The hurly burly of HRV T20 cricket is about to take the Bay Oval at Blake Park by storm in early January when some of the best cricket players in the country come to town.

In less than a decade, Twenty 20 cricket has built a huge fan base both at the games and on television.

The sight of wickets being ripped out of the ground and balls blasted over the boundary has captivated cricket fans worldwide.

T20 action arrives at the Bay Oval with two HRV Cup games being staged.

On the first day of the New Year, the Northern Knights will square off against the Wellington Firebirds, with the Auckland Aces paying a visit on Sunday, January 6.

While there is likely to be a galaxy of cricket stars on show – few will attract more attention than long serving Northern Districts and Bay of Plenty bowler Graeme Aldridge.

A graduate of Otumoetai College, Graeme traversed the Bay of Plenty Cricket age group pathway before making an auspicious debut for the Bay of Plenty senior men's team on the March 15, 1997.

The occasion was the Bay of Plenty Hawke Cup defence against Central Otago, where Graeme who was selected as a bowler, smashed 52 runs batting at number nine in the batting line-up.

Graeme's solid knock at the tail helped the Bay to their highest ever score of 553/9.

Selection for the Northern Knights followed in the 1998/99 season, where he has become a Knights first pick ever since.

In the last couple of weeks, Graeme has smashed the long standing Knights most wickets total of 232 set by Cliff Dickeson in 1987.

He has always been a loyal Bay of Plenty team man and has played 43 games in the Blue and Gold colours, which have been interspersed with his ND commitments.

Bay of Plenty has had a big influence in the Northern Knights in recent seasons.

In addition to Graeme Aldridge, current Black Caps Daniel Flynn, Trent Boult and Kane Williamson along with new Bay Black Cap recruit Corey Anderson, have become permanent Northern Knights selections.

Several other Bay players have worn the Northern Knights uniform and could be on show at the Bay Oval HRV Cup matches.

Bay skipper Jono Boult has played a number of games for the Knights in recent season, with Brett Hampton and Tony Goodin breaking into the team in the last twelve months.

HRV Cup (T20) at Bay Oval Mount Maunganui

1 January 2012 Northern Knights v Wellington Firebirds

6 January 2013 Northern Knights v Auckland Aces