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Cricket Betting: The English Twenty20 Cup is bigger and better than ever

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If it hadn't been for the Twenty20 Cup, there would be no IPL. The original Twenty20 competition is entering its sixth year and is as popular as ever, says Andrew Hughes.

Having increased in size, and with two places in the inaugural Champions League up for grabs, competition is likely to be more intense than ever in the Twenty20. Here's the Betfair guide to the teams and players to look out for.

The Teams

Durham
After a slow start to the season, they have reached the semi-finals of the Friends Provident Trophy and have added to their already impressive squad with the signings of wily old Shaun Pollock and explosive all-rounder Albie Morkel. With their battery of seamers they will be hard to beat at home and have enough batting firepower to make the finals day this time. Their current price of [10.0] looks tempting.

Kent
Current holders and though last year's heavy rain means that you shouldn't take the tournament at face value, their success was well deserved. They have strengthened their title winning side together with the additions of Justin Kemp and Azhar Mahmood. Once a team gets a good Twenty20 gameplan, they can go on a long run of success and Kent are [8.0] to repeat their success.

Leicestershire
Twice winners and the most consistent side over the five-year history of this tournament, last year was the first time they failed to reach the last four, bowing out at the group stage on net run rate. But they were the worst affected of all teams in the competition, with five out of eight games washed out. They have kept the core of a successful team, added some astute Kolpack signings and under Jeremy Snape's leadership they are bound to go well. They are currently available at [17.0]

Yorkshire
Yorkshire don't have a great record in this competition but under Darren Gough's leadership, they are building a great team spirit and have made a flying start to the season. They have added two high-class Twenty20 bowlers in Morne Morkel and Naved Ul-Hasan and can be backed at [7.2].

The Players

Shaun Pollock
A deadly accurate bowler and hard-hitting batsman, there are many who think he should still be plying his trade for South Africa this summer. But the Proteas loss is Durham's gain. Expect him to revel in the conditions at Chester le Street.

Justin Kemp
One of the best Twenty20 players in the world, his signing by Kent is a great move. He can bat anywhere in the order, gives the ball a hefty whack and offers some miserly fast-medium bowling.

Marcus Trescothick
There remains a Trescothick sized hole at the top of the England batting order in all forms of the game and the stats show he is England's best Twenty20 player. He will provide the platform for Somerset's power-packed top order.

Darren Maddy
A Twenty20 specialist and key member of Leicestershire's successful teams in 2004 and 2006, Maddy is thriving at Warwickshire, despite the unexpected burden of captaincy. His trademark slog-sweep is one of the features of this tournament.

Nayan Doshi
Spinners have proven surprisingly successful in this tournament and Nayan Doshi's slow left arm bowling was a major part of Surrey's gameplan. Now with Derbyshire, he has already picked up 53 Twenty20 wickets at an astonishing average of 14.66. New captain Rikki Clarke will lean heavily on his experience.

The Captains

Jeremy Snape
Twenty20 places a high premium on good captaincy and Leicestershire will be delighted that Snape will be leading their side in this year's tournament. With a masters degree in psychology, he was one of the first to get to grips with Twenty20 and his belief in innovation and positive thinking has lead the way in how captains approach the game. His recent successful stint helping Rajasthan Royals to win the IPL has only enhanced his status.

Chris Read
Nottinghamshire have over-achieved in this tournament in recent years and new captain Chris Read will have benefited from serving under former captain Stephen Fleming. He has already guided his county to the quarter finals of the Friends Provident Trophy and his experience in the ICL will give his captaincy an extra dimension.

• Cricket
• Twenty20