In a new series for this year's Vitality Blast, an expert eye will provide a deep dive into each of The Blaze and Notts Outlaws' Trent Bridge opponents.

As Trent Bridge gears up for one last hurrah of this season's Vitality Blast group stage and with everything still on the line, a detailed look at Lancashire Lightning Men is provided by Manchester-based freelance journalist, and Red Rose fan, Joe Nuttall.

Secure your seats to Friday’s last Blast hurrah on 11 July here...

Top of the group with two games to go; despite what would no doubt have been high ambitions before the Blast began, it’s been a strong showing so far for Lancashire?

It’s been a brilliant Blast campaign for Lancs overall. They came into the competition on the back of some poor County Championship form and with a new head coach, which could have certainly affected how the side performed.

Despite the turbulence, the results have been impressive, with eight wins from 12 games. A crucial win against Durham in the final home game of the season last Sunday has all but steered Keaton Jennings’ side into the quarter-finals.

There have been some destructive wins along the way, including an 80-run thumping of Derbyshire away from home, after setting the Falcons 244 to win. Crucially, there have been some wins in games that have gone right down to the wire, including the victory against Durham, which was won by three wickets with eight balls left.

It’s probably hard to pick out key players given the glut of international talent, but if you had to, who would you single out as especially worth watching with bat and ball?

It’s hard to overlook the international talent in the squad. Jos Buttler, who has two half-centuries in five innings, and Phil Salt have added to the batting firepower, and let’s not forget Jimmy Anderson. The 42-year-old, playing in his first Blast campaign since 2014, has taken 14 wickets.

Another deadly England quick is Luke Wood, who will be no stranger to the Trent Bridge crowd, having previously played for Nottinghamshire. He has plenty of pace, swings the new ball a mile and loves to castle the stumps with his pinpoint yorkers.

Aside from the England stars, skipper Jennings has been very consistent. He’s made just shy of 400 runs and has consistently gotten his side off to a quick start in the powerplay. The versatility of Luke Wells, with bat and ball, has also stood out. He can start quickly in the powerplay or, if he is batting further down the order, maintain a quick run rate in the middle overs. His leg spin is more than useful, too.

The standout player, though, has probably been Chris Green. Returning for his second season as the Lightning’s overseas, he’s the club’s leading wicket-taker with 18 victims. He has the skill to bowl in all phases of play, thanks to his clever changes of pace and ability to fire yorkers in. It’s certainly been useful for Jennings.

There is obviously a lot of experience in this side, both domestically and internationally, but who are the younger up-and-comers worth keeping an eye on?

It’s been harsh on some of the younger players recently, because the return of the England stars has meant it’s been hard to break into the side. With that being said, two homegrown youngsters really stand out.

Matty Hurst is a fantastic wicket-keeper/batter. He’s been a victim of Buttler and Salt’s return, playing just seven games, but has 156 runs and a strike rate of 140. Hurst’s last innings in the Blast was away to Derbyshire in the aforementioned 80-run win, where he scored a stunning 59 off 29 balls. A modern-day T20 player, he can score 360 degrees and hit boundaries to all parts.

With the ball, Tom Aspinwall is one to watch. He’s only played six times in the Blast this year after suffering from an injury recently, but has taken seven wickets. One of Aspinwall’s best skills is his death bowling. He has a brilliant slower ball, well disguised by the lack of change in his action, and a yorker which he consistently hits and has previously brought him success.

Finally, it’s hard to believe that Lancashire have only won this competition once given such a historically strong record, but is it fair to say the target from here has to be the trophy?

The assignment for the short term is, of course, to secure a home quarter-final. A win in either of the final two group games will be enough to seal that meeting against a South Group side at Emirates Old Trafford.

But, from there, the goal is to win the Blast. It will be 10 years ago in August since the Lightning lifted their only Blast title to date. Buttler and Liam Livingstone are the only players left from that side, with Croft, then the captain, having moved into his new role as interim head coach.

Finals Day is sandwiched in between two England T20i games, so the squad that Lancs could field on Friday may look completely different to a potential appearance at Edgbaston. But, plenty of quality remains, with the likes of Hurst and Aspinwall ready to step into the lineup.

There will certainly be confidence in the group that the Red Rose can go all the way this year and lift their second Blast title. For a side who have reached Finals Day nine times, winning the trophy just once is a little surprising. 10 years on from their first success, perhaps Lancs can finally claim the trophy once more.

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