Twenty20 spectacular set to start
Twenty20 spectacular set to start
This year's Twenty20 Cup extravaganza starts on Friday with nine games taking place in front of packed grounds.
Former England one-day captain Adam Hollioake, who has ended his retirement for the event, is set to play for Essex Eagles against Sussex Sharks.
Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya will play for Lancashire Lightning while Muttiah Muralitharan turns out for his country.
Leicestershire are appealing for a helicopter to help dry out the pitch for their opener against Yorkshire.
With the first Twenty20 World Cup in September, home-grown players and overseas stars will all aim to impress.
And as usual tickets have been selling fast with many grounds reporting sell-outs as the off-the-field entertainment adds to the fans' enjoyment.
Strictly Come Dancing star Mark Ramprakash and Just the Two of Us contestant Mark Butcher launched Surrey Brown Caps' Twenty20 campaign with a parody of their celebrity television performances and have helped sell more than 100,000 tickets for their matches.
Darren Gough's return to Yorkshire Phoenix has ensured a sell-out crowd at Headingley for the clash against rivals Lancashire Lightning on Monday 25 June.
full article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/6222036.stm