Five best things about the T20 Blast

Power hitting

The ECB launched the T20 Blast back in 2003, with 2027 marking its 25th anniversary. In that time, it has become the home of power hitting.

From home grown heroes hitting it big, to overseas stars clearing the Hollies, Edgbaston has seen it all. Earlier this year, Australian Beau Webster led the Bears’ charge, hitting 24 maximums during the competition, and over 550 runs, while Abbey Freeborn produced fireworks of her own for Bears Women, hitting 51 boundaries in her 11 matches.

Warwickshire’s own, Zen Malik, also impressed, powering his way to a stunning 99 against local rivals Worcestershire in front of a huge crowd at EdgBLASTon.

There will be more of the same in 2027!

Pride

Shouts of ‘You Bears’ are synonymous with a matchday at Edgbaston, and the Blast brings out the best in the Bears faithful.

Bears fans in their colours, donning kit from each competition year, is part of the EdgBLASTon experience.

Double matchdays are the highlight with both the men and women taking centre stage.

Whether it’s a local derby against the Pears, or a grudge match against the likes of Somerset or Surrey, the Bears are always in full voice, rooting for their team.

Rivalry

The best thing about the T20 Blast. Rivalry upon rivalry created over the past 25 years.

High on that list for the Bears is the local derby with the Pears, and it will be back in 2027.

The Bears have been the dominant force in the fixture over the years, winning the battle 25-18 across 43 T20 meetings. There were reasons to cheer for both sets of supporters last year, with the Pears winning their home fixture, before the Bears returned the favour later on at Edgbaston.

The rivalry has produced some extraordinary individual performances too, including Moeen Ali’s 115 off 56 balls for Worcestershire at Edgbaston in 2018 and Adam Hose’s 110 not out off 53 balls for Warwickshire at the same ground in 2022.

History

The original T20 competition has plenty of history, and the Bears have been a huge part of it. In 2014, in the 12th year of the Blast, and after several close calls, Bears Men lifted the trophy on Finals Day at Edgbaston. In a dramatic final against Lancashire, the Bears held on to win by four runs.

They were finalist in the competition’s inaugural season back in 2003 too, losing to Surrey in the final after coming through a thriller against Leicestershire in the semi-finals.

Since that victory in 2014, the Bears have played in the final once more, doing so three years later in 2017 where an inspired Notts Outlaws won by 22 runs.

In the time since, there has been Quarter Final heartache at almost every turn for the Bears, but they will be bidding to go a couple of steps further in 2027.

Bears Women have written history of their own in the two seasons of the Women’s Blast so far. In last year’s inaugural season, they came agonisingly close to ensuring Warwickshire were the first name scribed on the trophy. It wasn’t to be, as they were just pipped in a thrilling Final.

They will be out to go one better in 2027.

It starts and ends at Edgbaston

Edgbaston has become the home of the Blast, and will next year host Finals Day for the 15th successive year and for the 19th time since the competition began.

With Blast Off at Edgbaston kick-starting the Bears’ pursuit of silverware for both the men’s and women’s teams, all roads lead back to The People’s Home of Cricket, where the four best teams compete for one of the greatest domestic trophies in world cricket. What’s not to like about that?