Essex face Cook dilemma for Blast tie

Alastair Cook, fresh from skippering England to an Ashes challenge, is included in a batch of Test players who have been made available for the quarter-finals of the NatWest Blast this week.

England's early securing of the Ashes made it a more straightforward decision for coach Trevor Bayliss to support the release of international players ahead of next week's final Test at the Kia Oval in what will be a timely boost for the competition.

Essex face a tough challenge - irrespective of Cook's potential involvement. They face Birmingham Bears, the holders, at Edgbaston on Wednesday night. Ian Bell has also been made available for Birmingham.

Cook has played only one T20 match this season for Essex, which ended in defeat, part of a dismal start to the season which almost cost them a place in the last eight and his involvement will not be automatic.

He has scored a T20 hundred, however, and has a respectable strike rate of 127 runs per 100 balls from his 32 T20 appearances, and Essex might conclude that his dressing room presence, by itself, will be a boost worth having.

Countering that is the suspicion that as England captain he might be particularly forgiven for still being in Test mode and after an emotionally-charged summer might be most in need of a few days' rest. They are expected to discuss the situation in detail with Cook before reaching a decision.

Moeen Ali's presence, though, is assured and it will be a considerable fillip for Worcestershire in their first home quarter-final in T20 - a sellout at New Road - with Hampshire barring the way as Worcestershire seek to reach Finals Day for the first time.

Despite his England duties, Moeen was top of Worcestershire's batting averages in the North Group with 238 runs in six innings, as well as taking five wickets.

The quarter-finals run nightly from Wednesday, beginning with Sussex's home clash against Northants Steelbacks, the 2013 winners, but stricken with financial trouble and desperate to see off David Willey, their star allrounder who has expressed an intention to leave at the end of the season, in style.

Buttler has also been made available on Saturday for Lancashire, last year's beaten finalists, who face Kent Spitfires in Canterbury. James Anderson will be an absentee as he continues to receive treatment to a side strain after his inclusion in England's squad for the Oval.

"I'm really excited to be available for Lancashire on Saturday and it's obviously a massive game for the club," Buttler said. "We've just beaten Kent in the One-Day game last week so hopefully we can go there and do the same again.

"I haven't been in the best form with the bat but hopefully playing in the T20 will free myself up and I can put in a performance to help the side to finals day."

Buttler has only made one appearance for the Red Rose this year, but it was a match-winning one in the Roses clash in June. The England wicket keeper hit 71 not out from 35 deliveries as Lancashire beat Yorkshire Vikings off the last ball at Headingley.

"It was fantastic day and to beat Yorkshire at Headingley off the final ball was pretty special. For us to beat our arch rivals and win that game was great and I absolutely loved being a part of the side that day.

England's 14-man squad will convene for that game on Monday week (August 17), meaning the players will not be available for the closing stages of the group matches in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Fixtures:
Wednesday: Sussex Sharks v Northants Steelbacks
Thursday: Birmingham Bears v Essex Eagles
Friday: Worcestershire Rapids v Hampshire
Saturday: Kent Spitfires v Lancashire Lightning