Vitality Blast kicks off in Edgbaston today with exciting double-header
The T20 cricket competition sees 18 teams from across England and Wales compete
It all kicks off with a double-header today (Saturday) at Edgbaston Cricket ground, starting with Derbyshire Falcons versus Lancashire Lightning (2.30pm), followed by Birmingham Bears versus Yorkshire Vikings (6.30pm).
It's the first time in the tournaments history that a "blast off" double header will take place, aiming to create a more exciting start to the competition.
There are eighteen team competing from across England and Wales, nine teams in the North division and nine in the South division.
Each team will play 14 league matches, seven home and seven away, between May 20 and July 2. The top four teams will clash in the two semi-finals, followed by the final, all on the Finals Day at Edgbaston on July 15.
Moeen Ali who plays for England will captain the Bears this summer after moving back to Edgbaston following 17 years with Worcester.
Speaking to us on Tuesday, Birmingham Bears coach Mark Robbins, said: "Its exciting isn't it, a great way to launch the competition. There's already 14,000 tickets sold for Edgbaston and there should be a few more sold too. It should be a great atmosphere and we can't wait to get going."
Irish Cricketer Paul Stirling who now plays for the Birmingham Bears, says: "It adds a bit of extra jeuje doesn't it. I think we are all pretty excited to see what happens. We should get a look look at the first game and see exactly what's going on.
"It should hopefully bring in more crowds and at the end of the day that's our aim, to try and make sure we are playing our best in front of the crowds."
Birmingham Bears will be hoping to go a step further in this year’s competition. They lost to Lanchashire in Manchester in their quarter final.