Pettini desire for first game sellout
Thu 18 Feb 2016
Leicestershire Foxes one-day captain Mark Pettini believes a packed ground will give the team a great chance of NatWest T20 Blast success during the 2016 season.
The 32-year-old has experience of a unique atmosphere having played NatWest T20 Blast at a busy Chelmsford over the years and is now preparing to lead his new team under the floodlights at the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road.
Leicestershire Foxes have their first NatWest T20 Blast home fixture against last season’s finalists Northants Steelbacks on Friday, May 20 and Pettini thinks that a first game sellout would give the team every encouragement as they look to get off to a flyer.
"Last year the club was right up there in NatWest T20 Blast and only one or two games away from qualifying,” he said. “With one-day cricket - particularly T20 - if you can get on a roll with a couple of good performances and results early on, it can help.
“Often those games are decided by small margins and if you have a couple of things go your way or a couple of big performances from players, that can tip the balance.
“I'm sure there will be a fantastic atmosphere. I know the weekend NatWest T20 Blast games are well-supported at Leicestershire and the floodlights going up will only help that. Day-night cricket improves the viewing experience and makes for great evenings around the county circuit.
“I'm used to those occasions at Essex and I know that the crowd can go a long way to making it uncomfortable for the opposition on a Friday night, so hopefully that will be the case here too. I’d like a lot of noise from the crowd because that can help turn our ground into a fortress.
“If people turn out in number to support us, it can only help our bid to make the knockout stages, and it would be great to see the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road bursting at the seams for that first game. It’s crucial we get off to a good start.”
* There’s a wide range of options to watch the Foxes in white ball action during the 2016 season, including our one-day season ticket, NatWest T20 Blast season ticket and matchday tickets.
We have some great deals for families during NatWest T20 Blast, with two adults and three under 16s able to enjoy the action by buying an advance ticket for £30. For more information, please browse our website HERE or call 0116 245 2401.
