Kent take on Hampshire at The Nevill last year

By Andrew Gidley

Kent officials are banking on good weather and big crowds at Tunbridge Wells Festival Week which begins on Friday with the visit of LV= County Championship Division 1 leaders Nottinghamshire to The Nevill.

The five-day festival also includes the Friends Provident t20 clash against holders Sussex Sharks on Wednesday which is expected to be a capacity 5,000 sell-out.

A Friday start represents uncharted territory for one of the county’s most popular fixtures in their calendar - the last round of Championship fixtures until early July - as Twenty20 takes centre stage

While the day may change, nothing seems to alter at The Nevill, and Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club secretary Alan Cutts said: "Beginning on a Friday seems a weird decision but it’s a new venture. The ground looks in fantastic shape, the rhododendrons are pretty much all out and it promises to be a great weekend."

Kent are advising spectators without a ticket for the Sussex Sharks game to book as soon as possible, as they are selling fast.

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