What is the T20 Blast League?

The Twenty20 Cup or otherwise known as T20 Blast is a professional Twenty20 cricket competition. It operates in English and Welsh first-class countries. This league was created in 2003 by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). This made it the first Twenty20 professional league in the world.

England and Wales Cricket Board

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created in 1997 to combine the roles of Test and Country Cricket Board, National Cricket Association, and the Cricket Council. It is a company limited by guarantee. This means that it maximizes the funding of the sport rather than making a return for investors.

ECB handles the promotion and finance of cricket in England. It is also responsible for the generation of income from selling sponsorship and broadcasting rights.

T20 Blast league has been known with different names due to its sponsors. It was known as Friend Provident T20, Friends Life T20, NatWest T20 Blast, and Vitality Blast.

Teams in the T20 Blast League

This professional league has one of the most number of teams playing under it in the world. It has 18 teams that are divided into a Northern and Southern Division. The Northern Division teams are:

Derbyshire Falcons

Derbyshire Falcons or otherwise called as Derbyshire County Cricket Club is a first-class county club in England and Wales. It is also a List A team since the beginning of limited overs in 1963. Additionally, it was known as a senior Twenty20 team in 2003.

This team was established in 1870. Its home ground is The Pattonair County Ground at Derby that has a seating capacity of 9,500 people.

Derbyshire Falcons has won the Championship Division One, Championship Division Two, NatWest Pro40 League, Friends Provident Trophy, and Benson & Hedges Cup one at a time. They have a total of 5 titles won.

Durham Lions

Durham Cricket or famously known as Durham Lions is another first class county cricket club which represents Durham. It was created in 1882 and was classified as an official first class team in 1992 when they joined the County Championship. They became a full List A team in 1992 and a senior Twenty20 team in 2003.

They had won the County Championship 3 times and Royal London One-Day Cup 2 times. As of yet, they had not won a Twenty20 Cup championship.

Lancashire Lightning

Lancashire County Cricket Club or commonly known as Lancashire Lightning was founded in 1864. It is one of the eighteen first-class county cricket clubs in England and Wales. This team is a founding member of County Championship which they had won nine times.

They also won NatWest Pro40 League 4 times, Friends Provident Trophy 7 times, and the Benson & Hedges Cup 4 times. Additionally, they were able to bag one T20 Blast League Championship title in 2015.

Leicestershire Foxes

Leicestershire Foxes is the league’s most successful team as it has won three championship titles. It was founded in 1879 and was granted first class status in 1895. This team has won County Championship 3 times, NatWest Pro40 2 times, and Benson & Hedges Cup 3 times.

Its homeground is Grace Road in Leicestershire that could accommodate 12,000 people.

Northamptonshire Steelbacks

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club or also known as Northamptonshire Steelbacks is a first class team in England and Wales. It was founded in 1878. It is also known as Northants Steelbacks for its limited overs team. It was promoted to a first class club in 1905.

It follows after Leicestershire Foxes as one of the most successful teams in the T20 league. This is because they had won two T20 Blast Championship titles.

Notts Outlaws

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club or also known as Notts Outlaws is a first class county cricket club. It was founded in 1841. Its home ground is Trent Bridge which could accommodate 17,500 people.

It has won 6 County Championship titles, 1 NatWest Pro40 title, 1 FP Trophy, 1 YB40, and 1 Royal London One Day Cup. Besides this, the team has won one B&H Cup and one T20 Blast League title.

Birmingham Bears

Warwickshire County Cricket Club was founded in 1882. It is known for its ODI name as Warwickshire Bears. Its T20 League name is Birmingham Bears. It was promoted to a first-class cricket club in 1894. Since then it has played top-level domestic cricket competitions in England and Wales. Its home ground is Edgbaston Cricket Ground which could accommodate up to 25,000 people.

It has won 7 County Championships and 5 FP Trophy. It also has a total of 5 wins from playing ODI Cup, Pro40 League, and Sunday League. Additionally, it has already won a T20 Blast League Championship title in 2014.

Worcestershire Rapids

Worcestershire County Cricket Club or also known from its ODI name of Worcestershire Rapids was founded in 1865. It is known by most of its fans as “The Pears”.  It achieved first class status in 1899 when it joined County Club Championship. Its home ground is New Road cricket ground at Worcester which could accommodate up to 5,500 people.

It has won 5 County Championship titles, 4 Pro40 titles, 1 FP Trophy, and 1 B&H Cup. Additionally it has won one T20 Blast League title in 2018.

