Welsh Fire might not be involved in The Hundred final on Sunday at Lord’s but there is set to be a Welsh batter.

Aneurin Donald will take his place in the top order of the Nottingham-based Trent Rockets when they face Manchester Superchargers this evening (18:15 BST).

The 29-year-old from Gorseinon near Swansea started his career with Glamorgan but left in 2018 and is now at Derbyshire.

“I am massively proud and passionate of my heritage and Welsh cricket,” said Donald.

“I left Glamorgan a long time ago but love to keep a track of Welsh cricket even if I’m doing it with a Trent Rockets shirt on.”

And Donald is quick to remind people it is the England and Wales Cricket Board.

“I’m always correcting people that I’m playing as a Welshman, not an Englishman, and it’s something I’ll always push.

“Glamorgan and Wales have a special place in my heart and there’ll always be that attachment to Welsh cricket.

“I’m looking forward to hopefully flying the flag at Lord’s and getting a trophy.”

Donald is hoping to be part of a successful Trent Rockets side in front of a capacity crowd in London.

“It’s going to be exciting to roll out in Lord’s in front of a full crowd in a final,” he said.

“Lifting a trophy would be a huge moment. For myself and my career, it’d be up there.

“I want to try and soak the day in, because they come and go quickly and careers are short.”

Donald was picked up in the auction by Trent Rockets and experienced a successful T20 Blast campaign with Derbyshire.

He was the sixth highest runs scorer with 489 in the 20-overs tournament, but it was his astonishing strike of 230 that stood out.

“It’s an obvious strength of mine, and this format [The Hundred] is compressed even more,” said Donald.

“It’s more important you’re efficient with your balls and that’s something that seems to have worked over the past few years.

“The format is different for the players, probably more so than people realise because it is so much faster.”

After being forced to wait his chance with the Rockets’ international line-up, Donald came in for injured England batter Tom Banton and kept up that strike rate when Rockets topped the table.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to get a chance, which is difficult with these teams,” said Donald.

“To be able to have played a small part in this and feel I’ve finally put my stamp at this level has been important.

“I’m lucky to have landed at Trent Rockets, it’s an unbelievable place to be involved.

“It is tough to get in the side and hold a spot down, but when you get a chance you’re desperate to take it with both hands.

“As you go up the levels, you’ve got to take opportunities you get.

“I feel like I’ve been around the block a bit. I’m probably in the best position to kind of cope with that and be ready for my chance.”

Donald knows he is in his position because of his county career.

“I love Derbyshire and it’s nice to feel settled, they’ve been amazing since I moved there,” said Donald.

“My game has gone from strength to strength and I’ve got a lot to thank [director of cricket] Mickey Arthur and the club for.

“I feel so valued. Getting the opportunity to captain in white ball cricket is a massive feather in my cap and something I always wanted to do.”

Donald was a Glamorgan prodigy who seemed destined for senior international honours when playing for England Under-19s.

That never quite materialised, but a decade on Donald has not given up hopes of a call-up in white-ball cricket.

“The landscape’s changed since I made my first-class debut,” said Donald.

“You now have franchise cricket and these opportunities around the world to play in front of massive crowds on the biggest stage with the best players and that’s a massive draw.

“Any county cricketer who comes through the system says Test cricket is the pinnacle and wanting to get a cap for England is definitely up there.

“I’m not sure I could sit here with a straight face and say I’m probably in the mix to do it in red ball.

“However this [Hundred] platform, and certainly white-ball cricket, I’m excited to see where it takes me.”

After The Hundred Donald will play in a 10-over league in Canada after being involved in that format in Abu Dhabi last year.

He hopes to be involved in lucrative 20-over tournaments in UAE, Australia, South Africa and Pakistan, while the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the holy grail for franchise cricketers.

“I’ve always felt I’ve had an ability to do it at franchise level and levels above, and it’s nice to feel I’m showing that now,” said Donald.

“Hopefully a few doors will start to open, certainly on the franchise circuit, and then you never know with the England white ball stuff.

“All I can do is keep knocking at the door and, most importantly, performing on every stage and in every opportunity I get.”

Given his qualities, it is no surprise Donald is a big supporter of The Hundred concept which has divided cricket fans.

“It is safe to say the standard has gone up this year, especially with the overseas players we have,” said Donald.

“Guys who play in leagues around the world can’t speak highly enough of The Hundred.

“You’re playing with the best players in the world in front of massive crowds on TV.

“As a professional sportsman, it feels like the pinnacle right now in terms of English T20, or close to T20.”

Donald also believes it has succeeded off the field.

“The Hundred has achieved a lot of what it’s set out to be,” he said.

“It’s been obvious to see how many families and kids are in grounds throughout the school holidays.

“The product is great entertainment, although it’s not perfect.”

Donald hopes The Hundred can continue to co-exist alongside the T20 Blast and the 50-over One Day Cup.

“The Hundred is here to stay and hopefully supporting the county game,” he said.

“While the Blast has probably had a little bit of heat over the last few years, it’s a great competition with good overseas players and teams.

“It’s a good proving ground, a great product itself which is well followed and well organised.

“The Hundred is a separate entity but the Blast and Metro-Bank [One Day Cup] competitions are good and county cricket is brilliant.

“There is a good will there where The Hundred can coexist and benefit the other domestic tournaments.”

One thing Donald will be doing on Sunday is committing to his running between the wickets.

Earlier this month, he was in supreme form with 23 from 10 balls when he was inexplicably run out against MI London after failing to ground his bat.

“I pride myself as a relatively switched-on bloke, so to have done that has hurt my ego,” said Donald, who was relieved the Rockets won by six wickets.

“This is probably a good place to get on record my apology.

“Not only do I apologise to Pete Moores and Sam Billings (Trent Rockets head coach and captain), I apologise to all my coaches from under-9s and all the way through, because that’s the first rule, everyone knows to run your bat in.

“Doing that on television in a big game, when I was in good form, was pretty dumb and I have learned my lesson.

“I’ve seen a few clips of that online, it’s tough to get rid of, and everyone since has been telling me not to forget to run my bat in this weekend.

“So that’ll be first on my list. You might see me diving into the crease on Sunday!”

Donald will be hoping that will not be necessary at the home of cricket where he will aim to provide the Welsh firepower for Trent Rockets.