Elliott: "Identity is key"

Leicestershire all-rounder Grant Elliott feels that the team’s identity will be key to success in the NatWest T20 Blast as the Foxes open their campaign with a mouthwatering tie at Lancashire Lightning tomorrow evening (6.30pm start).

Elliott has plenty of experience to call on as he sets about his new challenge at Leicestershire and knows the value that an early victory can bring, especially against a strong Lightning side that were edged out by Birmingham Bears in the Final last year.

However, the New Zealand international has also been working as a Business Development Manager in Wellington recently and is an environmentalist, so he can appreciate the importance of building something that is sustainable.

Elliott is aware that the NatWest T20 Blast is a long competition and that the club has a few new faces so he feels that the Foxes will benefit from focusing on performance and their brand of cricket from the outset.  

“I’ve always found in the competition in New Zealand that a couple of wins early doors can be key because it allows you to have confidence to play with more freedom rather than chasing points,” said Elliott. “You can afford to go out all guns blazing if you get an early win or two as opposed to being a team that is searching for a result.

“But it’s important that we’re not totally result-driven and that we develop a brand of cricket that is irrespective of the opposition and situations that we find ourselves in. If we can play an exciting brand of cricket and back ourselves from the outset, it will stand us in good stead.

“Lancashire is a county with a lot of tradition and they are a very proud side. It will be very tough to face them first up away from home but we have to look at taking on last year’s finalists on a test match ground as an exciting challenge.

“It’s about making sure we get the combinations right early on as I think we have a few guys that can take the game away from the opposition on our day. Lancashire is a good test for us to start with and we’re looking forward to it.”

Elliott is excited to be part of the Foxes plans this summer and although he will be new to the changing room, there are a few familiar faces around that have helped him to settle in quickly.

He said: “There has been a lot of change at Leicestershire County Cricket Club and these are exciting times for the club. There is a new Chief Executive (Wasim Khan MBE), new Head Coach (Andrew McDonald) and new players and it is awesome to be part of the county’s plans.

“I met Andrew (McDonald) in Melbourne before the World Cu p Final which was good, and although he is a new coach here, he has had success in T20 with the club in the past. That will be a big help to us as a team.

“I also played with Charlie Shreck at Wellington and against Kevin O’Brien when he was at Northern Districts last season. I remember Charlie was a very aggressive fast bowler so it’s good to know that he hasn’t changed!”

Leicestershire has named a 14-man squad for the trip to Emirates Old Trafford and Elliott is one of six players who could make their NatWest T20 Blast debuts for the Foxes.

Kevin O’Brien, like Elliott, linked up with the team for practice at the Kia Oval this week and Mark Cosgrove, Clint McKay, Aadil Ali and Angus Robson could also make their debuts for the club in this particular format.

Squad: Ali, Cosgrove (capt), Eckersley, Elliott, McKay, Naik, K O’Brien, N O’Brien (w/k), Robson, Raine, Sheikh, Sykes, Taylor, Wells.