Ryan Stevenson: My T20 Experiences

Ryan Stevenson has come a long way from playing club cricket in Devon.

After being plucked out of Devon’s side and earning a county contract at the end of the 2015 season, Stevenson now finds himself an experienced performer in the Second XI whilst also playing an important role within the first-team squad, featuring most prominently in the Vitality Blast.

The 27-year-old has played with and against some of the biggest names in the game, particularly in T20 cricket, and the experience of playing against the best in high pressure situations is something Stevenson values highly.

When looking at high pressure scenarios Stevenson has found himself in, the stakes were perhaps at their highest when he found himself bowling the final over in Hampshire’s T20 clash against Essex Eagles at Chelmsford in 2017.

“We didn’t even win the game, but for me personally, having not played a lot prior to that, I was excited to bowl the last over at Chelmsford. They didn’t need many to get over the line but I managed to hit my areas and it ended up being tie off the last ball of the game - although we didn’t win, it was a great experience and something that has helped me moving forward.

“The speed of the game and the high-level of skill and execution required is what I enjoy most about T20 cricket; it’s short, sharp, non-stop action and that’s enjoyable to be a part of. The crowds we get here at the The Ageas Bowl are great too and that makes for a pretty awesome atmosphere at home – you can’t beat it really.”

During his time with the club so far, Stevenson has been a part of a T20 seam attack that has featured some of the best international talents, playing in sides including the likes of South Africa paceman Dale Steyn, West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy and Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi in recent years.

Those stars have not only had a positive impact on his game but made him appreciate the opportunity cricket has offered him.

“I think playing with Dale Steyn is pretty special. He’s a guy that I watched a lot growing up, so to play with him, learn from him and just be around him in the changing room and see how nice a guy he was, that was pretty awesome.

“Darren Sammy, he's a great guy and it was good fun to have him around and obviously Shahid Afridi, what he’s done in the game is special and here at Hampshire too, he's been brilliant over the years.

"Just being in the same dressing room as those guys has been an incredible thing that I never thought would happen a few years ago.”