The Cricketer runs down all you need to know ahead of the 19th edition of English cricket's premier 20-over competition, with Notts Outlaws looking to defend their title...
The 19th edition of English cricket's premier 20-over competition the Vitality Blast.
Lancashire Lightning's clash with Derbyshire Falcons kicks off the tournament on Wednesday, June 9. The group phase runs until Sunday, July 18. The knock-out phase is scheduled as follows:
Tuesday, August 24: Quarter-final
Wednesday, August 25: Quarter-final
Thursday, August 26: Quarter-final
Friday, August 27: Quarter-final
Saturday, September 18: Finals Day (Edgbaston)
The 18 first-class counties have been split into two region groups, North and South, based on their location in England and Wales.
Every county plays the eight other teams in their section home and away in a schedule totalling 16 matches.
The top four from each group progresses to the quarter-finals. The winners of each of those ties progress to Finals Day, during which a semi-final and final, to crown the champion, is contested.
The line-up for the last eight is determined by the performance of each county in the regionalised group stage. The draw is as follows:
North 1st vs South 4th
North 2nd vs South 3rd
South 1st vs North 4th
South 2nd vs North 3rd
North Group: Birmingham Bears, Derbyshire Falcons, Durham, Lancashire Lightning, Leicestershire Foxes, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Notts Outlaws, Worcestershire Rapids, Yorkshire Vikings.
South Group: Essex Eagles, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Hampshire Hawks, Kent Spitfires, Middlesex, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex Sharks
Every county will play seven home and away fixtures during the group stages. Quarter-finals will be hosted by whichever team finishes higher in the group stages. The semi-final and final will be held at Edgbaston on September 18.
Each knockout game has a reserve day.
The full fixture list for the T20 Blast can be found here
Notts Outlaws are favourites to defend their title - but there has never been a back-to-back winner
Notts Outlaws are the favourites with the bookmakers to retain their title, with several outlets offering odds as short at 11/2 for Peter Moores' side to go all the way.
Lancashire Lightning are available at 8/1 while you can back 2009 winners Sussex Sharks at 10/1.
Last season's beaten finalists Surrey are also at 10/1 and the 2019 winners Essex Eagles can be backed at 12/1 with some bookies.
Finally, three-time winners Leicestershire Foxes prop up the contenders' list at 40/1.
Grounds are only permitted to be a maximum of 25 per cent full for matches up until the intended dropping of all Covid-19 restrictions on June 21.
TEAM GUIDES
Tickets can be found for all counties via the ECB website. Click here for more information.
Partly thanks to 86 per cent of tickets being rolled over from the 2020 season, tickets for Finals Day sold out prior to Christmas. An additional allocation for the four counties that qualify will be sold at a later date if indeed Covid restrictions allow.
Sky Sports have committed to showing 11 group matches from across the competition, including both Roses matches scheduled for July. They will also broadcast all knock-out matches, including every ball from Finals Day.
The schedule is:
Wednesday, June 9: Worcestershire Rapids vs Notts Outlaws
Thursday, June 10: Middlesex vs Surrey
Friday, June 11: Northants Steelbacks vs Worcestershire Rapids
Saturday, June 12: Sussex vs Hampshire
Tuesday, June 15: Leicestershire Foxes vs Birmingham Bears
Wednesday, June 16: Durham vs Lancashire Lightning
Will Finals Day be full again?
Saturday, June 19: Somerset vs Glamorgan
Friday, June 25: Surrey vs Middlesex
Monday, June 28: Kent Spitfires vs Somerset
Friday, July 2: Yorkshire Vikings vs Lancashire Lightning
Saturday, July 17: Lancashire Lightning vs Yorkshire Vikings
All T20 Blast fixtures will be available via BBC Local Radio Stations with extensive coverage available on 5 Live Sports Extra.
The ECB will also offer a full streaming service of all other un-broadcasted matches, via their website at ECB.co.uk
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