A look at the Vitality Blast South Group
13 March 2018
Tickets for Gloucestershire's seven home matches in the newly branded Vitality Blast for 2018 are now on sale!
The tournament, first played in England in 2003, attracted record attendances last summer - the first in which matches were moved almost exclusively into a self contained block in July and August, a pattern which is maintained for 2018.
Despite some indifferent weather more than 35,000 spectators attended Gloucestershire's home games and with the South Group again expected to be closely contested, this is the chance to see some of best exponents of short form cricket at the Brightside Ground and at the Cheltenham Festival.
Not all the teams have finalised their squads yet but here we look at the prospects for the sides you can see in 2018.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE :
Overseas signing : Andrew Tye
"AJ" returns having missed 2017 with a shoulder injury. He took 18 wickets in his debut season for Gloucestershire and become an instant hero by making an invaluable 18 not out in the derby win over Somerset at the Brightside Ground. To many respected observers he is now a better bowler than two years ago, so his return will strengthen the bowling options alongside Benny Howell, David Payne and Tom Smith, who were the best performers last year.
KENT :
Brightside Ground, Bristol - Wednesday July 11
The Spitfires scored heavily in 2017, with more half centuries (14) than any other team in the South Group but the loss of former captain Sam Northeast to Hampshire will put even more focus on the batting of Joe Denly and Daniel Bell Drummond. Kent are yet to announce an overseas player for this summer, but have been linked with South African pace bowler Morne Morkel, who has just announced his retirement from Test cricket. Wicket keeper Sam Billings has been appointed captain.
SOMERSET :
Brightside Ground, Bristol - Friday July 13
All change at Taunton over the winter, with a new coaching set-up, a new T20 captain in Lewis Gregory and a new overseas signing in Cameron Bancroft, who spent last summer with Gloucestershire and has been in the limelight since following his test debut during the Ashes. Somerset have recalled the services of New Zealand International Corey Anderson who performed well in the competition last year. Spinners may again hold the key to their season, with Roelof van der Merwe recently signing a new contract.
ESSEX :
College Ground, Cheltenham - Friday July 20
The county champions couldn't transfer their four day form into T20 last year, and new head coach Anthony McGrath has turned to Australian leg spinner Adam Zampa to give their previously expensive bowling a different option. Varun Chopra made two centuries last season, but despite having all rounders such as Bopara and skipper ten Doeschate, a meagre tally of four other fifties told its own story. On paper a better side than that would suggest.
GLAMORGAN:
College Ground, Cheltenham - Friday July 27
Table toppers in the South Group last year, and now with one of their key players, Colin Ingram, taking on the captaincy as well. Not only was the South African born left hander Glamorgan's top run scorer last season he also bowled his leg spin frugally too, especially on the slower pitches at the Swalec Stadium. Having only signed Australian Shaun Marsh to date, there is still room for a second recruit specifically for T20 to add to a side where Craig Meschede and veteran Michael Hogan were among their key bowlers.
MIDDLESEX:
Brightside Ground, Bristol - Thursday August 9
A star studded batting line up failed to deliver the volume of runs Middlesex would have expected last year, and with no overseas recruits as yet it's hard to know where they will prioritise T20 having been relegated to Division 2 of the Championship. Ryan Higgins has, of course, left Lord's to come to Gloucestershire, leaving an attack which will almost certainly be spearheaded by Steve Finn and Tom Helm. Dawid Malan retains the captaincy.
SURREY:
Brightside Ground, Bristol - Sunday August 12
A side Gloucestershire only played away from home in 2017, Surrey have re-signed Aaron Finch specifically for the tournament and recruited his fellow countryman Mitchell Marsh for the whole summer. Add in the explosive batting of Jason Roy and the all round skills of the Curran brothers and new skipper Jade Dernbach will have a lot of talent at his disposal.
SUSSEX:
Brightside Ground, Bristol - Thursday August 16
Their best signing of the winter may prove to be highly rated coach Jason Gillespie, who has moved to Hove following a successful stint with Yorkshire. Chris Nash's runs - he scored six half centuries in 2017 - will need replacing, but all eyes will be on the fast emerging talent with both bat and ball that is Jofra Archer. Afghanistan leg spinner Rashid Khan has been recruited for the first half of the tournament.
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