Desert Vipers all-rounder Benny Howell wants to use the upcoming DPWorld ILT20 as a springboard to achieve his dream of playing international cricket.
Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast, the 34-year-old, who has played more than 180 shortform matches across the world, said: “I am never going to stop my dream of wanting to play for England. I guess all I can do is play well in the tournaments I am selected to play in and perform as much as I can.
“I know I was close to getting involved (with England) in the (T20) World Cup. It was amazing to see them win (and if I want to be involved) I just have to keep performing with the bat and ball and see what happens.”
Howell, who has played T20 cricket in the UK, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Australia, is someone known for his innovative approach to the game, including the use of heavy balls and bats to train. “I am a big advocate for the heavy bat, and the heavy balls, which a guy called Julian Wood uses.
“Julian is a power-hitting coach for players like me, who come in down the order and try to hit fours and sixes. I use the technique a lot just to get the juices flowing and get the feeling of hitting the ball hard. So, it is about finding the right balance at the right time during training.”
And the player, who will arrive at the DP World ILT20 off the back of helping the Colombo Stars to the final of the Lanka Premier League, where it lost out to defending champion the Jaffna Kings, said he was also constantly on the look-out to develop more variations in his bowling.
“I have about four different grips for my normal medium-pace run up, and within those four different grips I will adjust my hand positions, and angles of my arms, to make the ball do different things,” he said.
“At the moment I am working really hard on adding a couple more styles of bowling, because I want to bowl quick leg-spin as well. I have been working on it for a few years, and I bowled it in the BPL (Bangladesh Premier League) last year. Also, off-spin, with some carrom balls, to the left-handers especially. So that is something I am working on for this tournament.”
Howell is often seen as a T20 specialist, but he still believes he could have a shot at selection for the 50-over Cricket World Cup in 2023. “Maybe (and) that is why I want to adapt my bowling styles to include spin as well as my hybrid medium-pace.
“So, in ten overs I can bowl different balls and different styles and become more than one bowler in a spell. I do not want to look too far ahead, but it (50-over Cricket World Cup in 2023) is definitely on my radar.”
Howell who picked the ILT20 over the other global leagues such as the BBL in Australia, the BPL in Bangladesh, and the South African franchise league, said he believed the involvement of Associate and Affiliate cricketers in the UAE tournament represented an important innovation for the growth of cricket.
“It is great (that Associate and Affiliate cricketers, including players from the UAE are involved in the ILT20) and increasing the participation around the world,” he said. “There are a lot of talented players over here. Afghanistan over the last few years have really come up and now in the UAE there are a lot of good players. It is exciting to get more nations involved and increase the cricketing world.”
The Vipers Voices podcast features a full interview with Benny Howell and can be downloaded via this link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092289/11929784
A full transcript of the interviews can be found below:
Benny Howell on why he opted to play in the ILT20 in the UAE With a whole host of tournaments going on around the world, including the BPL, the Big Bash League in Australia, and the new South African franchise tournament:
“A couple of reasons: I heard a lot about this competition, and that there were a lot of class players playing in it, which means you are going to be challenged and I like to be challenged. The second reason was that I got offered before any of the drafts, so it was an offer that was hard to turn down. I am very happy to be working under Tom Moody as he has worked with me in Bangladesh in the past, so that was a big convincer for me as well.”
Benny Howell on whether it was a tough decision, since he has been a regular in the past in the BPL and had a very successful campaign with Chattogram last winter, especially with the bat:
“Not so much, because at the time that I got offered to play for the Desert Vipers, I was not sure when the BPL was on, and whether it was at the same time as this tournament (ILT20), and it is on at the same time as this. No, it was not that tough (to choose) because this is a new tournament, and a new challenge and I enjoy new challenges.”
Benny Howell on whether his role with the Desert Vipers will be as a finisher with the bat and during the middle overs with the ball:
“Most likely (I see myself batting at number 7 in a finisher’s role) because I don’t think they would have picked me in the side if they were going to put me in a new role, but I guess I will have a chat with Tom Moody, and James Foster, the coaches, and managers, and see where they think my role would be. I am happy to adapt to whatever they need.”
