It's just not cricket... it's crickets! ECB unveil latest fans of Friends Life T20

By Sportsmail Reporter

Twenty20 has been hailed as a smaller, more exciting version of the game than its bigger Test, first-class and one-day brothers, and now the format has some miniature fans to match.

To promote this season's Friends Life T20 competition, which began last week, the ECB has commissioned miniature artist Aidan Campbell to hand-paint crickets with the colours of each county involved using water-based transfers.

And judging by the pictures below, England's wayward bowlers from the drawn second Test at Lord's might learn a thing or two from these tiny stars. As you can see, one cricket shows he knows exactly where the 'right areas' are by aiming straight for the top of off stump. Take note, Steven Finn, Stuart Broad and Chris Tremlett.

Howzat? The miniature fans of the 18 counties get to grips with a cricket bat

Following their 15 minutes of fame, the T20 crickets have now been re-released, unharmed back into the wild outside the stadium of their team.

All 18 of the first-class counties are competing in the competition, which was won last year by Hampshire.



In the right areas: One cricket aims for the top of off stump - but there's a lot of grass on that wicket

Campbell said: 'I'm used to painting on canvases no bigger than a 1p piece but to brand a cricket was a whole new ball game. I had no idea how it was going to work to begin with but it's been a lot of fun.'

For more information on the Friends Life t20 including fixtures visit www.ecb.co.uk/flt20



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