Top 10 T20 stars coming to Gloucestershire in 2016
5 February 2016
Don’t miss out on the chance to catch some of the biggest names in world cricket on your doorstep this summer.
As well as Glos stars like Michael Klinger and Andrew Tye, you can watch the the likes of Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch and Eoin Morgan at The Brightside Ground and Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival in this year’s NatWest T20 Blast.
Tickets for the competition are now on sale - click here to purchase
For our pick of the top 10 visiting players taking on Gloucestershire Cricket’s Royal London One-Day Cup winners see below:
Who: Luke Wright and Ross Taylor (Sussex Sharks)
When: Friday 20 May at the Bristol County Ground
Why: Having lit up the County Ground with a match-winning 111 not out off 56 balls in 2015, Sussex skipper Luke Wright (pictured) returns for the first match in Bristol under floodlights.
The England man was the fourth highest scorer in last season’s Blast with 564 runs, hit the joint most sixes (29) and recently made the highest single score (109) in Big Bash League 5.
Another Sussex man worth watching is New Zealander Ross Taylor. With 11,000 international runs- including more than 1000 in T20s, he is one of the most prolific batsmen on the planet.
Gloucestershire v Sussex - NatWest T20 Blast - Click here for tickets
Who: Jacques Rudolph (Glamorgan)
When: Friday 10 June at the Bristol County Ground
Why: The experienced South African led his side to victory at Bristol in the Blast last year with an impressive 101 not out off 71 balls.
He went on to make more than 400 runs in the competition at an average of over 40.
In total he has nearly 30,000 career runs including over 3300 in T20s.
Gloucestershire v Glamorgan - NatWest T20 Blast - Click here for tickets
Who: Chris Gayle (Somerset)
When: Friday 17 June at the Bristol County Ground
Why: There are sure to be fireworks when the self-styled World Boss rolls into town with Somerset for the West Country derby.
The West Indian smashed 329 runs in three innings in last year’s NatWest T20 Blast and recently hit the joint-fasted T20 50 of all time – off just 12 balls for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League.
At times controversial but never less than box office, Gayle has scored the only World Cup double hundred, has two Test match triple centuries and holds the record for the most sixes in T20 with 618 in 234 matches.
Gloucestershire v Somerset - NatWest T20 Blast - Click here for tickets
Who: Aaron Finch and Sam Curran (Surrey)
When: Wednesday 6 July at the Bristol County Ground
Why: The visit of Surrey offers the chance to see a world class player of the present and one for the future in the form of Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch (pictured) and allrounder Sam Curran.
One of the world’s most destructive batsmen Finch is best remembered on these shores for his T20 world record 156 v England three years ago.
An allrounder for frightening potential – Sam (brother of Surrey bowler Tom and son of former Gloucestershire player Kevin) - became Surrey's second youngest debutant aged 17 and has starred for England Under 19 in the World Cup. A left arm swing bowler and stylish batsman, Glos fans will recall his valiant 37 in the RL Cup final that threatened to the game away.
Gloucestershire v Surrey - NatWest T20 Blast - Click here for tickets
Who: Sam Billings and Sam Northeast (Kent Spitfires)
When: Friday 8 July at the Bristol County Ground
Why: Coming three days after England play Pakistan in a T20 international is it unclear whether one Sam or two will be on show on July 8 but both are worth the admission fee alone.
Billings has established himself as one of England’s most exciting young batsmen in limited overs cricket while only Kent skipper Northeast was the third highest scorer in last year’s Blast.
Gloucestershire v Kent - NatWest T20 Blast - Click here for tickets
Who: Ravi Bopara (Essex Eagles)
When: Sunday 17 July at the Cheltenham Cricket Festival
Why: The combination of the historic Cheltenham Cricket Festival and the thrills and spills of the modern game are a heady combination.
Essex are this year’s visitors to the festival led by newly-appointed skipper Ravi Bopara. The England all rounder remains one of the most talented players on the county circuit and has experience of playing in the biggest T20 leagues in the world.
In total he has score nearly 5000 career T20 runs and taken over 150 wickets.
Gloucestershire v Essex - NatWest T20 Blast - Click here for tickets
Who: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
When: Friday 29 July at the Bristol County Ground
Why: With the volume of international cricket, the visit of Middlesex offers a rare chance to see an England captain live in the flesh.
With his big hitting, outrageous reverse sweeps and steely calm, Eoin Morgan is his country’s record T20 international runscorer and one of its most compelling batsmen.
Gloucestershire v Middlesex - Natwest T20 Blast - Click here for tickets
