This year’s Vitality Blast promises to be one of the biggest ever, with stars from all over the globe coming to The Incora County Ground and Queen’s Park this summer.
Derbyshire supporters are already licking their lips at the prospect of seeing the likes of Haider Ali, Wayne Madsen and Leus du Plooy smashing sixes, or George Scrimshaw and Suranga Lakmal sending stumps cartwheeling, but what about our opposition?
From ICC T20 World Cup winners to some of the games biggest hitters, there’s plenty of huge names coming to test themselves against Mickey Arthur’s Falcons in 2023.
Register for the Priority Window today (Saturday 18 February) to get your hands on Vitality Blast tickets first! Tickets go on general sale from Tuesday, so don’t delay, sign up now.
Lancashire Lightning – Saturday 20 May – Edgbaston (Blast Off)
Liam Livingstone
Where else to start but with a World Cup winner, all-rounder Liam Livingstone featured in all six matches as England fired their way to a second white-ball trophy in four years. Always a dangerous batter, Livingstone also with the ball, taking 3-17 against Ireland. When it comes to the Vitality Blast Livingstone featured in seven matches last campaign as Lancashire reached the final, falling to Hampshire at Edgbaston.
With more than 5,000 T20 runs and 86 T20 wickets to his name, Livingstone remains in all threat to the opposition in all facets of the game.
Colin de Grandhomme
Colin de Grandhomme, the big-hitting New Zealander, has made a career out of being able to take the game away from the opposition in the blink of an eye, while batting down the order.
His career strike-rate in T20 currently stands at an impressive 156.81, with 15 half-centuries to his name and at 36-years-old, de Grandhomme has the experience to change a game in the biggest moments.
His 74 T20 wickets also portray a player who is more than handy with the ball, and he could be a potent weapon for Lancashire Lightning this summer.
Notts Outlaws – Friday 9 June – The Incora County Ground
Alex Hales
Notts will be aiming to make up for their disappointing showing in last season’s Vitality Blast, where a late run of form could not prevent them from missing out on the quarter-finals. However, England batter, Alex Hales, will be coming into this year’s competition off the back of an impressive winter.
First, the powerful opener averaged 42.40 and scored two half-centuries as he helped England to lift the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup, before firing Desert Vipers to the inaugural International League T20 final with five-consecutive scores of 50 or more.
Hales has more than 10,000 T20 runs to his name, including 70 half-centuries and five centuries, and two Vitality Blast titles to his name. He will be a key man if Notts are to improve on last season’s showing in 2023.
Colin Munro
More than 9,000 T20 runs and a strike-rate above 140 tell their own story, Colin Munro is among the most destructive batters in world cricket and his arrival at Trent Bridge could mean further fireworks in an already loaded top-order.
With the arrival of Haider Ali to join the likes of Luis Reece, Wayne Madsen and Leus du Plooy at Derbyshire, the East Midlands Derby promises to be essential viewing for fans of huge hitting this summer!
Northamptonshire Steelbacks – Monday 29 May – The Incora County Ground
Chris Lynn
Australian batter, Chris Lynn’s, first season in English cricket saw him score two centuries and four half-centuries in just ten innings, maintaining a strike-rate above 150 as he racked-up 516 runs at an average of 64.50.
Northants acted quickly to retain their star opener for the 2023 season, and Lynn continued his good form by smashing the fifth-most runs (416) in the recent Big Bash.
He will be a prized wicket for any county this summer, as Northants aim to reach the quarter-finals after narrowly missing out in 2022.
AJ Tye
Having turned out for Durham in 2022, taking 21 wickets at an impressive average of 14.76, AJ Tye has made the move to The County Ground, Northampton, to join his countryman, Lynn.
An experienced fast bowler, Tye has claimed 301 T20 wickets in his career, just under 50 of which have came at international level, and has become a sought-after talent in T20 leagues around the world.
Leicestershire Foxes – Friday 30 June – The Incora County Ground
Naveen-ul-Haq
A team vying to get back into the play offs, Leicestershire Foxes have their overseas weapons signed and sealed for the 2023 season.
Afghanistan international, Naveen-ul-Haq, has been one of the standout fast bowlers in the Vitality Blast in each of his seasons so far, finishing as the competition’s leading wicket-taker in 2021 and following it up with 24 wickets at 16.16 last year.
