By Matt Somerford
Lancashire’s Steven Croft is closing in on a record number of consecutive matches in domestic Twenty20 cricket – and is determined to remain in the thick of the action.
The 29-year-old has played in Lancashire Lightning’s past 92 games in the sprint format, leaving him just three short of the all-time record in English cricket set by Paul Nixon.
During his run Croft has hardly had a spare moment away from the spotlight, with his role as a batting all-rounder demanding he is on high alert all game long.
The Blackpool-born player has batted in most positions in the top six, while his handy off-breaks have been utilised at the top of the innings in this NatWest T20 Blast campaign.
It is a role Croft admits he relishes and, with Lancashire having won their past four games heading into tonight’s Roses clash with Yorkshire Vikings , life in the shortest format has never been so good.
“I just love being involved whether it is with the bat, the ball or in the field. I want that pressure,” he told ecb.co.uk.
“I like to be involved in everything. I’ve been three, four and five. I’m quite flexible with the batting whether it is trying to hit boundaries in the middle or go up front and get early runs.
“I like to try and lead in the field and with the ball – I’ve opened the bowling on most occasions and then fitted my other overs in at the middle.
“I want to be in the best fielding positions and I want the tough overs.”
Croft’s form so far this term has been mixed, although his unbeaten 76 against Derbyshire Falcons helped provoke the Lightning’s impressive Blast form.
He has chipped in with important wickets too – he removed Worcestershire Rapids key man Moeen Ali in the Lightning’s first-up win.
While team-mates Junaid Khan, Karl Brown and Tom Smith have stolen the headlines with their performances for the Lightning so far, Croft has been happy to fulfil his varied roles – something that has become crucial in the successful T20 teams in the recent past.
“Personally it has gone all right chipping in with bat and ball,” he said.
“I’m pleased with the way the team is going and any way I can help the team win games for Lancashire is a bonus. Everyone in the side is enjoying it.
“We all have plenty of energy. We can’t wait for tomorrow.”
The Blast has proved a welcome distraction for Lancashire this season following a difficult start to life back in the LV= County Championship top flight .
Lancashire sit inside the relegation places after seven games and seemingly have work to do if they are to find a way to safety.
Croft believes their good form in the Blast can, however, help inspire a change of fortunes in the longer formats.
.@LancsCCC v @Yorkshireccc T20. Who remembers this?? Steven Croft's Stunning Catch in 2009 https://t.co/tUMsze4T3dpic.twitter.com/MQANqTtUtT
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) June 5, 2014
He believes the change of scheduling this season – with Blast games now mostly being played on Friday nights before championship games – has been beneficial for batsmen around the country because they have been able to hit their way in to form.
Whereas in the past out-of-form batsmen might have become bogged down with refining their technique, Croft thinks players are enjoying the chance to play with freedom.
Certainly the likes of T20 expert Alex Hales, who hit an overdue championship century this week , appear to have profited - while Michael Klinger hit a fast-paced ton to steal victory for Gloucestershire at Leicestershire yesterday.
“Most county cricketers will say they’re a bit surprised, and me myself, that the Twenty20 does come at a good time,” he said.
“In the four-day game you are not playing in front of a massive crowd and maybe a slowish pitch, compared to a fast game with big crowds and you can just let your hair down.
“It probably has proved this week, and the weeks gone by, that there have been a lot of centuries in four-day cricket.
“It seems to be helping a few players around the country – it can get people going.
“You just take Twenty20 for what it is. You don’t think much about your technique, you just want bat on ball and take that into the four-day game.
“You see a lot of exciting players who are making that conversion like David Warner.
“It has definitely been a good thing for the game and people are enjoying it.”