Nathan Sowter wants to take Middlesex back to the future in this year's Blast

Nathan Sowter is the type of cricketer that demands attention. Even in the outfield, when neither bowling nor batting, he will appear busy, seemingly coiled as though winding up for explosive action at any moment. Explosive would certainly describe his Middlesex Blast debut in 2015 as Middlesex fans went instantly from 'who'? to 'wow'! when he claimed two Kent wickets within his first four balls. 

He had a blistering List-A campaign in 2019, taking a brilliant 25 wickets at an average of 20.84, finishing the competition as one of the leading wicket-takers overall and has by and large grabbed opportunities in all formats when they have come his way, including a best of 2/18 for the Oval Invincibles. 

Early season red-ball action has been sadly lacking, with Luke Holman now settling into the lead spinner role, but with the Blast due to start this week, it is highly likely that Nathan's leg breaks will be used in tandem alongside Mujeeb Ur Rahman. 

Oddly though, when I caught up with Nathan ahead of this season's Blast, it was his batting rather than bowling we first discussed. The modern game, of course, demands runs right down the order, and Nathan was quick to point out that 'regular 20s and 30s can make a huge difference in all formats', so it would be a focus for him under Middlesex's new coach Richard Johnson.  

Former Middlesex spinner Ollie Rayner once quipped that his best advice for spinners on English wickets was to learn to bat. It seems Nathan and his Middlesex spin partners Luke Hollman and Thilan Walallawita have got that message loud and clear. Moreover, the clear evidence that tracks this year are more helpful for County batters is further encouragement for Nathan with red and white ball.

It is perhaps no surprise to learn why Nathan, who hails from Penrith in New South Wales, chose to become a leg-spinner. He was, he said, 'hugely inspired by Shane Warne', and like all lovers of the game, he was 'devasted' at the passing of the great Australian leg-spinner. 

Although when discussing other influences on his career, Nathan was quick to credit Anthony Clark, former New South Wales off-spinner and now transition coach for his state. Under Clark's tutelage, Nathan first broke into the New South Under-23 side. However, an English passport, courtesy of his Northumberland-born mother, meant he did not have to be registered as their overseas player, and 99 wickets in his two full seasons had stirred Middlesex's interest.

Nathan certainly does not doubt who the best players he has played with and against in T20 cricket. AB de Villiers the former and Pat Cummins the latter. 

With the Blast looming, I wondered whether wickets and form in one format could then transfer to another, and Nathan was quick to respond that he 'would like to think so', although as yet 'this season, the opportunity to prove it still awaits'.

Adding the world-class talent of Afghanistan's Mujeeb ur Rahman (right arm off break) to the ranks alongside Nathan, Luke Hollman (leg-spin) and Thilan Walallawita (slow left-arm) mean Middlesex are indeed well gunned in the spin department. This, though, is something that Nathan relishes, and he clearly feels that in the T20 game, 'there is opportunity to play three spinners with variety of approach and ability to balance attack and defence'.  

Middlesex's only ever Blast win, indeed only Finals Day experience, was back in 2008, and although this is before Nathan's time, he was quick to point out that on that day, it was a spin combination of Shaun Udal and Murali Kartik that both took wickets and kept a lid on the Kent chase. He was also not slow to remind me that 'it was another Australian, Dirk Nannes, who also starred for Middlesex'. 

This gave us the chance to go back to the future and discuss our fantasy pairings of players old and new, with Nathan suggesting lip smacking combinations of Dirk Nannes with Shaheen Afridi, Mujeeb with Murali Kartik and himself as leg spinner partnered with Shaun Udal's canny off breaks. 

That would indeed be an attack to take on the World's T20 best from any era, but Nathan's eyes are focused solely on this Blast, where getting to the landmark of 100 wickets is very much on his horizon. Representing Middlesex at a Finals Day would be something that he 'really wants', and the desire is clearly burning brightly to make 2022 the year it happens, with Nathan contributing with both ball and bat.