Coach excited ahead of new season

April 22, 2025

HEAD coach Adam Mansfield says Suffolk are ‘good enough to beat any side’ as they prepare to enter the new season.

Suffolk get their 2025 competitive campaign under way on Sunday when they visit holders Norfolk in their opening NCCA Trophy Group 2 fixture.

In a switch to previous seasons, the 50-over competition is being played as the first block of fixtures, to be followed by the T20 competition, rather than vice versa, and then the Championship.

Mansfield said: “We usually do well in the 50-over competition, so it may help us to have that first, but in the recent past we have been slow starters, so it could work in our favour but it might not.”

A bonus payment to be distributed among the National Counties at the end of the season will be performance-related across all three formats, with points awarded for wins and finishing positions.

“Because of the prize money that is available now, it is even more important that we do well in every game we play across all three competitions,” said Mansfield.

Suffolk will select from the same core group of players as they did last season, and Mansfield is confident they can be competitive.

He said: “It is exciting as we have a young group of lads and I know that if we play to the best of our ability, we are good enough to beat any side, but it is about going out there and doing it.

“It is very much the same squad, but with another year’s experience, plus Josh Cantrell has the benefit of his first season as white-ball captain last year behind him.

“Matt Wareing is back in the white-ball team and is looking fit and strong, while Dan Shanks has put a lot of work in on his fitness throughout the winter.

“Tom Harper has started the season well with Loughborough MCCU and Ollie Burle has been scoring runs for Warwickshire Under-18s, as well as making his maiden century for Suffolk.”

George Rhodes, who returns as the county’s professional, is expected to play all four Championship matches and two of the four NCCA Trophy group games, but will not feature for Suffolk in the T20 competition.

Feroze Khushi, who was on a dual registration with Suffolk while he was at Essex, is now part of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) set-up following his release by the first-class county at the end of last season.

Suffolk have been in contact with Khushi, who is currently injured, about playing for the county this season.

“We would love to have him involved if, and when, he is available, and we wish him all the best in his recovery and hope to see him soon,” said Mansfield.

Dan Shanks is pictured above bowling during Sunday’s 37-run defeat to Bedfordshire in the 50-over friendly at Bury St Edmunds CC.

 

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