The Glamorgan Leeks

The new Twenty20 Cup competition will see the Glamorgan players take to the field as the 'Leeks' in 2003.

A new green and white playing kit, in keeping with the 'Leek' nickname, will be worn for the Twenty20 Cup and replica shirts will be available from the Club Shop by the end of May.

A Glamorgan Spokesperson confirmed that the County wanted to move away from the more aggressive nicknames of old and hoped that the 'Glamorgan Leeks' would convey a softer side to the game, which would prove attractive to a wider audience, particularly women.

Breaking from tradition, the Club also plan to introduce a female mascot. 'Lynwen Leek' will debut at the County's first home Twenty20 match against Northants on Monday, 16th June.

Chief Executive Mike Fatkin said : "It took us a long time to come up with a name for the team for the Twenty20 Cup and we just thought that the 'Glamorgan Leeks' sat well with our other two recognisable welsh emblems of Daffodils and Dragons."

Club Captain Steve James added : "I can't say that the players were over keen with the name, after all, it doesn't exactly strike the fear of God into the opposition when you run on as Leeks. But we accept that in the current climate, organic food has an important role to play in day-to-day life".

With three home Twenty20 fixtures being played within the space of 8 days in mid-June, the county hope to continue the theme by offering leek based food products only in each of their catering outlets.

Catering Manager Anthony Quilter said : "We're looking to offer a complete Twenty20 experience - which will differ from what we offer on other matchdays. Health foods will take the place of pies and chips and we're also looking at the possibility of a low-fat, leek ice-cream".

Mark Hodgson of the England and Wales Cricket Board said : "We applaud Glamorgan's initiative in the Twenty20 Cup and are looking at the possibility of each of the counties linking in with a vegetable of some description. I certainly feel that this approach could attract a whole new generation of health conscious cricket spectators".