Confidence And Momentum Growing | Brooker On T20 Form Ahead Of Blast Off

After reaching the quarter-finals of the inaugural Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup, Leicestershire captain Becki Brooker says her side has built confidence and momentum heading into their Vitality Blast opener this weekend.

Leicestershire bowed out of the County Cup to eventual winners Lancashire on Friday, with the likes of Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone and Emma Lamb all called into action to outmuscle the Foxes. Despite defeat at Kibworth, Brooker believes the lessons gleaned by her side will be invaluable in the long run.

“We're proud of where we got to as a group,” Brooker says. “I think having the opportunity to play against a team like Lancashire is a great examination of where we’re at, and where we want to be in the future. I think we did ourselves proud against a fully professional unit.

“I was having a conversation with Claude [Henderson] the other day about where we're at in comparison and what the gap is. Having exposure to playing against those sorts of teams more consistently is only going to help us grow as individuals and as a group.

“Ultimately, our recent performances have given us a bit of momentum. Especially the win at Northants, that did our confidence the world of good. So, we’re in a great place as a squad going into the Blast.”

With no fewer than nine winter additions to a 17-strong squad, the County Cup has also acted as the perfect litmus test for Brooker to gauge the T20 aptitude of a new-look Leicestershire.

“You don't really know what to expect when you've got a new group coming together. We obviously knew we had the talent, but you learn a lot from being on the pitch together. I’ve been impressed with the pressure we’ve put on the opposition with the new ball, as well as the way we’ve set platforms with the bat.

“Another key strength, I’ve found, is the tactical awareness within the group has really grown. Everyone's got different ideas which they're willing to share around field settings. I think that's come out of necessity, because you're competing against players who are really going to punch back, so you need those additional voices.”

One such additional voice is winter arrival Ellen Watson, a Scottish international wicketkeeper. Already dovetailing well with Brooker’s brain, Leicestershire’s skipper credits the new vice-captain for her strategic nous on the field.

“Ellen's played a key role in bringing her tactical experience from her time with Scotland. She’s helped bring a heightened awareness around bowling plans, which is something we've really tried to push for within the group. That's something, particularly in T20 cricket, we want to capitalise on and make an impact with the decisions we're making.”

An attacking opening batter, Brooker has also assembled a formidable partnership with another new signing, Francesca Sweet, at the top of the T20 order. The pair put on 80 in the commanding win over Northamptonshire earlier this month, with the duo’s destructive capabilities underlined by the fact the next highest stand in the match was just 19.

“I think firepower is probably the key word for Cesca,” says Brooker. “At the top of the order in T20 cricket, we complement each other well. If she's going hard, then I can anchor with slightly more control.

“The way Cesca scores can really derail the opposition’s plans, which clearly plays into our favour. It eases the pressure when you know that she can hit a ball hard at the other end and the runs are going to come quite quickly.”

Speaking as Josh Hull rearranges George Balderson’s stumps during Leicestershire Men’s fourth consecutive Championship win, Brooker pauses to acknowledge the Foxes’ hot streak so far this summer.

“They’re absolutely on fire,” she smiles. “It seems like they've got a really good group in terms of people and ability. I think we have the same in terms of that togetherness, which help facilitates players to show their skills.

“We want to try and emulate the success that the Men have had. We can’t wait to play our double headers; it’ll help us be even more connected as a Club playing at the same ground on the same day. We'll support them and they'll support us.”

Stephen Franklin’s Foxes are on a scintillating run of home form in T20 cricket themselves, having won seven consecutive matches at Uptonsteel County Ground. It’s a venue Brooker now says has a feeling of home.

“It sounds a bit crazy, but I feel a bit more settled now. I think it's important for it to not feel too special for too long because you want to feel like ‘this is where I play, and this is where I belong’. I’m sure for the girls who have joined us this year, it’ll help emphasise that one club feeling. It's nice to know that you're part of more than just your team, you're part of Leicestershire.

For this weekend, however, Brooker will have to settle for the away changing room, as the Foxes begin their campaign down the M1 against Northamptonshire Steelbacks. Just two months into the season, it’ll already be a third meeting between the two East Midlands counterparts “ a trilogy Brooker is eagerly awaiting.

“There's a lot of friendship but also a rivalry between us, which only fuels the fire in your belly to win. We didn’t get off to a great start when we played them in our first game, but I think the win a couple of weeks ago proved what we’re truly capable of and was a bit of redemption.

“That performance, as well as what we’ve taken from Lancashire and Yorkshire, puts us in a good stead for the first round of the T20 Blast. Hopefully we can get off to a strong start and snowball some momentum.”

To watch Brooker’s Foxes in T20 action at Uptonsteel County Ground, click HERE.