Sales eyes bumper year

7 May 2008

David Sales made 60 in the Friends Provident Trophy victory over Warwickshire

Northamptonshire’s prolific batsman David Sales hopes his performances can be the catalyst for his side in the Friends Provident Trophy.

The 30-year-old was recently named by Mike Gatting as ‘one to watch’ along with Gloucestershire all-rounder Alex Gidman, Durham seamer Graham Onions and Steve Finn, Middlesex’s rising star.

“It’s very nice,” Sales told ecb.co.uk as he reflected on being nominated.

“I’ve not had much association with Mike since we went on an England A tour where he was coach, so to be picked out by him is a very nice feeling.”

Sales’ response to being selected by the former England skipper was emphatic – he cracked a rapid 60 in the second round of fixtures as his side overhauled Warwickshire’s daunting 293 for five.

“I’ve been around a few years,” he added. “My one-day cricket over the last couple of years has been quite good. Hopefully I’ll continue that this year. I didn’t get off to a bad start against Warwickshire.”

The Friends Provident Trophy has been revamped this year with four regionally-based groups featuring five counties battling it out for a place in the quarter-finals. The final, as always, will be at Lord’s.

Northamptonshire have made an encouraging start to the campaign, winning twice in succession recently, and Sales hopes they can push on to make the last eight.

“As a team our major goal is to qualify for the next round,” he said. “We have not done very well in this competition over the last few years. With the new format we feel we have got a good opportunity to try and get to the next round.

“It’s knock-out cricket. Every game is a massive game. Hopefully the crowds will come out and support it and hopefully we will play some good cricket.”