Adam Hollioake's Surrey lifted the inaugural Twenty20 trophy

More than 250,000 spectators attended group games in the 2003 competition - a rise of 353% compared to the Benson & Hedges Cup, which it replaced.

And a full house saw Surrey beat Warwickshire in the final at Trent Bridge.

But county executives were split over the future of the competition.

Leicestershire, Glamorgan and Worcestershire leading the calls to play next season's group games in two pools of nine, guaranteeing twice the number of home games.

The ECB management board agreed unanimously earlier this week to keep the existing three pools of six, reversing the venues for each match held in 2003.

But the quarter-finals will expand the number of teams in with a chance of victory at the end of the group phase.

Sides finishing first and second in each group will qualify automatically, and the two third-placed sides with the best records will also progress to the final eight.

The tournament has also been shifted back two weeks so as not to clash with the European football championships.

Despite criticism of a finals day lasting 11 hours, including two semi-finals and the final, the same format will continue in 2004, although the venue has yet to be decided.

"The issue was about how best to build upon the tremendous success of the competition in its first year," said ECB chief executive Tim Lamb.