COUNTDOWN TO CRICKET - Twenty Things you may not know about the 20/20

There's just 20 days to go before the first brand new cricket competition for over thirty years, the Twenty20 Cup, hits off at The Rose Bowl, Southampton on Friday, 13th June.

Billed as `twice the action , half the time' , the new competition looks set to provide an entertaining evening of high scores plus some hard and fast action. With the honour of hosting the inaugural match, the Hampshire Cricket squad are in serious training to ensure that the competition gets off to a spectacular start.

Here's 20 things you may not know about the Twenty20 Cup:

1. This is the first time a pop band has played at a county cricket match

2. The 2 hours 45 minutes is precisely half the length of the previously shortest game in this country

3. Over 200 first-class cricketers will take part in the competition

4. A TV audience of 3 million is expected for the competition

5. The batsmen will have just 90 seconds to get to the crease after a wicket falls

6. 48 matches will be played using 96 white balls

7. The overall winners will receive £42,000 in prize money

8. Mis-Teeq and D'Side will be playing live at The Rose Bowl's opening match

9. The Hampshire Hawks will face The Sussex Sharks in the opening match

10. The competition theme tune `I don't like cricket, I love it' is a remake of the 10cc `Dreadlock Holiday' hit

11. All Hampshire home games will start at 5.30pm

12. Atomic Kitten will be playing live at the Trent Bridge final

13. The best batsman, bowler and all-rounder in the competition will win, £500 each

14. 250,000 spectators are expected overall

15. Sky TV will have live coverage of The Rose Bowl match

16. 1,920 overs are being scheduled for the whole competition

17. Hampshire will be playing in their new black one-day clothing

18. Fancy dress and face painting are being encouraged at the matches

19. Tickets for the opening match at The Rose Bowl are £15 for adults and £10 for over 60s and under 16s

20. United Colours of Sound's leader singer's auntie was the interior designer on Brian Lara's house!

Press contact: Jane Kerr - 07976 549705 John Hughes - 07973 705773