Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to play again in NCCA Showcase fixture as part of the Visit Cayman Islands Cheltenham Cricket Festival

Following the hugely successful fixture in 2022, we are delighted to confirm that Gloucestershire and Wiltshire will once again compete in the annual NCCA Showcase fixture. For a second year running, this fixture will form part of the iconic Cheltenham Festival with 2023’s match taking place on Sunday 30^th July.

The Showcase Games are a fantastic opportunity for the National Counties to test themselves against the best players in the country. They are also an opportunity to showcase the huge pool of talent within the National Counties, as well as shine a light on the huge amounts of effort that are put in to recreational cricket across the UK.

In 2022, the hosting of the Showcase game at Cheltenham College provided Wiltshire Cricket with a unique opportunity to raise funds through gate receipts with the funds raised going towards the newly launched Talent Pathway Support Fund. The Wiltshire Cricket Talent Pathway Support Fund recognises that individuals and their families at all levels within the pathway make significant sacrifices and financial contributions to support and enable participation within the various aspects of the programme. Through the Support Fund, Wiltshire Cricket is able to better support children who may be suffering from financial difficulties or whose family circumstances mean they are at a disadvantage relative to their pathway peers.

Speaking of the 2023 Showcase fixture, Wiltshire Cricket Managing Director, Peter Sykes, commented; “We are delighted that once again Wiltshire will be competing against Gloucestershire in our Showcase match but more importantly we are really pleased that the fixture will once again form part of the wonderful Cheltenham Festival.

From a cricketing perspective playing at the festival represents a fantastic, and in many cases unique, opportunity for all of our players. However, equally important to this is the arrangement we have reached with Gloucestershire to dedicate a share of gate receipts towards our Talent Pathway Support Fund. The fund was launched in 2022 but without monies attributed to it and so it is so valuable for us to be able to use events like this in order to raise vital funds that in turn will support the young cricketers who most need our assistance”

“It will be fantastic to welcome our neighbours to Cheltenham in what will promises to be another excellent festival that boasts a bumper schedule of six matches across 12 days."

On a blistering hot day, 2022’s fixture saw Gloucestershire post a huge total of 367-5 before Wiltshire were dismissed for 171. For Gloucestershire, there were centuries for Ben Wells and James Bracey whilst for Wiltshire notable performances came from Joe King who took four wickets and Oliver Meadows who top scored with 48. Off the field, the match was watched by 1000 spectators and there were also features on the day such as Gloucestershire and Wiltshire’s Super 1s participants forming part of a guard of honour, and many Wiltshire partners and supporters being hosted throughout the day. We hope to be able to replicate and add many of these initiatives in 2023.

2023 Visit Cayman Islands Cheltenham Cricket Festival Fixtures:

Gloucestershire vs Glamorgan | LV= Insurance County Championship | 20th – 22nd July

Western Storm v Sunrisers | Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy | 24th July

Gloucestershire v Worcestershire | LV= Insurance County Championship | 26th – 29th July

Wiltshire v Gloucestershire | National County Match | 30th July

Gloucestershire vs Derbyshire | One Day Cup | 1st August

Gloucestershire vs Northamptonshire Steelbacks | One Day Cup | 4th August

Tickets for all matches at the Visit Cayman Islands Cheltenham Cricket Festival are on sale now here.