ECB Prepares For T20 Blast Off
The ECB’s revamped NatWest T20 Blast competition begins tonight, with 70% of matches this season to be played on Friday nights in a new look schedule for the tournament.
With sunny weather forecast for the opening weekend, the ECB has reported that tickets are selling well, with Nottinghamshire expecting a record crowd in their opening clash against Lancashire.
In a bid to engage with younger cricket fans, the ECB has also launched a free-to-play Fantasy Game, and the digital product has so far enticed 14,500 cricket fans to enter their ‘dream team’ of county stars.
Fans playing the game stand the chance of winning £2,020 and two pairs of 2015 Investec Ashes tickets, and the winner of each of the 18 counties fans’ mini-leagues, will each win £500 cash.
More than 100 current county cricketers have also entered their teams – but remain ineligible for the main prize, with the winner of their mini-league donating £500 to a charity of their choice, instead.
The ECB reports that 53% of Fantasy gamers are under the age of 24, and in another bid to attract younger fans, have launched dedicated social media channels to cover the competition via twitter’s @NatWestT20Blast and facebook.com/NatWestT20Blast.
Fans can still pick their Fantasy team before the first Gameweek deadline of 5pm today at: http://fantasy.ecb.co.uk/, and tickets for all matches are available via www.ecb.co.uk/natwestt20blast
