Elliott aware of Vikings talent

Leicestershire Foxes batsman Grant Elliott has warned against looking at the league table ahead of tomorrow night’s NatWest T20 Blast clash with Yorkshire Vikings (5.30pm).

Yorkshire have picked up three wins in seven games but the New Zealand international is fully aware of the talent in the Vikings ranks.

Although a number of internationals such as in-form duo Joe Root and Kane Williamson will not be in action, Yorkshire can call on Jonathan Bairstow and Adil Rashid, who Elliott faced during the epic Royal London ODI series.

The Foxes have Elliott and Kevin O’Brien back from international duty and their experience will again be invaluable as the competition reaches a critical stage.

Elliott, well-known for having a cool head, said the best approach for the Foxes is to look no further ahead than the first ball of tomorrow’s match.

He said: “It was nice to play for New Zealand in what was a fantastic series against England where lots of runs were scored, including some fine innings by Kane (Williamson) and Joe (Root), in front of some big crowds.

“I’m now back with the Foxes and we face a big game against a strong Yorkshire team who have a couple of very good overseas players in Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell. I faced Adil Rashid a bit during the one-dayers and he is a good bowler who has got some tricks.

“We have this game and then two weekends where we play twice so it’s an important phase of the competition but we have given ourselves a good chance of making the knockout stages.

“By getting wins on the board, we are not under too much pressure and can keep going out with the aim of enjoying our cricket.

“We have to take it game by game, one ball at a time. We have a team where different people contribute, we have players who can do a bit of everything and there is good depth.”

The Foxes have named a 15-man squad for the game and there will be two enforced changes from the stunning win at Birmingham Bears last Friday as Umar Akmal’s spell as overseas player has ended and James Sykes is injured.

Elliott and Kevin O'Brien return and off-spinner Rob Sayer is also part of the squad after impressing against New Zealand and in the Second XI this season.

Yorkshire will have big-hitting Australian duo Finch and Maxwell in their line-up after the former declared himself fit to play following an injury sustained in a Second XI game this week.

Bairstow and Rashid return but Gary Ballance, Tim Bresnan, Alex Lees, Ryan Sidebottom, Jack Brooks and James Middlebrook are being rested while Root, Adam Lyth and Liam Plunkett are preparing for England’s pre-Ashes training camp.

The Vikings include five talented young players in their squad as Jack Leaning and Matthew Fisher, who made his Yorkshire debut aged just 15 against Leicestershire in the 40-over competition at Scarborough two summers ago, are joined by all-rounders Will Rhodes and Ryan Gibson, and seamer Ben Coad.

Foxes (from): Cosgrove (capt), Agathangelou, Boyce, Eckersley, Elliott, Freckingham, McKay, Naik, K O’Brien, N O’Brien, Raine, Sayer, Sheikh, Taylor, Wells.