Natwest T20 Blast Launches With Sales Boost

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a 41% ticket boost on last year, after confirming 88,090 tickets have been already sold, with aggregate attendances expected to exceed last year’s record of over 707,000.

This year the competition has attracted some of the biggest stars in the game, led by New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who has signed for defending champions Birmingham Bears.

He is joined by Chris Gayle at Somerset, the only player to have achieved a Test triple century, an ODI double century and a T20I hundred.

Kumar Sangakkara (Surrey), Mahela Jayawardene (Sussex Sharks), Shahid Afridi (Northants Steelbacks) will also feature, as will ICC Cricket World Cup champions Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell (Yorkshire Vikings) and James Faulkner (Lancashire Lightening).

Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff joined players from each of the counties to launch the new season from Edgbaston, home for this year’s Finals Day.

Flintoff, who helped Lancashire Lightning to within one boundary of glory last season, commented: “Players and fans both love cricket on Friday nights. The quality of players on show this summer will be top-notch, and the quality of cricket will be right up there with other T20 leagues across the globe.”

As per last season, 70% of fixtures will be played on Fridays between 15th May and 24th July, with the quarterfinals played on four consecutive days in August, with the 2015 Finals Day on 29th August.

ECB chief executive officer, Tom Harrison said: “This year’s NatWest T20 Blast will feature some of the most famous names in world cricket – and our First Class counties are already reporting excellent advance ticket sales for the group matches. With the majority of fixtures again scheduled in a fan-friendly slot on Friday nights, NatWest T20 Blast action will be at the heart of what promises to be a hugely exciting summer of domestic and international cricket.”

Rhidian Taylor, head of brand management, NatWest added: “NatWest’s long association with cricket provides great opportunities for our customers. Through our T20 partnership we will be offering our customers the chance to win tickets and money can’t buy experiences all season. We’re looking forward to another exciting NatWest T20 Blast season.”