Yorkshire Vikings

Yorkshire County Cricket Club was founded in 1863. It is also known as Yorkshire Vikings for ODI games and T20 league. This team was composed of earlier teams like Sheffield Cricket Club. Due to this, Yorkshire Vikings has always held a first-class status. Its home ground is Headingley Cricket Ground at Leeds where it could accommodate up to 18,350 people.

This team is the most successful one in the history of English cricketing teams. This is because it has won 33 County Championship titles, including one title they shared with another team. Besides this, it has won 1 Pro40 title, 3 FP Trophy, and 1 B&H Cup. As of yet, it has not won a T20 Cup title.

The Southern Division teams are the following:

Essex Eagles

Essex County Cricket Club is also known as Essex Eagles. It was founded in 1876 and had achieved first-class status in 1894. Its home ground is County Ground in Chelmsford which could seat approximately 5,500 people.

It has won 7 County Championship titles, 5 Pro40 League titles, 4 FP Trophy, and 2 B&H Cup. Unfortunately, Essex Eagles still has not won a T20 Blast League title.

Glamorgan

Glamorgan County Cricket Club or mostly known as Glamorgan is a first-class cricket club in England and Wales. It was established in 1888.It is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. They became a first-class club in 1921. Its home ground is Sophia Gardens which could accommodate approximately 16,000 people. Glamorgan was a prominent member of Minor Counties Championship before the first World War.

It has won 3 County Championship titles and 3 titles in the NatWest Pro40 League. It has not won a title in the T20 Blast league. 

Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club was founded in 1870. It is also simply known as Gloucestershire in ODI and T20 league. It has always been a first-class club ever since it was created. Its home ground is Bristol County Ground which could accommodate up to 8,000 people.

It has won 2 One Day Cup titles, 5 FP Trophy and NatWest Trophy, and 3 B&H Cup. It has not yet won a T20 Blast championship title.

Hampshire

Hampshire County Cricket Club has been a first-class cricket club since it was established in 1863. It is most commonly known as Hampshire. Its home ground is the Ageas Bowl which could accommodate up to 25,000 people.

Hampshire has won 2 County Championship titles, 3 ECB40, 5 Royal London One Day Cup, and 2 B&H Cup. It has also won 2 T20 Blast league titles.

Kent Spitfires

Kent County Cricket Club has played in every top-level domestic cricket games in England since its establishment in 1842. It is also known as Kent Spitfires after the Supermarine Spitfires. It has always been a first-class cricket club. Its home ground is St, Lawrence Ground which could seat approximately 7,000 people.

It has won one T20 Blast league title. Additionally, it has won 7 County Championship titles wherein they shared 1 of them with another team. They also won 2 One Day Cup, 5 National League titles, and 3 B&H Cup.

Middlesex

Middlesex County Cricket Club is a first-class cricket club in England and Wales. It is most commonly known as Middlesex. It was founded in 1864 and has since then been a first-class club. Its home ground is Lord’s Cricket Ground which could accommodate up to 30,000 people.

It has already won one Twenty20 Cup title among many others. Additionally, it has won 11 County Championship it shared 2 titles with another team; 2 B&H Cup, and 4 One Day Cup.

Somerset

Somerset County Cricket Club is most commonly known simply as Somerset. It was founded in 1875. It was considered a minor county club until it was promoted into first-class in 1895. Its home ground is County Ground which could seat up to 8,500 people.
It was able to bag one T20 Blast League title in 2005. It has also won 3 Royal London One-Day Cup, 1 Pro40 league, and 2 B&H Cup.

Surrey

Surrey County Cricket Club has been a first-class club since it was founded in 1845. It is most commonly known simply as Surrey. Its home ground has been The Oval at Kennington, London from the start which could accommodate up to 25,500 people.

It has bagged one T20 Blast League title adding to the other titles it has won. It had won the County Championship it bagged 19 times where it shared 1 trophy; 2 Friends Provident Trophy, 3 B&H Cup, and 3 NatWest Pro40 League.

Sussex Sharks

Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the cricket clubs in England and Wales. It was founded in 1839 and has since then been a first-class club. It is most commonly known as Sussex Sharks. Its home ground is County Cricket Ground at Hove, East Sussex which has a seating capacity of 7,000 people.

It has won 3 County Championships, 3 Pro40 Leagues, 5 FP Trophy, and 1 T20 Blast League title.

Tournament Format of T20 Blast League

The matches are held in a block during July and August. The teams in each division compete with each other until only four teams each are left.

These remaining teams will compete in a set of quarter finals that will only leave the top four teams competing for the semi-finals and finals. The semi-finals and finals will be held at the same day wherein the top performing team will also be announced.

Where to Bet?

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