Shaun Marsh says he can see similarities between the squads of the Yorkshire Vikings and his own Perth Scorchers, three-time winners of Australia’s Big Bash.
Marsh is Yorkshire’s specialist overseas player for this summer’s NatWest T20 Blast, and is aiming to help them clinch a maiden title.
The left-handed batsman made the ideal start to his stay in Leeds last Friday with an unbeaten 60 in the record-breaking home win over Notts Outlaws.
He contributed to a first-innings 227/5, Yorkshire’s highest-ever score in the history of the Blast: “It was a fantastic experience and the crowd really got behind us,” he said.
READ: @GaleyLad has called on his side to silence the majority of the 19,500 crowd @ Old Trafford
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Marsh then scored only two in a defeat to Derbyshire at Chesterfield the following day before Tuesday’s clash with champions Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road was washed out.
It means they go into Friday’s Roses clash with Lancashire Lightning with three points from their opening three North Group matches. Yorkshire have lost the last two Roses clashes at Emirates Old Trafford.
Their last win came in 2014 when Aaron Finch peppered The Point with two huge sixes and current assistant coach Rich Pyrah hit the winning runs. The latest will be watched by a 19,500 sell-out crowd, the biggest ever Blast attendance outside of London, so a win would definitely spoil a Red Rose party.
“I haven’t seen too much of Yorkshire v Lancashire matches, but speaking to the boys about it, that’s the one you want to be playing in,” he said.
“We’re two really good teams. Hopefully we can put on a good show for the crowd and we can come out on the right side of the result. We’ve got some dangerous players, and we’re confident. It should be an interesting night.”
Back home in Australia, the Scorchers are definitely the market leaders in domestic T20 cricket, with Marsh having top-scored in two of their three final successes.
Given Yorkshire are still awaiting their first title, it would be unrealistic to suggest the Vikings compare favourably to the WACA side. But Marsh insists there are similarities, no doubt helped by the fact that Tim Bresnan and David Willey have played for both teams in recent years.
“With my team back home, the Scorchers, it’s a really experienced one,” said the left-hander, who has been described as a quiet and calm character within the Yorkshire dressing room.
“And I can see a lot of similarities within this Yorkshire team as well. There are some really experienced players in there. They are a great bunch of guys who’ve made me feel welcome from day one. It’s about going out there knowing your roles, having fun and being brave.”
Young seamer Matthew Fisher added: “Shaun’s a very quiet customer. When you chat to him, he’s so calm and collected. Him and Tom Kohler-Cadmore are very similar.
“You can see it on the field. Not a lot of shouting and energy, but they know what they’re doing. And Pete Handscomb brings that too. I didn’t know what Shaun was going to be like. He’s quiet, yes, but you can have a really good conversation with him. He’s perfect for us to have.
“Some overseas can come and try to be the biggest players, but him and Pete don’t take the limelight. They’re brilliant and just part of the team.”
Lancashire have won one and lost one so far. They lost their most recent match against Leicestershire Foxes at Liverpool on Sunday as they failed to defend 174. England T20 stars Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone continue to be available.
It is hoped Pakistan’s Champions Trophy winning seamer Junaid Khan will debut having missed their first two matches due to visa problems.