England and cricket go hand in hand. It is a game played during the summer months in the Uk. A 'good innings' has also become a much used idiom in England over the years, describing someone who has lived to a good age.
A newly-introduced variant of cricket from the general one-day matches, T20 cricket or Twenty20 cricket may be defined as a short cricket match limited to 20 overs of gameplay, lasting for about 80 minutes per innings, with half-an-hour interval in between. The beginnings of the T20 format can be traced to 2003 when it was introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board. The format has met with mixed reactions from cricket experts and fans.
Since inception, the T20 format of cricket has made its way into almost all cricketing nations across the globe and enjoys much popularity, especially in the Indian sub-continent, South Africa, and Australia. What sets this format of cricket apart is the fact that it has become a franchised form of sports, like some British football clubs, where individuals of high net-worth may own cricket teams, which may then play against each other in the form of tournaments.
This has been particularly popular in India where several teams have been formed, and a high-octane T20 series is played out each year amidst much fanfare. One of the most distinguishing features of the T20 format exercised in India is that the various franchises are free to rope in players from cricket teams of other countries. For instance, the teams have been known to have brought in players like Michael Clarke from Australia and Chris Gayle from West Indies on various occasions, besides several others. This has not only resulted in greater cross-country participation in cricket but has also become a launchpad for various new cricketers who make their career debuts through this format.
push the Jubilee fixture (3rd June). Exclusive offer for Trafford Residents of Adults £5 and Kids come for free
- Outside of the above area, the ticket prices start from £1 for kids and £12 for Adults
- The T20 Vitality Blast game sees Lancashire Lightning take on Northamptonshire Steelbacks
- The Fan village will host activities, food, drink and jubilee fun
Watch the Vitality Blast at Emirates Old Trafford this summer!
The T20 season is about to begin and Lancashire Lightning are set to welcome capacity crowds back into Emirates Old Trafford for the Vitality Blast for the first time since 2019.
Tickets start from just £1 for kids and £5 for adults with some of the biggest names in world cricket set to take centre stage at Emirates Old Trafford this summer, including Liam Livingstone and Jos Buttler!
The opening game is the highly-anticipated, and nearly sold-out, fixture against Roses rivals Yorkshire Vikings on Friday 27 May, before Lancashire Lightning take on Worcestershire Rapids on Sunday 29 May (2:30pm), both at Emirates Old Trafford
There will be fun on offer for the whole family as Emirates Old Trafford hosts a festival of cricket with a new and improved fan village inside the ground with activities to keep all ages entertained away from the on-field action!
During the June half-term week, Lancashire Lightning and Thunder will share the stage during two doubleheaders with our professional women’s team, Thunder, playing in the headline slot of 7pm for the first time on Wednesday 1 June.
48 hours later, on Jubilee Weekend, the roles will be reversed when Thunder host Loughborough Lightning at 2.30pm before Lancashire Lightning take on Northants Steelbacks under the lights on Friday 3 June.
Glen Chapple’s team play two fixtures in Blackpool before returning to Emirates Old Trafford on Sunday 3 July taking on Birmingham Bears to conclude the Vitality Blast group stages.
The Vitality Blast group stage will take place over a 40-day period with 99 of the 126 matches to be played on a Thursday, Friday, and at the weekend. The quarter-finals will be staged from 6-9 July before the sold-out Finals Day will be staged at Edgbaston a week later.
Click here to view the fixture list and to buy tickets!
Matt Parkinson said: “We are a team that thrives on having the crowd there. The crowd can swing tight matches in our favour and has a massive impact on us as a team, more so than most counties.
“The group of players we have got thrive on big atmospheres and we have a quite a lot of showmen in the side who look to put on those performances for the fans.
“The atmosphere inside Emirates Old Trafford for Blast matches is amazing and to know that we are finally back to capacity crowds this summer is a great feeling.”
Lancashire Lightning players; Matt Parkinson, Liam Livingstone, Jos Buttler and Tim David
Thunder v Loughborough Lightning @ 2:30pm
Lancashire Lightning v Northants Steelbacks @ 6:30 pm