At just 23-years-old, Naveen already has more than 150 T20 wickets to his name and he will once again lead the Foxes’ attack this summer.
Wiaan Mulder
While his contribution in four-day cricket was unmatched for Leicestershire in 2022, South African international Wiaan Mulder had to wait to play a part in the Foxes Vitality Blast campaign last season, but he showed solid foundations to build on this year.
Mulder’s T20 record is that of a dependable all-rounder, with 1,007 runs and 43 wickets in 66 games, and the 24-year-old will be aiming to make a big contribution with bat and ball for Paul Nixon’s side.
Birmingham Bears – Friday 2 June – The Incora County Ground
Hasan Ali
West Indies legend Carlos Brathwaite, along with Ireland’s Paul Sterling, was the Bears overseas sensation last season, leading them to the top of the North Group but falling in the quarter final against eventual winners Hampshire Hawks.
But, this year the overseas signing of Pakistan fast bowler, Hasan Ali, on a four-month contract is sure to turn some heads. With 60 international T20 wickets to his name, this quick will looking to prove a point after he missed out on a place in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad.
Glen Maxwell
One of the finest T20 players of his generation, Australia’s Glen Maxwell will be a threat with bat and ball this year.
More than 8,000 T20 runs and a strike-rate above 150, Maxwell has the power to clear any boundary, while his off-breaks have garnered 133 T20 wickets in his career.
With more than 200 international appearances across all formats, Maxwell is also an experienced head, which will help the Bears to replace the knowledge of fellow T20 World Cup-winner, Brathwaite.
Yorkshire Vikings – Sunday 18 June – Queen’s Park, Chesterfield
Shan Masood
Having impressed for Derbyshire in 2022, Shan Masood will return to Chestefield this summer as captain of Yorkshire.
A former Pakistan Super League winner, Masood impressed for Pakistan in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup producing steady performances to help his team reach the final where he produced a dogged performance to score a team-high 38, but England would come out on top.
An experienced player across all formats, Masood has scored more than 3,000 T20 runs in his career and has previously captained the Multan Sultans in the PSL.
Harry Brook
Playing alongside Masood will be England World cup-winner Harry Brook, a player who enjoyed a 2022 which few players could better in world cricket.
The 23-year-old began the campaign dominating in red and white ball cricket for Yorkshire, which earned him an England call-up, where he would go on to lift silverware.
Averaging above 30 and scoring his runs at a strike-rate of 148.38, Brook’s power and strokeplay have earned him praise across the formats, with his exciting style even transitioning well into England’s new approach to Test cricket.
Worcestershire – Sunday 2 July – The Incora County Ground
Mitchell Santner
Two overseas arrivals both from New Zealand are set to compete in this years T20 Blast. Mitchell Santner has made more than 160 appearances at international level including featuring at the 2016 and 2021 ICC T20 World Cups. The all-rounder has experience in the Vitality Blast, featuring in the 2016 and 2017 Worcestershire Rapids’ campaigns, finishing as their leading wicket-taker in 2016.
Michael Bracewell
For Bracewell his recent form has been impressive to say the least. A top order batter, who’s capable of bowling useful off-spin, Bracewell is one of the bigger hitters in the T20 game averaging 79.66 for Wellington in the recent Super Smash T20 competition and hitting an astronomical 141 not out against Central Stags.
The Vitality Blast is set to be bigger and better than ever next summer, and you can experience it all with a Blast Pass for just £109!
After enjoying a Club-record T20 campaign in 2022, Mickey Arthur’s Falcons will again be targeting a place in the latter stages of the competition, with the likes of Haider Ali, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy and England Lions duo, George Scrimshaw and Sam Conners, among those who will be looking to make a big impact.
Blast Pass holders can watch all seven explosive Derbyshire Falcons home fixtures, including the huge East Midlands Derby against Notts Outlaws and the clash with Yorkshire Vikings.
Included in the Blast Pass is Derbyshire’s fixture at Edgbaston, as part of the historic ‘Blast Off’ double-header, to kick-start the 2023 Vitality Blast, as well as Heather Knight’s England side’s Vitality WIT20 against Sri Lanka on Wednesday 6 September. You will also receive a free official Club programme, reusable cup and more…
