Derbyshire Falcons batsman Hamish Rutherford has heaped praise on Trent Bridge ahead of tonight’s NatWest T20 Blast encounter at the venue.
The New Zealand international has played two previous T20 fixtures at the historic Nottingham venue, and enjoyed the atmosphere on each occasion.
“Trent Bridge has got some pretty big history and there have been a number of New Zealand players come over and play for Nottinghamshire, with Sir Richard Hadlee obviously the main one.
“I played there a few years ago with Essex in the quarter final, there was a great crowd in and it’s a lovely place to play cricket.
“The game last year was a close one and it was a packed house then as well.
“I don’t think many of the Derbyshire players had played in-front of a crowd like that.
“On a lovely night, there are not many places better and it was a very good atmosphere.”
“Nottingham is also a 20-minute drive from where I’m living and it’s a nice city with good coffee, so I’m quite happy to take the drive there and spend the afternoon in a café.”
Penned in to play all formats for Derbyshire for the entire season, Rutherford is grateful for the learning experience county cricket provides.
“I’m lucky to have the opportunity to play a whole season over here for Derbyshire,” he said.
“The volume of cricket you play in county cricket is second to none, nowhere else in the world has that.
“I know there has been complaints about it but, for me personally coming over here playing and continually learning, rubbing shoulders with big players around the country and having conversations with them over a beer or whatever it might be, you can’t teach that sort of stuff. I feel very lucky to have that opportunity.”
Tickets for tonight's game against the Falcons are available on the gate, priced at £18 (adults), £9 (under 16s) & £13 (senior citizens & U21s).
For weather updates and prospects of play visit Trent Bridge Live.