With Ed Pollock going in first for Birmingham Bears, explosive hitting at the top of the order is nothing out of the ordinary.
But even by Polly’s standards, the launchpad he gave the Bears innings against Yorkshire Vikings at Edgbaston in their North Group match last year was pretty spectacular.
When Birmingham set out to chase the Vikings’ total of 157, Pollock opened the batting with England and Bears legend Ian Bell. Seam-bowler Matt Fisher opened the bowling for Yorkshire – and was thrashed for 33 runs off his first six balls, 28 of them thanks to the three sixes and two fours by Pollock.
It was a sensational blast from Polly and his whirlwind 14-ball 39 set his team on course for an easy eight-wicket win. The crowd loved it – and so did the man himself…
“I was seeing the ball quite nicely,” he said, with endearing under-statement. “It helps when you are chasing a middle-ish target because you know that if you can get the guys off to a good start it will take the pressure off at the back end.My part was perfectly set-up by the bowlers and fielding unit who gave us a smallish chase on an excellent pitch.
“It also helps opening with Ian Bell. You know that you can trust that Belly is going to be there and playing his way. I still find it quite surreal to be playing alongside him as I was only ten when I watched the 2005 Ashes and I grew up watching him play, so now playing alongside him is a great experience.”
After Pollock’s pyrotechnics, Bell and Adam Hose added classy unbeaten half-centuries to scuttle the Vikings. Polly is just one element of the powerhouse potential of Birmingham’s batting.