Benny Howell on whether he opted to play in the T10 tournament in Abu Dhabi to help in acclimatization ahead of the ILT20 or whether it was just the way the cards fell:
“Just the way the cards fell (that I opted to play for the T10 tournament). There was a T10 draft, and I played for the Bangla Tigers last year and I really enjoyed playing for the franchise in the T10. The T10 is a really amazing tournament, it is short and sharp, and it definitely prepares you in a really intense way for T20 cricket, so it is a bonus for that as well.”
Benny Howell on what he makes of the Desert Vipers line-up – and what chance he gives the side of doing something special in the inaugural edition of the tournament:
“I was chatting with (Desert Vipers captain) Colin Munro, and we were discussing how the side looks pretty strong. I guess all the sides are going to be quite strong, but I do like the look of our side, so let us hope we can perform on that.”
Benny Howell on which Desert Vipers team-mates he has played with previously, and if there is anyone, he is especially looking forward to lining up with for the Desert Vipers:
“I played with Alex Hales in the BPL a few years ago for the Rangpur Riders, I enjoyed playing with him, and I am looking forward to playing alongside him again.”
Benny Howell on the prospect of facing his captain in The Hundred, Moeen Ali, who will play for Sharjah:
“I am not particularly looking forward to bowling to him, no, but we will see how it goes! But if I do get a chance to bowl to him, I will have to be at my best performance.”
Benny Howell on what he thinks of the Desert Vipers backroom staff, including Director of Cricket Tom Moody, Head Coach James Foster, batting coach Neil McKenzie and seam bowling coach Azhar Mahmood:
“It sounds pretty good to me. I worked with Tom Moody before in the BPL when he was coach, for with the same side (Rangpur Riders) when I was with Alex Hales, and I really enjoyed working with him. I look forward to getting to know him again even more during the competition. I also worked with James Foster briefly, in Bangladesh, when he was the fielding coach for another team. I played with Neil McKenzie years ago at Hampshire, and he is a funny (humorous) man, and I am looking forward to meeting him again.”
Benny Howell on how he goes about practicing preparing for his role with the bat, and whether it is just a case of walking into a net and trying to hit every ball for four or six, or a bit more scientific than that:
“I am still learning what is the best way is (to approach a practice session), because you want to practice like you are in a game, and that means you might face only five or ten balls. But at the same time, you want to get your good practice in. I am trying to find a balance between having a good nice long practice session, a good long hit, and sometimes going into the nets and hitting the first few balls for a four or a six.
“I am a big advocate for (using) a heavy bat and heavy balls which a guy called Julian Wood uses, who is a power hitting coach for players like me, who come in down the order and try to hit fours and sixes. I use the technique a lot just to get the juices flowing and get the feeling of hitting the ball hard. So, it is about finding the right balance at the right time during training.”
Benny Howell on how he got involved with coach Julian Wood:
“It was a few years ago. He is brilliant, he will throw to you, and he will give you the ideas of how it works, and where you should hit the ball and contact points. Basically, what the use of heavy balls does is it exaggerates the way you are hitting the ball, and if you are hitting it well with a heavy ball, it really feels good and it will stick on the bat, but if you do not (hit the ball well) you feel like you are going to drop the bat. It is a really good indicator of whether you are hitting the ball well or not.”
Benny Howell on the principle behind using heavy bats in practice:
“If you see baseball hitters, when they are waiting to go into the batter’s box, they put these heavy rings on their bats and they practice swinging. So, I guess when you get your own bat it feels really light, and it feels really good. Whether it is scientifically proven or not I am not sure, but it really makes batters feel good.”
Benny Howell on working with a batting or bowling coach in T20 cricket:
“In a tournament that is only a month long, the best coaches watch every individual closely and adapt their coaching styles to those individuals. So, for myself, it would be just them being present and seeing what I do with the bat, and if they can see anything that I cannot see, so they can give me some advice or tips. The other side (of their role with me) is how we go about the game tactically, what is the game plan on these wickets, against a particular bowler or batter, and the mental side of things.”
