FANCY taking a chance when Daryl Mitchell has the ball in his hand? Let the mind games begin!

Renowned bowler, perhaps not, but tough times with the red ball and halcyon days with the white at New Road have drawn attention to the veteran batsman’s other talents.

They might not enter Mitch’s mind that much but who better than one of Worcestershire’s most chilled-out characters to outwit big hitters in the pressure cooker of Edgbaston on T20 Finals Day?

“To be honest I have always seen myself as a batsman that has bowled a little bit, trying to get in a few overs in white-ball cricket,” said Mitchell.

“I don’t tend to take my bowling too seriously, I just enjoy it. As a batsman maybe I think like a batsman, which can help when trying to think what your opponent is going to do.

“Pace off in T20 cricket is really important, we have seen how successful spinners have been over the years and my style of bowling is fairly different, a hybrid type if you like with slow seamers and cutters in there.

“I have probably bowled within myself a lot of the time, trying to take the pace off the ball and make opponents try to hit boundaries over my fielders if I can.

“If they get it right good luck to them, if they don’t they’re generally out.”

Shackles off and pressure free, pretty much like last year’s first experience of cricket’s annual showpiece for the Rapids.

This year brings a different kind of pressure but one Mitchell believes Worcestershire have the credentials to overcome.

“To get back there again is pleasing and exciting and everyone is looking forward to the day,” he added.

“We all know what to expect this time around, winning the quarter-final last year got a monkey off our backs more than anything.

“We had lost a few previously so it felt like we had achieved something just by getting there.

“This time we go as defending champions and maybe with a bit more expectation but they are one-off games and anyone can beat anyone.

“A bit like the quarter-finals, if one player has a day out it can win the game for your team.

“I think that showed in the performance when we went down to Sussex (for the quarter-final). Moeen (Ali) stood out but it was a good effort with the ball and we knocked them off pretty comfortably.

“We go into Finals Day full of confidence and with plenty of match winners in our side.”