Nils Priestley believes Staffordshire must take a relaxed approach to their NCCA Knockout Trophy campaign.
The 50-over format has proved to be an issue for Staffs in the past couple of years after they failed to qualify from their group.
All-rounder Priestley and his county team-mates are looking to rectify that record when they kick off their Group Two programme this weekend.
Staffs host Herefordshire at West Bromwich Dartmouth on Sunday before entertaining Suffolk at Bignall End on Bank Holiday Monday.
There’s a steely determination among the squad to enjoy a successful white-ball season – but Priestley says they need to play without pressure to showcase their skills.
“It’s been a bit strange how we’ve gone in the 50-over matches in the last couple of years,” said Priestley.
“We’ve done really well in the Twenty20s and also won the Championship, so you’d think that the Knockout Trophy would suit us as it marries them together.
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“I also think that comes with how the season has been scheduled. In the past the T20s have started the year and we’ve done well, so there is an expectation on us to carry that into the Trophy.
“We’ve got the talent, there’s no doubt about that, but I probably think we have started to put a bit of pressure on ourselves to perform.
“It’s not worked out for us, so we need to take that away and showcase what we’re about in the Knockout Trophy.”
‘Lack of runs’
There was hope that Staffordshire had found the ideal recipe for the 50-over game.
They opened up with a superb performance at Suffolk to win, in which Priestley took six wickets including a hat-trick.
However, they then followed that up with three successive defeats to leave them eliminated from the competition.
“It sounds simple to say, but we didn’t put enough runs on the board last summer,” explained Priestley.
“When we won at Suffolk, Ketts (James Kettleborough) scored a century and people batted around him.
“In the other games, we didn’t have anyone who managed to step up and do that role to enable us to put a competitive score on the board.
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“That’s one area we need to rectify this time around.”
Priestley spent the winter featuring for both England and Great Britain and Ireland in 10-over competitions in Spain.
Both competitions resulted in victories, leaving Priestley in good heart heading into the 2025 action.
“It was good to play out in Spain. I don’t generally train too much in the winter because I like to cleanse my mind,” he added.
“The 10-over games are a clear process for me. You just go in and try to hit every ball for six. There isn’t too much to think about.”
‘Middle man’
Priestley, who opens the batting for the county in the Twenty20 Cup, is expected to feature in the middle order this weekend.
His left-arm spin will also be a crucial part of the Staffordshire jigsaw in this particular format.
“I’m happy to slot in the middle order because I like to think that I’m a pretty good finisher,” he said.
“I don’t just want to be seen as a slogger, though, and want to be able to read the game situations.
“If I don’t manage to get to the crease, then it means we’ll have done well with the bat.
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“In all honesty, if we manage to win all four group games and I don’t have to bat, then I’m fine with that.
“It’s not about individuals and we’re tight-knit as a group. We celebrate each other’s success and I’d do that if I haven’t contributed but we’ve won the game.
“I’m sure the other lads are the same as well.”
‘Ambition’
Priestley, having been a key part in Staffordshire’s recent success, says the players are now eager to push their case for Trophy glory.
“The Knockout Trophy is a competition the NCCA really pushes hard and in the past there’s been talk about the Challengers (the NCCA representative side) potentially playing in the pro competition,” said Priestley.
“Myself and Rory Haydon play in that side, so we want to do well for Staffordshire to push the Challengers forward as well.
“We want to the best NCCA side in the north of the country and that means doing well in all formats.
“I actually think getting out of the group is the tricky part. If we can manage to do that, we’d back ourselves against anyone in a one-off game.”
Main image: Nils Priestley says Staffordshire need to play without pressure in the NCCA Knockout Trophy. Picture: Pete Stonier