Benny Howell on whether he is familiar with UAE conditions, and what he is expecting the conditions to be like:
“I know from playing in the T10 last year that the wickets were pretty good, but they can skid quite low, so then you have to adjust your lengths (as a bowler) accordingly. If you float the ball up, you cannot really rely on any swing, or the slowness of the pitch, to get you out of trouble, because the ball travels as well here (in the UAE). So, you have to adjust your length accordingly to the wickets. Generally (the best way is to bowl) back of length, skidding in and with good change-ups. That is pretty good.”
Benny Howell on whether he uses bats with a lower middle in them:
“Luckily, because I bat down the order, I actually get a bat with a low middle because bowlers more often than not are going to try and bowl yorkers at the death. So, I generally have that (bat with a low middle) that suits the conditions here because the ball is staying low, so it is probably going to hit there on the bat. That is probably what I would do.”
Benny Howell on his main asset as a bowler:
“All the variations (I have), I guess (are my main assets as a bowler). A lot of the time the batter is not sure what is coming down. But I think what a lot of people forget that I still need to be effective with my line and length too. I like to believe I am quite accurate with where I am bowling, and I put in a lot of research before every game to know what the strengths and weaknesses of the batters are. I then adjust my bowling styles to those batters. It does not always come off but if I do the right research and put in the work beforehand then I can go into the game with a free mind and have a clear plan.”
Benny Howell on how many variations he has as a bowler, and whether it is a trade secret:
“I have about four different grips for my normal medium-pace run up, and within those four different grips I will adjust my hand positions, and angles of my arms, to make the ball do different things. At the moment I am working really hard on adding a couple more styles of bowling, because I want to bowl quick leg-spin as well. I have been working on it for a few years, and I bowled it in the BPL last year. Also (I have been working on) off-spin with some carrom balls, to the left-handers especially. So that is something I am working on for this tournament.”
Benny Howell on how important it is that this tournament, unlike so many others, openly embraces Associate and Affiliate cricketers, and the inclusion of UAE cricketers, in every starting line-up:
“It is great (that Associate and Affiliate cricketers, including UAE cricketers, are involved in the ILT20) and increasing the participation around the world. There are a lot of talented players over here. Afghanistan over the last few years have really come up and now in the UAE there are a lot of good players. It is exciting to get more nations involved and increase the cricketing world.”
Benny Howell on his own aspirations as a player – and whether he believes that a decent showing in tournaments like the ILT20 can catapult him into the selection conversation:
“I am never going to stop my dream of wanting to play for England. I guess all I can do is play well in the tournaments I am selected to play in and perform as much as I can. I know I was close to getting involved in the (T20) World Cup. It was amazing to see them (England) win. I just have to keep performing with the bat and ball and see what happens.”
Benny Howell whether he is now exclusively a T20 player or whether he still has ambitions in the other formats:
“I would not say I am exclusively a T20 player, but I have signed a white-ball contract with Hampshire with the option to play red-ball cricket if things work out. I injured my hamstring in 2019, I tore it off the bone, and that is actually the time I stopped playing four-day cricket. I felt I could not get through more than 10-12 overs in a day. So, I went towards T20 cricket, and being selected there. I would not say my ambitions are over with red-ball cricket. At the moment T20 cricket is the focus, because of the winter tournaments, but when summer comes around, we will see how it goes, because I am interested in playing red-ball cricket for my county.”
Benny Howell on whether the 50-over Cricket World Cup in 2023, is on his radar:
“Maybe (and) that is why I want to adapt my bowling styles to include spin as well as my hybrid medium-pace. So, in ten overs I can bowl different balls, and different styles, and become more than one bowler in a spell. I do not want to look too far ahead, but it (50-over Cricket World Cup in 2023) is definitely on my radar.”
About the Desert Vipers
Owned by Lancer Capital, The Desert Vipers team is one of six to compete at the inaugural ICC-sanctioned ILT20 tournament to be held in the UAE in January-February 2023. Cricket Director Tom Moody and Head Coach James Foster lead operations in the star-studded Desert Vipers camp, which includes players like Sam Billings, Wanindu Hasaranga, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Tom Curran, and Sheldon Cottrell. Other key staffing appointments include Azhar Mahmood (fast bowling coach), Carl Crowe (spin bowling coach), Simon Helmot (fielding coach), and Neil McKenzie (batting coach).
For more information please contact:
Brian Murgatroyd & Roshni Jayakrishnan: media@thedesertvipers.com
