The marquees are going up at Cheltenham College which is a sure sign that the ever-popular Cheltenham Cricket Festival is just around the corner.

Normally it is a sign that summer may just be around the corner as well but in this summer of all summers that definitely isn’t the case – surely weather wise it has to be the best since ’76.

This year’s Cheltenham Festival begins a week today with the start of a four-day game against Sussex, and if it’s true what people say and that timing really is everything then surely the powers-that-be in the cricket world have got the start date for the highlight of Gloucestershire’s cricketing summer spot on.

That’s because it’s one day after the World Cup final – C’mon England! – which means should Gareth Southgate’s team of emerging stars make it all the way to football’s showpiece occasion in six days’ time there is less chance of a sporting hangover in this part of the world whatever the result in Moscow.

Mind you, Gloucestershire’s supporters will be hoping that their team can start producing some performances to match those of England’s footballers when the action gets under way at the College ground.

Yesterday’s T20 Blast win over Middlesex – skipper Michael Klinger hit 58 in the six-wicket win – was much needed after the defeat to Somerset in their competition opener on Friday.

Gloucestershire have two T20 games at Cheltenham – against Essex on Friday 20th July and Glamorgan a week later – but before that they have two floodlit games at Bristol against Kent and Somerset again on Wednesday and Friday respectively.

Two wins out of two from those games will certainly set them up nicely for Cheltenham.

And Gloucestershire’s fans will also be hoping for better in the county championship when as well as Sussex, Durham visit Cheltenham for a four-day game starting on Sunday 22nd July.

Although there have been some good individual performances in the longer version of the game – most notably by James Bracey and Ryan Higgins – Gloucestershire have won only one of their opening six championship games and are currently propping up the 10-strong table. They’ve only lost two but things would certainly look a lot rosier if they could win two out of two at Cheltenham.

It’s not just all about Gloucestershire flagship team at this year’s Festival. That’s because the women’s team – Western Storm – play a Kia Super League game against Surrey Stars on Thursday 26th July. The 20-over-a-side game starts at 2.30pm.