Head Coach Craig Cumming is eager to lead The Blaze back into battle against Hampshire Hawks as the business end of the Vitality Blast approaches.

“This weekend’s a really important one,” he said. “Hampshire are right up there; they’re obviously a really good team.

“We know we need to be right on the mark but we’re looking forward to getting back out there and playing again.”

Cumming has named a 14-strong group to take on the Hawks following a two-week break from competitive action for The Blaze, with Lucy Higham named in a squad for the first time this summer.

“It’s been nice to have a break,” said Cumming. “I think everyone has been flat-out; the 50-over competition was intense, with hot weather, and then the [Vitality Blast] has been full-on too.

“I think all teams have enjoyed a bit of a breather and a chance to get away, and relax mentally and physically, but we’re back into it now and at the end of this block, we’ve got Finals Day.”

Cumming especially believes that the opportunity afforded by the mid-season break for the squad to switch off mentally, as well as physically, was even more beneficial.

“It’s probably more important!” he explained, of the mental side. “I think that’s the part of the game that starts to get to you, and especially this year with the level that’s being played.

“You look at the one-day competition, the amount of runs that have been scored, bowlers are literally under the pump from ball one, and in the field you’re under the pump.

“Batting-wise, you’ve just got a high expectation that you’re going to score quickly. I think it’s more important mentally to get away.

“Often if you feel better mentally, you feel better physically, and we’ve tried to make sure we’ve embraced that.”

Still in his first season as Head Coach, the New Zealander is raring to resume, and he is particularly excited to take on the Hawks in the new surroundings of Queen’s Park, Chesterfield.

“We had a good double-header on Monday against Surrey in a couple of T20s, so that was good to get back into the rhythm,” he said.

“We’ll have a couple of good training sessions before this weekend. The team’s pretty refreshed, and excited about the next block, where there’s plenty to play for.

“For me, Chesterfield will be new, because I haven’t been to a lot of these grounds, and that’s one of them, but we have a lot of knowledge in the group.

“One thing we do know is that the outfield will be fast, the pitches have been very good, and it’ll be interesting to see whether this hot dry weather has an influence on the way the pitches will play.

“Up until now they’ve been fantastic, so they might be getting a bit drier and will maybe start to hold up a little bit more.

“The grounds that we’ve played on have been all over, so the players have gained experience and they understand the differences.

“But, I think the most interesting thing from here will be how the pitches begin to change with the hot weather.”

Cumming is also enthusiastic to take on a side who arrive with a good pedigree, who, in his view, have a significant amount of history behind them and quality within.

“Oh, it will be brilliant [to play Hampshire],” he enthused. “They’re a good side who had a huge amount of success under the old name, and they have a lot of quality players.

“We’ve been focusing on looking after ourselves and doing what we want to do to get better, but when you know you’re playing against quality opposition, it just creates a little bit more excitement.

“That’s the way the group look at it, so it’s a good marker for where we are, and Hampshire are a good side and we can’t wait to play them.”

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