New head coach Vettori makes first picks

New Middlesex T20 head coach Daniel Vettori has named a 14-man squad for their Natwest Blast opener against Gloucester today (Friday, 2.30pm).

And fellow New Zealand international Brendon McCullum will captain the side at Cheltenham, as Tim Southee is also included.

Middlesex go into the shorter format buoyed by a tense one-wicket win over Warwickshire in the Specsavers County Championship, but have yet to beat Gloucestershire in 10 of their T20 meetings since 2003.

England one-day captain Eoin Morgan is also back in club colours, alongside Toby Roland-Jones, who has been released from the Test squad facing South Africa at Lord’s.

Youngsters Tom Helm, Tom Barber and George Scott also feature, with Ravi Patel and Nathan Sowter providing front-line spin options, with Paul Stirling and Dawid Malan offering support.

Stephen Eskinazi goes into the match on the back of a career-best first-class score of 179 at Edgbaston, while Ryan Higgins also set a new mark during the successful run chase against the Bears.

Middlesex host Surrey at Lord’s in their first home fixture of the competition next Thursday (July 13, 6.15pm).

Middlesex: McCullum, Barberk, Eskinazi, Helm, Higgins, Malan, Morgan, Patel, Roland-Jones, Scott, Simpson, Southee, Sowter, Stirling.