Twenty20 spectacular set to start

Leicestershire Foxes won a dramatic final last year

This year's Twenty20 Cup extravaganza starts on Friday with nine games taking place in front of packed grounds.

Former England one-day captain Adam Hollioake, who has ended his retirement for the event, is set to play for Essex Eagles against Sussex Sharks.

Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya will play for Lancashire Lightning while Muttiah Muralitharan turns out for his country.

Leicestershire are appealing for a helicopter to help dry out the pitch for their opener against Yorkshire.

With the first Twenty20 World Cup in September, home-grown players and overseas stars will all aim to impress.

And as usual tickets have been selling fast with many grounds reporting sell-outs as the off-the-field entertainment adds to the fans' enjoyment.

Strictly Come Dancing star Mark Ramprakash and Just the Two of Us contestant Mark Butcher launched Surrey Brown Caps' Twenty20 campaign with a parody of their celebrity television performances and have helped sell more than 100,000 tickets for their matches.

Darren Gough's return to Yorkshire Phoenix has ensured a sell-out crowd at Headingley for the clash against rivals Lancashire Lightning on Monday 25 June.

Derbyshire Phantoms have reported their highest advanced sales for the competition and have been boosted by the late arrival of big-hitting Australian batsman Michael Dighton.

Northamptonshire Steelbacks are planning a "Monty Zone" - complete with a lookalike competition - to celebrate England star Monty Panesar's charismatic displays when they face Worcestershire on 22 June.

Warwickshire Bears have introduced a "Ladies Day" at Edgbaston on Tuesday 26 June, including a game between England A Ladies versus an Invitational XI in a Twenty20 match. A Pimms reception and beauty bus will also be at the ground.

Champions Leicestershire Foxes start their title defence against Yorkshire Phoenix at Grace Road but will be without last season's inspirational skipper Darren Maddy who has joined Warwickshire. However, the popular hot-tub returns.

The Sugababes added to the finals day fun last year

Somerset Sabres, with a team featuring big-hitters Justin Langer, Marcus Trescothick and Cameron White, will fancy their chances of regaining the trophy they won in 2005.

Hampshire Hawks have signed Australian batsman Adam Voges as compatriots Shane Warne and Stuart Clark both take mid-season breaks while all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas takes over the captaincy.

Worcestershire Royals' Australian opening batsman Phil Jaques will miss the opening four games of their campaign after returning home for family reasons and on-loan all-rounder Kyle Hogg has also returned to Lancashire, who are struggling with injuries.

Glamorgan Dragons will play their first match of the season at their redeveloped Sophia Gardens ground on Friday when they face Gloucestershire Gladiators.

South African paceman Morne Morkel will deputise for compatriot Andrew Hall in Kent Spitfires' Twenty20 campaign.

Middlesex Crusaders have signed South African Tyron Henderson, who won South Africa's domestic Twenty20 competition this year, as a short-term replacement for seamer Chaminda Vaas. They will wear a new pink strip to promote the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity.

Nottinghamshire Outlaws batsman Will Jefferson will seek to hit top form and impress the England selectors after an injury-hit start to the season.

Gloucestershire Gladiators are providing additional entertainment including face painting and a bouncy castle plus free cricket coaching for under-16s.

Durham Dynamos will be known as the Men In Black for their campaign as they take to the field in a new all-black kit.

Sussex Sharks are planning a family day on Sunday 24 June which will feature Southern FM DJs, Gully's Girls cheerleaders and a Kwik Cricket roadshow.

---

Twenty20 Cup format:

North Group: Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Durham.

Midlands Group: Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Glamorgan, Somerset, Worcestershire.

South Group: Essex, Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Middlesex.

Each county plays each side in their group with the top two sides going through to the knockout stages.

22 June to 6 July - group matches

17 and 18 July - quarter-finals

4 August - semi-finals and final at Edgbaston