Ashley Giles is excited ahead of Saturday’s T20 Finals Day, and hopes that his Lancashire side can enjoy a ‘dream day’ to banish the memories of last year’s failure.
Lancashire will face Hampshire in the second semi-final at Edgbaston, with Northants and home-side Warwickshire first up on the bumper day of cricket, with the final scheduled to start at 18:45.
The Red Rose faced Hampshire at the same stage last season, winning by 41 runs before falling to an agonising four run defeat to Warwickshire in the final.
And whilst his players will have the experience of last year’s defeat at the forefront of their minds, head coach Giles will be participating in his first Finals Day, something missing from the 2005 Ashes winner’s playing CV.
“It is exciting,” the former England limited overs coach admitted.
“Half of your mind is edgy as well and a bit nervous as well, but the other half is like Christmas is coming around so you’re just hoping the presents are what you want!
“It’s my first [Finals] Day, so I can imagine the atmosphere will be electric.
“In some ways, being an ex-player, you’re much calmer when you’re in control of the situations when you’re out there, but I have a lot of faith and trust in the guys.
“On the day one of the really important things is that we enjoy it – the only way guys are going to play well is if they’re enjoying it.
“That’s one of the biggest parts of my job, trying to create an environment that is focussed but relaxed, because if I have to build anyone up for that day, they don’t belong there.”
Despite last season’s near-brush with success, Giles admitted that he doubted whether the team had the potential to be successful in the Blast when he took over this year.
Those concerns primarily centred on the county’s seam bowling department – concerns exacerbated by the news that leading wicket-taker Kyle Jarvis has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken hand.
But the sides recent run of form – which saw them conquer Kent in a dramatic quarter-final to reach Finals Day and make a late push in the Royal London One-Day Cup before being thwarted by the weather at the final hurdle – has Giles believing that his team is coming to the boil at just the right time.
“I’ve said a number of times that I don’t think we’re the best t20 side in the country,” he said.
“I worried, I particularly worried about our experience in the seam bowling department in t20 cricket and to a degree those worries have continued throughout the competition.
“That’s no disrespect to any of them, they just need to continue to get games under their belts and practice harder and get better at their roles.
“A couple of guys are going to have to step forward, it’s an opportunity, and why wouldn’t you want to take it? Playing on Finals Day is a great occasion.
“I do believe we’ve got better and better as the competition has gone on.
“Historically this team perform better when there’s a lot on it. So then when you add Jos [Buttler] and you add Jimmy [Faulkner] that’s a huge boost to the team.
“But who knows, let’s hope it’s sixth time lucky and it’d be a dream day for everyone.”
Image courtesy of Lancashire Cricket TV via YouTube, with thanks.
