Domestic cricket competitions remodelled

Australia's domestic cricket program has been given a shake-up, with the Pura Cup to be played over 10 distinct rounds and a rest day between those games and interstate one-day matches.

The Australian Cricket Board has released the schedule for the 2003-04 domestic competitions, with the Pura Cup to start on November 2.

In a new-look schedule, travelling teams will play the vast majority of Pura Cup matches and ING Cup games on the one interstate journey.

But teams will have a day's break scheduled between the end of each four-day match and one-day games, instead of playing ING Cup games straight after Pura Cup matches as happened last year.

Pura Cup games will also be played over 10 separate rounds of competition rather than the scattergun approach of previous years.

Australian Cricket Board chief executive James Sutherland said the changes would address some of the criticisms of cricketers and fans.

"It's certainly something we've tried to address so a round of matches is played altogether at the one time so at the end of any one weekend, you can look at the Pura Cup ladder and see where everyone's placed," Sutherland said.

"It's very difficult to balance interstate cricket with international cricket.

"It's not always possible to get an even spread but we seem to have done it this year so hopefully it will work well."

Victorian captain Darren Berry, a long-time critic of having one-day matches the day after Pura Cup games, gave the changes the thumbs-up.

"It's definitely beneficial to players," Berry said.

"I found as an older player it was difficult to back up on day five after an intensive Pura Cup match.

"And sides change a little bit.

"Quite often three or four players come in for the one-day games so the day's break gives you a chance to have a team meeting and re-assess where you're going for the one-day game.

"If you look at the records, a lot of teams have won the Pura Cup game, then come out and performed poorly in the one-day game and vice versa.

"We certainly felt a break in between would be beneficial."

Pura Milk has also extended its sponsorship of the Sheffield Shield competition for another two seasons in a seven-figure deal.