T20 Blast 2026 season preview - South Group

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 22 May 2026

Simon Lewis 22 May 2026

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Hampshire lost to Somerset in the 2025 final.
The South Group is contested by Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Kent Spitfires, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex Sharks.
The 2026 T20 Blast runs from 26 May to 18 July.

Hampshire batsman Toby Albert (Getty Images).

This season brings a fresh format, with 18 counties split into North, Central and South groups. Each side plays 12 group matches, giving punters a tighter schedule and plenty of early form clues before the knockout race heats up.

Essex
Hampshire Hawks
Kent Spitfires
Middlesex
Surrey
Sussex Sharks

Essex

Captain: Simon Harmer. Overseas players: Simon Harmer (South Africa), Wiaan Mulder (South Africa)

2025: 9th in South Group, Michael Pepper (364 runs), Mohammad Amir (20 wickets)

Essex need a bounce-back campaign after finishing bottom of the South Group with just three wins, but there is enough talent to suggest improvement. South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder is the key addition and brings valuable T20 experience, especially for the early matches.

Jordan Cox looks the major batting angle after topping Essex’s averages last season and hitting a standout century against Hampshire, while his IPL spell with Royal Challengers Bangalore may only sharpen his hunger. Leg-spinner Luc Benkenstein is an exciting wildcard after taking 11 Blast wickets last year at an impressive average. If Essex’s younger players kick on, they could reverse last season’s slide.

Hampshire Hawks

Captain: James Vince. Overseas players: Delano Potgieter (South Africa), Tristan Stubbs (South Africa), Hilton Cartwright (Australia)

2025: Runners-up, Toby Albert (633 runs), Scott Currie (27 wickets)

Hampshire arrive with a point to prove after losing last year’s final, but few sides are as reliable in Blast cricket. Their red-ball season has started badly, so the switch to T20 could be the spark they need. Tristan Stubbs is the headline overseas weapon once he arrives after the IPL, while Hilton Cartwright returns to add further power and experience.

The losses of Chris Lynn and Benny Howell are significant, but Hampshire still have a proven core in James Vince, Liam Dawson and Chris Wood. Toby Albert is a major player to watch after topping their Blast run charts last season with six fifties. Revenge, balance and pedigree make the Hawks serious contenders again.

Kent Spitfires

Captain: Sam Billings. Overseas players: Tom Rogers (Australia), Keith Dudgeon (South Africa), Dian Forrester (South Africa)

2025: Quarter-finalist, Tawanda Muyeye (516 runs), Fred Klaassen (15 wickets)

Kent look an intriguing Blast proposition after keeping much of the squad that reached last year’s quarter-finals and adding Jake Lintott, Forrester and Bertie Foreman in a clear statement of intent. Holding on to Tawanda Muyeye also looks a major plus, while Sam Billings remains central to their hopes. The revised format could help, with reduced travel and fewer repeated clashes against recent champions Somerset and Gloucestershire.

Chris Benjamin is the wildcard: Adam Hollioake rates him as a potentially destructive world-class batter, and with Billings keeping wicket, he can focus purely on scoring runs. Since winning in 2021 Kent have been inconsistent, but the upside is obvious.

Middlesex

Captain: Leus du Plooy (South Africa). Overseas players: Eathan Bosch (South Africa)

2025: 8th in South Group, Stephen Eskinazi (420 runs), Tom Helm (20 wickets)

Middlesex begin a new era under Peter Fulton, who arrives with white-ball coaching pedigree after success with Canterbury in New Zealand. The challenge is significant: Kane Williamson will not return, 2025 leading run-scorer Stephen Eskinazi has left, and Joe Cracknell is set to miss the start with a broken finger.

Adam Rossington’s return for the first six group games should help, but power-hitting remains the big concern. The exciting upside comes from youth, especially Caleb Falconer, the 19-year-old U19 World Cup final centurion and Hundred signing. Middlesex have long struggled in this format, but if Falconer and their young core fire, they could surprise.

Surrey

Captain: Sam Curran. Overseas players: Sean Abbott (Australia)

2025: Quarter-finals, Will Jacks (504 runs), Sam Curran (21 wickets)

Surrey enter the T20 Blast with serious intent and a squad packed with match-winners. Australian all-rounder Sean Abbott returns for another spell, adding proven overseas quality with bat and ball. Last year’s quarter-final exit has sharpened their hunger, especially after years of near-misses since their 2003 title.

With a deep batting line-up, rising talent Ollie Sykes pushing for a bigger role, and exciting spinner Ralphie Albert emerging, Surrey look genuine contenders.

Sussex Sharks

Captain: Tymal Mills. Overseas players: Daniel Hughes (Australia)

2025: 6th in South Division, James Coles (397 runs), Nathan McAndrew (23 wickets)

Sussex look well placed for a serious Blast push, with Danny Briggs returning to Hove as the competition’s all-time leading wicket-taker and adding huge experience to an already varied attack. Tom Price and Jack Leaning are smart additions with proven Blast pedigree, helping offset the loss of Nathan McAndrew.

The main concern is batting depth: last season they leaned too heavily on James Coles, with no other regular averaging above 27. Coles remains a major match-winner, while Charlie Tear is the wildcard after impressing in 50-over cricket. With Tymal Mills, Briggs and exciting youngsters in the mix, Sussex should be targeting the knockouts at minimum.