Adam Hose is leading from the front in Wellington Firebirds’ quest for glory in New Zealand’s T20 competition, the Burger King Super Smash.
The Bears batsman has starred in the last three games, his 38 (35 balls) against Auckland Aces last Friday following half-centuries in the previous two matches: 54 not out (33 balls) against Canterbury and 52 (44 balls) against Northern Districts Knights
The Basin Reserve is a unique and beautiful ground. It’s a privilege to play here.
Adam Hose
The 26-year-old is in good form and thoroughly enjoying his stint alongside Bears team-mate Jeetan Patel in the Smash.
“I am loving it,” he said. “The Wellington guys are a great set of lads and the Basin Reserve is a unique and beautiful ground. It’s a privilege to play here.
“I have been hitting it quite nicely though, from a team perspective, we have been a little bit inconsistent. A bit like the Bears in T20 last season we have played some excellent stuff at times but not put it all together often enough.
“We can still qualify. We just need to win our last three games and see where that takes us. The Firebirds and the Bears have both proved in recent years that you can have a lot to do in the last few games of the group stage but then do it and end up winning the trophy.”
Hose’s good form down under augurs well for Warwickshire and Birmingham Bears for whom he aims to be a big contributor in all formats in 2019.
A regular in the two white-ball competitions in 2018, Hose was restricted to just three Specsavers County Championship game by the presence of Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott and Sam Hain in the middle order. Trott’s retirement has, however, created a vacancy.
“It was a little bit frustrating to play only three championship games but I can’t really complain because the guys did brilliantly and won the Division Two title,” Hose said. “Perhaps I could have done more in the games I did play to make myself harder to drop.
“But Trotty’s retirement has opened up a space. I could never replace Trotty, who has been so immense for the Bears for so long and if I achieve half of what he did in the game I will be happy, but hopefully I can force myself into the side and score enough runs to stay there.
“There will be plenty of competition for that vacant spot in the team but I would love to nail down a regular place in the championship.”
Hose is excited by the challenges ahead as the Bears prepare to return to the First Division of the championship after winning the Division Two title.
“I am really looking forward to next season,” He said. “We have lost some senior players in both batting and bowling but have a lot of good younger players and it is up to that generation to take responsibility now.
“It’s not as though the likes of myself, Will Rhodes, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Craig Miles and Liam Norwell haven’t played much cricket. I think we are at the stage of our career where the transfer of that responsibility should be a natural progression.”
