Hampshire, Somerset confirmed for 2011 tourney

LONDON, CMC – Hampshire and Somerset, the top two sides in the English Twenty20 Championship, have confirmed their participation in the Caribbean T20 Championship to be staged next January in Antigua and Barbados.

The England & Wales Cricket Board announced yesterday that the English champions Hampshire Royals and runners-up Somerset have accepted an invitation from the West Indies Cricket Board to take part in the competition.

This means that 10 teams will now take part in the competition. They are the seven regional territorial sides, including the Combined Campuses & Colleges, the two English sides, and an invitational side likely to be Canada.

“The Caribbean T20 rewards Hampshire Royals and Somerset for their hard work throughout the T20 campaign,” said ECB Director of Marketing & Communications Steve Elworthy.

“It provides an excellent opportunity for both teams to experience playing in a different environment and test themselves against strong opposition.”

Hampshire became the first side to win the English T20 title on their own ground, when they beat Somerset by virtue of losing fewer wickets in August at The Rose Bowl.

The participation of Hampshire and Somerset are reward for the two counties, after the ECB virtually barred them from taking part in the Champions League T20 in South Africa because of the scheduling of the end of the English season.

“The WICB is delighted to have again partnered with the ECB on this progressive initiative,” said WICB Chief Executive Ernest Hilaire.

“The participation of the two T20 teams in the CT20 will certainly enhance the tournament and heighten the excitement.

“We look forward to keen contests between our Caribbean teams and Hampshire and Somerset.”
The preliminary stages of the Caribbean tournament will take place in Antigua, with Barbados hosting the final stages.