Domestic Twenty20 matches increased

New South Wales treated Twenty20 with some novelty value last season, playing the rugby league star Andrew Johns © Getty Images Enlarge

Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition will be expanded again next season, with each state to face every other state before the final. Cricket Australia has announced the details of the 2007-08 domestic season, which will kick off on October 10 with a one-day match between Queensland and Tasmania.

While there is little change to the Pura Cup and 50-over competitions (formerly the Ford Ranger Cup), the KFC Twenty20 tournament will now include an extra round of matches. In 2006-07, each state played four times before the final; next season it will be five. The Big Bash will begin on New Year's Eve when Queensland host Victoria at the new 10,000-seat Riverway Stadium at Thuringowa, near Townsville.

CA said Fox Sports would be increasing its television coverage of the domestic one-day competition and it would again air the Pura Cup final, to be played from March 16 to 20. The Pura Cup begins on October 12 when Queensland and Tasmania meet at the Gabba.

There should be plenty of interest in the domestic matches that take place in late November and early December, as a break in Australia's international schedule means the Test cricketers should be available to play for their states. James Sutherland, the CA chief executive officer, said that presented the states with a terrific opportunity to increase public interest in their matches.

"One of the advantages we have for the coming summer is the opportunity that presents for Australian interstate cricket to have the complete focus of a cricket loving public during a prime cricket time," Sutherland said. "I'm sure all players and fans will enjoy this window in our summer where the spotlight will be squarely on our national competitions."