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NatWest U19 T20 clubs begin road to Bristol County Ground

19 June 2015

A brand new competition designed to bring the electric atmosphere of the world’s top T20 leagues to Gloucestershire’s clubs will be launched tonight (June 19).

Twenty teams from across the county have signed up for the inaugural Under 19 T20 Cup with the top four set to play off at the Bristol County Ground on August 30.

Players will wear coloured clothing, play with pink balls and be given bonus points based on the quality of the match day experience they provide.

Gloucestershire Cricket Board (GCB) community coach Scott Tremain, who has organised the tournament says that as well as offering an eye-catching spectacle, the competition aims to prevent young people dropping out of the game.

He said: “The ECB has recognised that nationally we need to do more to keep players in the game when traditional junior cricket stops at the Under 15 age group.

“From the IPL and Big Bash to the NatWest T20 Blast over here, this is the format and style of cricket that excites our youngsters. It’s what they want to play and it is fantastic that they now have the opportunity to replicate the thrills of these competitions at club level.”

The first round of the competition has been divided into four groups, two in the north of the county and two in the south following a draw by Gloucestershire CCC stars Chris Dent and Will Tavaré. The winners will go through to finals day at the Bristol County Ground where the semis and final will be played on the same day.

The first match sees the rebranded Frocester Foxes (Frocester CC) host the Charlton Super Kings (Charlton Kings CC). The following week Long Ashton Galaxy take on the Marshfield Mavericks and there is a local derby between Gloucester City Winget Saxons and the Cheltenham Chiefs.

The renaming of the teams is one of many examples of the players taking ownership of the competition rather than relying on the senior committees that traditionally run their clubs.

The players have also chosen their team colours, organised the music and off-field entertainment and added their own innovations including special caps for the top runscorer and best bowler.

Teams will also be writing their own match reports, providing regular tweets and will have the chance to film the action on a Go Pro camera provided by the GCB.

Benny Ellis from the Charlton Super Kings said: “We are all really looking forward to getting the coloured kit on and playing in the first match. The lads are excited to play in a different kind of atmosphere and to be playing for the chance to get to the Bristol County Ground is a brilliant incentive.”

The tournament is being run in association with Plumbase – a national plumber’s merchant with more than 200 stores nationwide.

Kevin Moore lead sales development manager at Plumbase – and a member of Brislington CC – said: “Being a member of the local cricket community for a number of years I am very proud to support the Gloucestershire Cricket Board in the T20 Under 19 competition. This is a very exciting format of the game which is so important due to ever-changing way the game is being played at grass roots level. The vibrant T20 competition is very much in line with the Plumbase brand and supporting young people is so important for the local community. Good luck to every team, I very much look forward to watching some group games and being in attendance at the Finals Day in August.”

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