Women to feature in Twenty20 double-header

Women and men will play back-to-back state Twenty20 matches next month in an experiment Karen Rolton hopes could soon be extended to international matches. The men's game between South Australia and Queensland at Adelaide Oval on January 10 will be preceded by a curtain-raiser between the two states' women's sides.

Rolton, the South Australia captain, said it would be a terrific way to attract crowds to women's matches. She said because Twenty20 games took only three hours to complete, it would give the crowds more value for money. "All the men's Twenty20s are sell-outs at the moment and the crowds have to arrive early," Rolton told AAP. "I think it's a great way to promote women's cricket."

The Queensland coach Jo Broadbent said the concept was a great one. "Playing on the Adelaide Oval is a fantastic experience and we will be thrilled to be a part of the build-up for the Bulls and Redbacks game," Broadbent said.

The back-to-back games will be a first for domestic cricket in Australia. Victoria and New South Wales will also hold men's and women's Twenty20 matches on the same day on December 20 but the men will play at the MCG and the women at the nearby Punt Road Oval.