Nottinghamshire’s Michael Lumb has completed his journey to Sydney this week, ahead of representing the Sixers in the KFC Big Bash T20 League.
This will be Lumb’s fourth year with the Sixers, and while relishing the opportunity to spend the winter in his cricketing home from home, he is keen to lift the spirits of his teammates following the tragic passing of Phil Hughes less then a fortnight ago.
“It’ll be a sombre environment, arriving amongst some sad circumstances,” he said.
“It’s been a tough few days, it was first the shock and unexpectedness of it all. I’m looking forward to helping out where I can, there’ll be some time needed but I’m looking forward to getting out there and seeing the boys.”
With the cricketing world at large still in shock at the events in Sydney, there’s a renewed sense of purpose in the country’s domestic competitions, and a real desire for the Big Bash to be a celebration, a sentiment which Lumb intends to carry through the winter.
“This is what the Hughes family, and Phil himself would have wanted,” he said.
“It’s really sad but he was playing the game he loved so much and everyone would love to go out and celebrate it as best we can.
“It’s a proper show. It’s colourful, kids are involved and it’s a bit more of a spectacle than we have here. It’s big, bold and in your face, which is what T20 should be.”
Last year’s tournament saw the Sixers reach the semi-finals, and with Lumb being joined by Ed Cowan this winter, they will be hoping to go one further and regain the trophy they won in the competition’s inaugural season.
"We have a very strong squad, it hasn’t changed much, there are a few new additions and we always compete,” said Lumb.
“We play a good brand of cricket, that wont change so we’ll be looking to get off to a flyer and push as far as we can.”
Notts Outlaws will begin their NatWest T20 Blast campaign against the Birmingham Bears on Friday 15 May. With tickets in advance just £10, don't miss out by securing your seats now.