The right gameplan is key for Coetzer

Durham Jets are next up for Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the Natwest t20 Blast.

Sixth against seventh in the North Group and with both sides in need of victory in order to boost their chances of reaching the knockout stage lends this contest an added edge.

The last time the two met in this competition, it was the home side who romped a win that gave them a place in finals day at Edgbaston.

This evening’s clash may not quite have the win or bust factor but time will be running short for the losers and Steelbacks captain, Kyle Coetzer, is aware of what the north easterners will bring to the party.

He said: “As with all Twenty20 games it will be a tough one.

“They’ve got some dangwerous players with Ben Stokes the most obvious one and there’s also my Scotland team-mate Calum MacLeod who has been doing well for them in this competition.

“We need to look at how we’re going to play against them and make sure that we come up with the right gameplan to face them.”

That could involve a middle order reshuffle following the heavy defeats to both the Birmingham Bears and Lancashire Lightning at the tail end of last week - Coetzer, who missed the second game, is expected to return - as this part of their game just hasn’t functioned as expected this year.

The loss of both Cameron White and Alex Wakely has left a void yet to be adequately filled, as Coetzer acknowledged.

“It’s always going to take a bit of time to bed in when the formula changes and I don’t think we’ve quite figured out that formula.”

Coetzer’s return would necessitate the demotion of a batsman, possibly David Sales or Rob Keogh, Rob Newton, who has missed the past four games, in also included in the 13-man squad..

As for Durham, they have named a 13-man squad which doesn’t include seamers Chris Rushworth (rested) and Graham Onions (injured).

Steelbacks from: Coetzer, Levi, Willey, Crook, Keogh, Sales, Duckett, Spriegel, Middlebrook, White, Azharullah, Stone, Newton.

Jets from: Collingwood, Stoneman, Mustard, MacLeod, Stokes, Muchall, Borthwick, Breese, Jennings, Pringle, Hastings, Arshad, Coughlin.