Newell hails Northants' Sehwag move

Virender Sehwag, who plays for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, could light up the Friends Provident t20 says Mick Newell

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Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell believes that Northamptonshire’s move for Virender Sehwag in the Friends Provident t20 will further enhance the quality of the competition.

The Steelbacks have announced the signing subject to approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Sehwag is set to be in action at Trent Bridge on June 22 and Newell thinks that the performance of the aggressive opener will have a big bearing on the direction of the match.

“It’s a great signing for Northants but it’s also a great signing for the competition,” said Newell.

“County players want to play with and against the best players available for this competition and the ECB’s rationale behind allowing two overseas players per team was to provide an opportunity for club’s to sign big names.

“In Twenty20 cricket, brilliance from one player can win a match which is why it’s so important to have world-class performers in your side.”

Nottinghamshire will be served by Dirk Nannes, Sehwag’s Delhi Daredevils team-mate, and David Hussey although Ali Brown and Matthew Wood are likely to open the batting with Hussey coming in at three or four.

“Sehwag has a similar style to David Hussey in that he likes to play with aggression and clear the rope but if he opens the batting then he can have a big influence from the start,” added Newell.

“We’ve still got some thinking to do about how we structure our batting line-up in the competition but if the match is billed as Sehwag versus Hussey then it will be an intriguing battle.”

Kolkata Knight Riders secured Hussey’s services in the inaugural Indian Premier League for $625,000 while Sehwag commanded $833,750 as Delhi Daredevils' so-called ‘icon player’.