WICKET-KEEPER Ben Cox said his work behind the stumps helps him execute the type of unorthodox shots which were so effective in Worcestershire Rapids’ dramatic three-wicket win over Northamptonshire Steelbacks.
Cox was the hero with 42 not out off 24 balls as the Rapids won with three balls to spare on Friday (June 10) to move top of the NatWest T20 Blast North Group.
He employed various shots including a reverse sweep in the final over from Muhammad Azharullah which went for a four as the Rapids secured the nine runs required from the final six deliveries at New Road.
Northamptonshire had totalled 169-7 in their 20 overs, Joe Leach taking 3-26, and then Tom Kohler-Cadmore (60), Brett D’Oliveira (37) and Cox steered the Rapids home.
Cox believes the low stance he adopts for over after over as a keeper means he feels comfortable when stooping or crouching down to play the kind of strokes that are now part of T20 cricket.
“I’ve been working hard on particular skills around the ground, all 360 degrees of it. I’m trying to be a 360 (degrees) player, hence the reverse sweeps and the reverse dinks and stuff, just to reverse pressure on the bowler,” he said.
“If you are unorthodox it can be awkward for the bowler especially when you are up against someone like Azharullah, a very good yorker bowler.
“It is the only way to score off him because he is so good at getting the yorkers in. To be honest, I’m pleased the execution drills and work I’ve been doing paid off.
“You’ve got to find ways of scoring against these guys and, for me as a keeper, you generally are quite low to the ground anyway so you find with those ramp shots, you are comfortable with the positions you get into.”
Cox saw the Rapids to their target in a finale which brought back memories of his huge six off James Faulkner when his side beat Lancashire Lightning at Old Trafford with one ball to spare in last season’s competition.
“It’s nice to get us over a line, in a period where we lost Pepsi (Tom Kohler-Cadmore) controversially, at a crucial time really,” he added.
Director of cricket Steve Rhodes praised Cox for playing his part in delivering a ‘special ending’ for the New Road faithful.
“He deserved that. He has worked very hard at some of the shots you saw tonight and he pulled them off which was great to see,” said Rhodes.
“It was a great ending and lots of entertainment and for, all the supporters and fans who didn’t come along, I bet they wished they did even though the weather was so bad.”