THE Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival was launched last week, beginning the countdown to the highlight of the year for cricket fans in Gloucestershire.

Having been played at the Cheltenham College Ground since 1872, it is the world’s longest running cricket festival to be played at an out ground and still excites players as much as it does fans.

Gloucestershire’s one-day and T20 captain, Michael Klinger, is relishing the prospect of the festival having just returned from playing in Australia.

“When I first came over here they kept telling me about how good Cheltenham was and I probably couldn’t sense it until we played the festival,” he said.

“I didn’t know what to expect but it was fantastic the first one.

“We’ve been lucky the last two years to have the weather as well and we’ve had big crowds.

“It’s a different, dynamic crowd here; there are probably a lot more young people because it’s around school holidays as well.

“The crowds get behind us and are pretty vocal, especially later in the day when they’ve had a few drinks. It’s good fun.”

The in-form Gloucestershire bowler, Liam Norwell, is equally excited by the prospect of getting to play at another Cheltenham Festival.

“I love Cheltenham,” he said. “It was one of my first memories of being with Gloucestershire, when I first started trialling.

“I was 12th man in for the Worcester game in 2010 and I got to run on drinks and I got the feel of the festival.

“I remember saying to my parents, if I get to play here that would be great.

“The whole team love playing at Cheltenham.

“We see it as the best festival in the country, you get the best crowds and it’s just fun to play at.

“It doesn’t feel like cricket, it feels like you’re there for a bit of fun.

“It’s one of those times of the year you look forward to.

“You play hard, you work hard through the year to get yourself in the team and then you desperately want to be in the side for at least one game at Cheltenham.

“I’m pretty sure it’s the best supported festival in the country.

“The amount of supporters we get there makes it. The crowd are great.”

Gloucestershire’s form has never been great at the festival but Norwell believes this year could bring results for the passionate local supporters.

“We’re going in as a better team this year,” he said.

“We’re confident; we’ve won two very good games against two very good sides going in.”

Gloucestershire head coach, Richard Dawson, shares fond memories of the festival himself, having first played at Cheltenham when he was at Yorkshire.

“Cheltenham’s brilliant,” he said. “If you play for another county you always look at the fixture list and see if you get the option to play here, and when you do you’re lucky.

“The atmosphere and the environment you play in is absolutely fantastic.

“The whole town just comes alive for that two week period.”

Gloucestershire Cricket’s Chief Executive, Will Brown, is also looking forward to the festival this year.

“The 2015 Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival is set to be one of the most exciting festivals ever in its 143 year history,” he said.

“12 solid days of top-class cricket and off-field entertainment in the stunning setting of the Cheltenham College grounds will provide the perfect backdrop for hospitality guests, cricket fans and families alike.

“We are proud and delighted to once again have Brewin Dolphin as our title sponsor; their vision and quality of service fits perfectly with the festival and we look forward to working together to deliver an historic event.”