09
The New Zealand batsman looks to be enjoying his first taste of county cricket – the second-highest run-scorer, Phillips has hit more sixes (29) than anyone else in the tournament.
Harry Brook – Yorkshire
10 matches, 463 runs @ 115.75, SR: 156.41
The only man with more runs than Phillips is Brook, who has excelled in Yorkshire’s middle order. On Friday the 22-year-old delivered the highest T20 score of his career so far, smashing 91* off just 50 deliveries in a Roses clash.
Jordan Thompson – Yorkshire
9 matches, 171 runs @ 34.20, SR: 194.31 | 11 wickets @ 23.90, ER: 10.52
The 24-year-old all-rounder has been among the wickets and played two sparkling innings this year: a 28-ball 66* against Worcestershire – part of a 141-run stand with Brook – was followed a few days later by a 35-ball 74 batting at No.3 against Northamptonshire.
Carlos Brathwaite – Birmingham
9 matches, 18 wickets @ 13.33, ER: 7.53
The West Indies all-rounder has been a potent force with the ball for Birmingham, averaging two wickets a game. Against Yorkshire earlier this week, he ripped through the top order to claim figures of 3-7 as the White Rose were bowled out for just 81.
Callum Parkinson – Leicestershire
12 matches, 16 wickets @ 22, ER: 7.33
After taking 10 wickets at 21 last year to help Leicestershire to the quarter-finals, Parkinson has gone to another level this in 2021: the left-armer has more wickets than any other spinner in the competition.
Jake Ball
9 matches, 18 wickets @ 15.44, ER: 9.37
After finishing as the leading wicket-taker in last year’s Blast, Ball is averaging a wicket every 9.8 deliveries this year and has helped Notts to the top of the North Group.
Naveen-ul-Haq – Leicestershire
12 matches, 21 wickets @ 18.66, ER: 8.77
The Afghan quick finds himself at the top of the wicket-taking charts – an impressive feat for a 21-year-old in his first season of county cricket.