This is another very positive development for the future of cricket in this country

ECB's Tim Lamb

The new format is trying to encourage youth

The matches will last three hours and will start at either 5.30pm or 7.30pm under floodlights.

Yorkshire's Chris Hassell told BBC Radio Five Live: "We do not believe this competition will improve the standard of the England team, which should be the ultimate goal.

"We don't see people willing to fight their way through the rush hour for a 20-over match.

"We can't see how this is going to bring a new audience to the game and we should stick with the tried and trusted one, four and five day variations of the game."

But Lancashire's chief executive Jim Cumbes sees the new format as the way ahead, and also feels it may benefit England's chances of making an impact on the one-day game.

"You either have the ability or you don't, but what it may do is concentrate minds on how to play the last 20 overs of an international match, which can be crucial," he said.

"The 20-over game has been successful in other parts of the world, notably South Africa and we feel it is worth a try."