The Cricketer provides all the information as the T20 Blast gets underway on Thursday
Where: Leicester
When: Thursday, August 27, 6:30pm
Lowdown: Derbyshire reached Finals Day for the first time in the competition’s history in 2019. Leicestershire claimed the North Division wooden spoon. Both have impressed in the Bob Willis Trophy.
One to watch: Leicestershire have signed hard-hitting Ireland batsman Gareth Delany for this year’s competition, replacing South Africa’s Janneman Malan, who was unable to fulfil his contract.
Weather: Cloudy with a chance of showers
Tickets: The game will take place behind closed doors
Predictions: Derbyshire
Where: Emirates Riverside
When: Thursday, August 27, 2:30pm
Lowdown: Lancashire dominated the North Division before falling to eventual winners Essex in the quarter-finals last year, while Durham have lost influential overseas player D’Arcy Short.
One to watch: In Short’s absence, it will be fascinating to see how talented 21-year-old Scott Steel fares for Durham.
Weather: A wet day is forecast in Durham, with showers being replaced by heavier rain as the afternoon wears on
Tickets: The game will take place behind closed doors
Predictions: Lancashire
Paul Stirling is in Northamptonshire's squad after joining as an overseas player
Where: Headingley
When: Thursday, August 27, 6:35pm
Lowdown: Nottinghamshire are a fine white-ball outfit, while Joe Root will be in rare T20 action for Yorkshire.
One to watch: Point to prove or not, Alex Hales is one of the world’s finest T20 batsmen. Available for the entire competition as his England absence continues, he could take Nottinghamshire a long way in this year’s tournament.
Weather: A cloudy day is set to turn to light showers by the evening.
Tickets: The game will take place behind closed doors
Predictions: Nottinghamshire
Where: Sophia Gardens
When: Thursday, August 27, 6:30pm
Lowdown: Ed Barnard will lead Worcestershire in Moeen Ali’s absence. He and Pat Brown are on England duty. Worcestershire came within a ball of winning back-to-back titles last year.
One to watch: How Barnard goes about his work as skipper will make for fascinating viewing, especially without two linchpins of the club’s recent T20 success.
Weather: Sunny intervals with a chance of showers, some of which will be heavy.
Tickets: The game will take place behind closed doors
Predictions: Worcestershire
James Bracey is back with Gloucestershire after England duty
Where: Bristol
When: Thursday, 27 August, 2pm
Lowdown: For Gloucestershire, their quarter-final loss to Derbyshire last year still rankles. James Bracey is back from England duty, while Ian Cockbain returns, having missed out on the club’s red-ball fixtures.
One to watch: Paul Stirling’s batting always makes for enthralling viewing. He will play his first county game as a bona fide overseas player, following his departure from Middlesex.
Weather: A cloudy start to the day changing to showers in the afternoon
Tickets: The game will take place behind closed doors
Predictions: Gloucestershire
Where: Canterbury
When: Thursday, 27 August, 2pm
Lowdown: Kent have lost both Sam Billings and Joe Denly to England duty, while injury and other circumstances have similarly depleted Hampshire’s resources.
One to watch: Zak Crawley is back in the ranks after his England Test heroics. Is this Blast a chance for him to stake a claim for white-ball honours? Watch out, too, for new Hampshire signing George Munsey
Weather: Cloudy but dry is the current outlook for early afternoon at Canterbury
Tickets: The game will take place behind closed doors
Predictions: Kent
Ed Barnard will captain Worcestershire in Moeen Ali's absence
Where: Chelmsford
When: Thursday, 27 August, 2pm
Lowdown: Essex are reigning champions and are yet to lose in this truncated season. Middlesex, meanwhile, reached last season’s quarter-finals but are without Eoin Morgan due to England duty, as well as the since-departed Dawid Malan, Stirling and overseas player AB de Villiers.
One to watch: Steven Finn has been handed the Middlesex captaincy in Morgan’s absence. It will be interesting to see how he fares.
Weather: Cloudy with a chance of showers as the afternoon progresses
Tickets: The game will take place behind closed doors
Predictions: Essex
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