Hain: "I want to score a T20 hundred and I still want to play for England"

Hain has long been a linchpin of the Bears' T20 side, having scored 17 fifties (with a top score of 95) in 78 games at an average of 37.75. If those figures are impressive, his stats in List A cricket, where his average is a remarkable 59.78 from 58 games, are exceptional.

In 2022, Hain will again be at the heart of the Bears batting plans for the Blast campaign which starts against Northants Steelbacks at Edgbaston on May 26. The 26-year-old was comfortably the Bears' leading scorer in the 2021 Blast - more than 140 runs clear of second-placed Will Rhodes - but he is far from satisfied.

"I've looked hard at the stats because these days it's not just about strike-rates, it's about what makes up your strike-rates and how quickly you score off different kinds of bowlers. T20 is evolving all the time so you have to make sure your game evolves with it.

"I want to get better. I want to score a T20 hundred and I still have aspirations to play for England in white-ball cricket and put my name forward for the Hundred and franchise tournaments around the world."

Hain's quest for self-improvement can only benefit the Bears in 2022 as they seek to improve on their Blast campaign last year which ended at the quarter-final stage.

With West Indies powerhouse Carlos Braithwaite appointed captain and fast-scoring batter Alex Davies signed from Lancashire Lightning, Hain reckons the Bears are well-equipped to challenge hard.

"I am really excited about our T20 prospects this year," he said. "Davo coming into the mix really adds a different dimension to our batting. Competition for places has never been so strong and everyone just wants to put their hand up and be in that side.

"Carlos coming in as captain is fantastic, taking the pressure of Rhodesey, then we have huge talents like Jake Bethell and Dan Mousley coming through. Hopefully, Olly Stone will be with us for some of the games and all the guys will get a chance to show what they can do. With the big Bears crowds behind us at Edgbaston, I think we are real contenders this year."