INTERVIEW: Jennings looks ahead to Roses clash
Lancashire Cricket’s Vitality Blast captain Keaton Jennings says his side are “looking forward to the challenge” of the Roses clash at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground on Friday.
Lightning face their arch-rivals in the penultimate Blast game of the season. It is a must-win for Jennings’ side, with quarter-final qualification very much on the line.
It is an occasion that the opening batter and the rest of the squad are very much looking forward to.
“Roses here [at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground] is fantastic. I’ve played some amazing games here. We want to make sure we turn up, play some really good cricket, entertain.
“It’s a good test. Those are the sides [Yorkshire] you want to compete against, beat and come away and have a beer with the lads and actually really enjoy those wins. So, really looking forward it, looking forward to the challenge, and let’s throw some punches.”
The Roses clash at home tends to be the first game people look out for when the fixture list drops in the off-season.
It is undoubtedly one of the biggest games in the domestic cricket calendar; Jennings summed up just how special it is to play in.
“The whole occasion [is special]. You know, it’s pressure, the quality of cricket, the quality of opposition. 15,000 people coming down to the ground, the sunshine. I think the whole feeling around the game, the intensity, it is an occasion.
“I remember Colly [Paul Collingwood] said ages ago, ‘when you go and play that Lord’s final, it’s as close to international cricket as you can be.’ Well, I think this Yorkshire game is that. You arrive and it feels special, it feels intense.”
Lightning suffered defeat to their rivals at Headingly earlier in the season. Whilst Friday gives them an opportunity to bounce back, Jennings said it isn’t necessarily just about righting those wrongs.
“I think you need to take every game as its own occasion. We do play some good cricket here. I think when the boys arrive on Friday, we need to make sure we are refreshed, prepped well, disciplined.
“We [need to] come and throw some really big punches to a good Yorkshire team. So, look, it’s not necessarily about correcting wrongs, it’s about making sure we play good cricket come Friday night.”
Jennings and his side are looking to stay in the hunt for a quarter-final spot with a win over Yorkshire at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
There are still a few hundred tickets left for the War of the Roses on Friday night. Make sure you don’t miss out on any of the action by purchasing your ticket here.
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