Twenty20 is about as close to the showmanship of American sport as you can get when it comes to the most traditional of pursuits, cricket. 

Even with fireworks, dancers and DJs it's not the Super Bowl half-time show and it's certainly not Wrestlemania.

But Wesselsmania is happening in Nottingham right now. 

Notts Outlaws have fared better than most counties this season when it comes to T20 attendances and results – and one reason for the wins is the form of Riki Wessels. 

The 28-year-old has provided more fireworks than most on the pitch. He is Notts' highest scorer in the competition with 314 runs, including ten sixes. 

With runs also flowing in the County Championship, Trent Bridge's ever switched on marketing team branded his form as Wesselsmania. 

It is not exactly running wild yet having been a tongue in cheek behind the scenes joke for the most part. 

Wessels is keen to keep it that way for now as he looks for an entire season of success rather than just a strong first two thirds.

He said: "It's been a good year but we aren't even in August yet. There's a lot of cricket left.

"We can talk about Wesselsmania at the end of the season maybe if I've got 1,000 Championship runs and some more in the T20s and one dayers." 

Wessels will be hoping to help the Outlaws go a long way towards securing a NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final place with victory over Leicestershire Foxes at Trent Bridge on Sunday. 

However, it is runs in four day cricket he craves most. He had to fight for his place in the side having come to the club as Chris Read's wicket-keeping deputy in 2011.

He impressed in 2012 but struggled with injuries last season to the extent he was clearly concerned he would not get in the side at the start of this year. 

"The Championship runs are most important to me. It means I can repay Mick (director of cricket Mick Newell) for the faith he put in me to play the four dayers.

"T20 is a game where you can come off with some lucky hits. The four day stuff is about having to play well and grind it out," he said.

He has most certainly repaid that faith with 887 runs at an average of 49.27 in the Championship this summer.

The son of former South Africa captain and Australia international Kepler Wessels will stay on that number for the next month as the team focus on other formats. 

After the high of the thrilling one wicket win against Lancashire this week, Wessels says it essential not to take their eye off the ball against a Foxes team who have won just three games all season. 

"We put away the red ball and the white pads away for a while. It's time to push on in the T20 and hopefully the one day stuff as well," he said. 

"When we played them at their place Greg Smith got a really good hundred and ended up on the losing side.

"They are dangerous and have nothing to lose. They know that if they beat us it puts us in a tricky position. 

"If we can get a win at home that's a bit of pressure off going into a couple of away games."

When Notts do return to four day action in mid-August they will play Wessels' former team and Division One whipping boys Northants.

Wessels says there can be no room for sentiment with his current team chasing the title.

"Northants are getting turned over a lot," he said.

"It's good to have a month off now to prepare for that game and reflect on some really good form. Hopefully we go to Northampton and pick up some big points there."

For more news, previews and match reports visit the Nottingham Post.

 

Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast fixture and ticket information:

v Leicestershire Foxes – Sunday 20 July 2.30pm BUY TICKETS