Vipers Voices

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It's a New Year and so we're a step closer to the Desert Vipers' first match of the DPWorld ILT20, and in this episode we hear from opening batter Adam Lyth.

Adam arrives at the Desert Vipers off the back of a busy winter schedule that's included a spell in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament for the Northern Warriors and also time in the Big Bash League in Australia for the Perth Scorchers. He also arrives off the back of an outstanding summer of 2022 in short form cricket for both his county Yorkshire and his side in The Hundred, the Northern Superchargers.

Adam speaks with us about his growth from a player who's played seven Tests for England into a genuine three-format player, as well as reflecting on his continuing international ambitions.

Then we hear from Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver, and Sean Morris, the founder and CEO of 1.5 Degrees Sport, about their groundbreaking partnership that starts with this ILT20. The duo spoke with radio station Dubai Eye 103.8's Agenda programme to discuss the agreement that will see the players using electric scooters to get about during the tournament but, as you’ll hear, that will be just the first step towards highlighting the issue of climate change and, more importantly, leading the way in cricket by trying to do something about it.

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This is an episode with a difference as Desert Vipers spin-bowling coach Carl Crowe and left-arm spinner Mark Watt discuss all aspects of the slow bowler's art in the T20 format, with the ILT20 at the forefront of both their minds.

From the mental side of the game to analysis versus gut feel through to ways to practice for the expected dew issues during the tournament, this is a fascinating discussion on spin bowling in T20 cricket - how to do it and how to coach it.

The Desert Vipers are fortunate to have someone of Carl's pedigree as a member of the coaching staff for the competition as he's worked across the world for various sides in short form cricket and, ahead of the ILT20, coached the New York Strikers to the runners-up spot in the Abu Dhabi T10.

Mark is one of only two Scotland bowlers with more than 50 wickets in T20 Internationals and has impressed in successive ICC T20 World Cups in the UAE and Australia, as well as helping his English county side Derbyshire to the quarter-finals of the T20 Blast competition in 2022.

Carl will be coaching an impressive array of spinners for the Desert Vipers including not only Mark but also the number one men's T20I spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka, off-spinner Rohan Mustafa of the UAE, his country's top wicket-taker in the format,  and left-arm wrist-spinner Jake Lintoff, the Birmingham Bears' leading wicket-taker in that 2022 T20 Blast competition and a member of the Southern Brave squad that lifted the inaugural men's Hundred silverware in 2021.

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In this episode we chat with all-rounder Benny Howell who, thanks to his abilities as a middle-order finisher with the ability to find and clear the boundary and his subtle variations as a medium-pacer, has become a sought-after player in short form cricket around the world.

Benny is arriving in the UAE for the ILT20 off the back of time at the Abu Dhabi T10 for the Bangla Tigers and the Lanka Premier League with the Colombo Stars, who finished as runners-up in that tournament, eventually losing a thrilling final to defending champions the Jaffna Kings.

In a fascinating interview, Benny talks about his training methods - including the use of heavy balls when batting - his burning desire to play for England, his bowling variations and also his hopes for the ILT20.

It's a terrific, honest chat and well worth a listen...

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In this episode we announce details of the Desert Vipers' agreement with Rasasi Perfumes to become the franchise's Principal Sponsor. Rasasi was founded in Dubai in 1979 and now has 165 outlets across the region as well as exporting to more than 60 countries. It's an iconic UAE brand and the perfect fit for the Desert Vipers as a UAE side playing in a UAE tournament.

We hear from Vipers CEO Phil Oliver, who appeared on Emirates News on the Dubai One TV channel to announce the sponsorship agreement and provide an update on the side's progress towards its first match on 15 January, and we also have fascinating interviews with the three new players announced this week - Warwickshire left-arm wrist-spinner Jake Lintott, former Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal and Gus Atkinson, the Surrey fast-bowling all-rounder.

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This special bonus episode of Vipers Voices is all about three new signings for the Desert Vipers - former Sri Lanka captain and utility batsman Dinesh Chandimal, fast bowling all-rounder Gus Atkinson and left-arm wrist spinner Jake Lintott.

Director of Cricket Tom Moody takes us through each of the players, why they were on the Vipers' radar and what they will bring to a squad that's already got plenty of quality about it.

And there'll be in-depth interviews with the trio in the next episode of Vipers Voices too - so that's something to look forward to!

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In this episode we learn about one of the Desert Vipers' UAE contingent, batting all-rounder Ronak Panoly.

Ronak is 19 years old (he turns 20 the week before the ILT20 gets underway) and although he is a full-time student at Heriot-Watt University in Dubai, he has already started to make his mark in UAE cricket as he featured in the national under-19 squad at the start of the year when the UAE took part in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean, winning the Plate Competition for the first time in their history.

We speak with Ronak to find out all about him and he tells us his hopes and expectations for the tournament. We also hear from Mudassar Nazar, the former Pakistan all-rounder who is now in charge of the UAE's National Academy Programme as he gives us his perspective on the player.

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In this episode of Vipers Voices we take a deep-dive into the mind of captain Colin Munro.

We've already heard in the previous episode about his reaction to being appointed captain of the Desert Vipers for the inaugural season of ILT20; now we hear about how he prepares for action in short form cricket; how experience has helped him change his approach and his mentality; how he's come to terms with no longer figuring in New Zealand's plans; his thoughts on the Desert Vipers squad, including the inclusion of Associate players across the tournament as a whole; and plenty more besides.

So sit back, relax and listen to some fascinating thoughts from someone who's become one of the most respected short form players in franchise cricket...

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This episode is all about the new Desert Vipers captain Colin Munro.

The New Zealand batter was chosen by Director of Cricket Tom Moody and Head Coach James Foster to lead the side in the inaugural edition of the ILT20 and we hear from both Colin, as he reflects on his appointment, and Tom, as he explains what made him the stand-out candidate for the top job.

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In this special bonus episode of the Vipers Voices podcast, we reflect upon the announcement of the Desert Vipers' four UAE players for the tournament - Rohan Mustafa, Ronak Panoly, Sheraz Ahmad and Ali Naseer.

Rohan is the UAE's leading run-scorer and wicket-taker in Twenty20 Internationals, teenagers Ronak and Ali both featured in the UAE under-19 side that played in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean in January 2022, and Sheraz is an experienced left-arm seamer who has played previously in both the Bangladesh Premier League and the Lanka Premier League.

In this podcast we speak in depth with Rohan as he looks forward to the action getting underway in January.

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In this episode we get an appraisal from Director of Cricket Tom Moody of the Desert Vipers' latest recruit, Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, before we hear from the player himself and his ambitions for the tournament.

Then the podcast takes on a distinctly Caribbean flavour as we chat with Jamaican fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell and Guyananese left-handed batter Sherfane Rutherford. Sheldon talks about coping with pressure while Sherfane speaks of the challenges of spending time on the road after recently becoming a father for the first time.

The Desert Vipers are preparing to take part in the inaugural ILT20 in the United Arab Emirates in January and February 2023 and Vipers Voices is your inside track to everything connected with the squad. 

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