Snape has plenty to offer

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Jeremy Snape is hoping his contribution on and off the pitch could secure his inclusion in England's final 15-man squad for this winter’s inaugural ICC World Twenty20.

The 34-year-old Leicestershire all-rounder played the last of his 10 one-day internationals for England five years ago and his prospects of a recall have looked bleak in recent years as the selectors tried a host of different spin options in limited overs cricket.

But his success in Twenty20 cricket as a key member of the Leicestershire Foxes, the dominant team in the domestic format over the last few years, has earned him a place in the provisional 30-man squad for this September’s inaugural event in South Africa.

Snape has another month before the squad is trimmed down to the final party for the inaugural tournament, during which time the selectors will determine the balance they want between established internationals and Twenty20 specialists for the event.

His credentials on the field as a combative batsman, fielder and specialist spin bowler, though, should perhaps be enough to secure one of those spots.

But he also offers more as one of county cricket’s most talented strategists and a trained sports psychologist who has already worked with England during last winter’s World Cup campaign.

Jeremy Snape and Paul Nixon have played major roles in the Foxes' Twenty20 Cup triumphs

He explained: “It was a great opportunity for me to go and work at the World Cup, but I do have this extra string to my bow.

“If my ability as a player meets the criteria they are looking for then hopefully I’ll make the final 15 for the tournament.

“But if they decide to go with the other players then I’ve got that strength and expertise in developing the sort of strategies that has helped us win the Twenty20 at domestic level and hopefully I can help with that with the England side.”

Such is Snape’s expertise in Twenty20 cricket, he has been suggested as a possible alternative as captain should any injury befall Paul Collingwood so he can exert the same influence on England that he has with Leicestershire.

He continued: “I’ve been very ambitious during my career and I’ve had one eye on my long-term future and that’s why I decided to do the Masters Degree in Sports Psychology, which is a great string to my bow in terms of the thinking side of the game and planning teams.

“That’s obviously been very important in Leicestershire’s success and hopefully that can be a help to England as well.

“For the time being, though, I’m just delighted with my selection as a player and my track record in Twenty20 cricket has been good and I’m delighted that has been recognised.”

Snape, like most slow bowlers, was expected to become almost extinct with the arrival of the Twenty20 Cup in 2003 with aggressive batsmen expected to hit them out of the game.

Monty Panesar hopes to play in the ICC World Twenty20

Instead, players like Snape and Surrey leg-spinner Chris Schofield have thrived and have both been included in the 20-man provisional squad to provide options alongside premier spinner Monty Panesar.

Snape said: “Spin and taking pace off the ball has been a big strategy during the Twenty20 Cup, but it’s all about unpredictability.

“I think predictable spinners have been hit, but the guys who have the ability to vary their deliveries have more success.

“I’ve often said that if you bowl what you regard as your best ball, which for an off-spinner might pitch off-stump and try and hit middle, but if you keep doing that on a length you’re going to go miles.

“But if you have the ability to see your best ball as the opposite the batsman is expecting or the opposite of the plan he has to combat you then you have a chance of success - to me it is the bowlers who have out-thought the batsman are the guys that have succeeded in Twenty20 cricket.”

It is that expertise within Snape and many other Twenty20 specialists which he believes could give England the edge over other nations just because of the greater experience they have at cricket’s newest format.

He added: “We’ve got a huge database of resource and experience and it would be a shame not to draw on that.

“I actually believe there is a successful formula for Twenty20 cricket and I will obviously be happy to discuss that with the hierarchy at the right time.”