All change for the new season

In the three years since its birth in 1997, the England and Wales Cricket Board has initiated great change within cricket in order to help modernise and improve the game in this country.

The domestic playing programme has seen significant change, with new schedules adopted at both County and International level. Added to the staging of the Costcutter Under 15 World Cricket Challenge, cricket followers are eagerly awaiting another exciting sununer season.

On the international scene, England will play seven Test Matches - two against Zimbabwe followed by five versus the West Indies - as well as a triangular 10-match One-Day International competition. The NatWest Series will introduce floodlit international cricket to this country for the first time and will take the game to non-traditional Test Match grounds with Bristol, Chester-le- Street and Canterbury staging matches for the first time outside of a World Cup.

In County Cricket, the new two-division PPP healthcare County Championship has been introduced with the aim of increasing competitiveness and interest in the four-day County game. The CGU National Cricket League, meanwhile, will stage more floodlit cricket matches this year than ever before - 26 matches will be played under lights, 18 of which will be televised. Of the 18 First Class Counties, 16 will host day-night games.

The expanded NatWest Trophy will again see the non-professional County Board Xl's compete against First Class Counties while the Benson & Hedges Cup returns to its popular and traditional format.

The ECB will also stage its second world tournament in successive seasons when the Costcutter Under 15 World Cricket Challenge begins on Sunday 30 July. England will compete alongside seven other teams, all eager to lift the winners' trophy at Lord's on Thursday 10th August.

Tim Lamb, Chief Executive of the ECB, said, "We have certainly got a busy summer ahead of us with a wealth of top-quality cricket on show. The expanded international programme will allow more people than ever before to watch England play, and it will be interesting to see how the new format for the County Championship develops.

"I wish our Under 15 team the very best of luck in the Costcutter Under 15 World Cricket Challenge. The tournament offers them a unique experience to play against other nations and also a wonderful opportunity to benefit socially and culturally."