Cricket: TWENTY20 SET FOR BIG FUTURE

Twenty20 cricket has been given 10 out of 10 for entertainment and could find itself on the international stage, according to the inaugural finalists.

Surrey became the first-ever winners in the shortened version of the game when they beat Warwickshire by nine wickets in front of a 15,000-capacity crowd at Trent Bridge.

More than 250,000 fans have watched the tournament which replaced the old Benson & Hedges Cup and was designed to bring a touch of razzmatazz to the stately game.

Hailed a stunning success, the Twenty20 Cup is here to stay and, with a little tinkering, may even take the form of a mini World Cup.

The England and Wales Cricket Board hope the rise to prominence of Twenty20 cricket onto the international stage could result in it appearing in future Olympic Games.

Even though the format has yet to register itself on the world calendar, England will face Australia during the 2005 Ashes summer, at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, in their inaugural international contest and South Africa introduced the shortened form of the game into their domestic fabric this winter.

Such was the success of last summer's competition here, however, that the ECB made a representation to the International Cricket Council to employ Twenty20 as its vehicle for an Olympic bid - cricket has been on the agenda at a games once before, at the 1900 event in Paris, when Great Britain beat France in the final.

Its popularity in 2003 surpassed all expectations as more than 250,000 spectators watched the tournament - at an average gate in excess of 5,000 - and such was the response of the public that it could reach a wider audience.

The ICC are currently attempting to establish cricket as an International Olympic Committee-recognised sport.

"The ECB is exploring the possibility of having Twenty20 as an Olympic sport," confirmed chief executive Tim Lamb at today's Lord's launch of the second season.

"We are aware that the ICC are in discussions with the IOC about Olympic status and we have had a preliminary discussion with the ICC about the possibility of them making the case for Twenty20 to be incorporated into the 2012 Olympics, particularly if London's bid for that year is successful.

"Or if that is too soon for the IOC timetable then further down the line.

"The ICC have expressed initial interest and a willingness to explore the issue further if there is a clear desire to do so within the international cricket community."

The boards of both Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been in touch with their Lord's counterparts to inquire about rules, regulations and the marketing of the 20-over-per-side competition.

Should it prove as popular on the subcontinent as it has in England - more than 80,000 tickets have been sold across the country ahead of this summer's tournament, which gets under way a fortnight today - it could lead to regular international competition.

The first-ever international will take place this August when the England women's team take on New Zealand at Hove.

With advanced sales for this year's group encounters encouraging - the match between inaugural winners Surrey and Kent at the Brit Oval is already a sell-out and more than 10,000 seats have been taken for the London derby between Middlesex and Surrey - last season's overall attendance could be beaten.

"Domestic cricket has not had an advance ticket sales culture in the past and it is something we are very keen to create - which makes these figures even more pleasing," said ECB marketing manager Tom Harrison. "Our aim is to improve on last year's attendance and we are on track."

One new innovation will be a two-way between umpires and television commentators with the officials wired up to explain their decisions to viewers while player microphones, which were introduced 12 months ago, make a return.

Gimmicks such as speed-dating, beach parties and hot tubs will once again proliferate grounds around the country in an expanded schedule. A quarter-final round has been introduced this season, meaning the best two teams from each of the three regional groups as well as the two best third-placed sides progress. Edgbaston will replace Trent Bridge as the venue for the final.

Former England batsman Nick Knight hopes to repeat the successes of the inaugural Twenty20 competition when the new season opens.

Knight led Warwickshire to the final at Lord's last season where they were beaten by Surrey and is keen to see more of the large crowds who flocked to the latest form of the game last summer.

Already advanced sales have topped the 110,000 mark and Knight hopes more new fans will watch Twenty20 this year.

link