Kirby was the Gladiators' top wicket taker in the 2008 Pro40 taking 13 wickets at an average of 20.07

Gloucestershire bowler Steve Kirby has expressed his sadness at the Pro40 league being in its final season.

The Gladiators start their challenge at home to the Worcestershire Royals on 17 July at the Cheltenham Festival.

"I'm surprised it's actually getting shelved at the end of the year," Kirby told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"I think they're going to try and get another Twenty20 competition involved. I'm not sure about that one, we'll let the jury be out on that," he said.

Kirby also feels changes to the format of the game have kept it entertaining, with fielding restrictions and a longer power play similar to the 50-overs-a-side Friends Provident Trophy.

You get the death at the end with all the fire ... it's still an exciting format. Steve Kirby

"It's a great spectacle for the crowds because it's obviously longer than 20 overs, but you get an opportunity to build an innings when you're batting.

"You get that little knock around period and you get the death at the end with all the fire and the excitement with everybody trying to smack the boundaries so it's still an exciting format."

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