Durham Cricket all-rounder Liam Trevaskis can’t wait for the new Vitality Blast season to start after tickets went on sale for the group-stage matches this morning.
While the winter weather continues to linger on the cricket season is fast approaching and this summer the Blast will start earlier in May.
Durham broke their attendance record in the Blast last summer and with crowds up 50 per cent over the past three seasons a night out at Emirates Riverside has become the popular choice.
Trevaskis admits the increased support has not gone unnoticed by the players who are determined to repay the fans’ faith.
“We have a short history as a club but we’ve been quite successful in that short period,” he said.
“Two years ago we did get to the quarter-finals and last year we just slipped off so it would be good to get back there.
“You never know what can happen then (when you get to the quarter-finals) a couple of wins and then you’re champions of England. That’s the plan.”
Trevaskis has never been to a Finals Day as a player or as a fan and, with general admission tickets for the showpiece event of the domestic calendar having already sold out in record time, he would love to get there with Durham come September 5.
“I’ve never been down (for Finals Day),” he said.
“I have watched it quite a lot and played here in front of a decent crowd a few years ago but I’ve never been to Finals Day. It would be lovely to come for the first time as a player and go all the way.”
Trevaskis made his T20 debut a year after Durham reached the 2016 Blast final and the 20-year-old is keen to establish himself as a three-faceted cricketer to help inspire a run to the knockout stages.
“Last year my bowling was more of my game but this year hopefully I can get up the order and try to cement a place with some middle-order hitting,” he said.
“On top of that in the field I’m happy running boundary to boundary at the Riverside and throwing myself around.
“It’s good to be in the action and to put yourself on the line and under pressure for the team.
“I can’t wait for it all to start. The fans get round you and if something like ‘Sweet Caroline’ comes on you can hear those voices singing. As the lights start to come on you can see Lumley Castle in the background so it’s a real unique place to play. It’s a lot of fun.”
With more Blast matches to be played in social-friendly timeslots this summer Durham will play three of their home matches on a Friday night with two on a Sunday and two on a Wednesday night.
They begin the campaign away to Yorkshire Vikings on Friday, May 29 before their home opener against Leicestershire Foxes on Wednesday, June 3.
To get your tickets for this summer’s Vitality Blast visit the club’s website at: https://www.durhamcricket.co.uk/tickets/