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Last Updated: Monday, 2 August, 2004, 09:42 GMT 10:42 UK
Twenty20 visions
As Twenty20 Cup finals day approaches, three figures from the county game give their verdict and look to the future.

Greg Blewett
Greg Blewett
Australia Test batsman played three matches for Surrey

I'm more of a traditionalist. I love playing Test cricket and 50-over cricket too but this is probably a bit too short for me because I like to settle in.

I reckon there will be a Twenty20 World Cup at some stage

But playing in front of good crowds makes it a lot more enjoyable, and the crowds love it.

It's like the last 10 overs of a normal one-day match but you've got to improvise a bit more and pick your spots a bit better to avoid fielders.

Surrey are undefeated in the competition so far and I would put that down to good batting, which forces the other teams to take risks and lose wickets as a result.

I reckon there will be a Twenty20 World Cup at some stage but it will have to infiltrate other countries first.

With it being so popular in England and South Africa, though, it's probably only a matter of time before it catches on.

Mike Watkinson
Mike Watkinson
Coach of finals day contenders Lancashire

Last season we just turned up, had a bit of a hit and saw how things progressed.

We've got to make sure we keep it as something people look forward to
But now there are some strategies being applied by teams which perhaps we can take into the 45-over competition and even four-day cricket.

If we can convert a handful of the young supporters coming along on to the 45-over game and possibly the Championship it's going to be great for the future.

But we've got to try and maintain the balance between people being hungry to see more of it and getting overkill.

At the moment we're tending to see out games when the weather's good and we've got to make sure we keep it as something people look forward to.

We don't want it to become a run-of-the-mill fixture.

Mark Newton
Worcestershire chief executive

I think Twenty20 cricket is going to have a fundamental effect on all cricket in future, as Kerry Packer did in Australia 25 years ago.

A lot of my county colleagues would like to see it expanded again next year
It will change the way we look at cricket and certainly the way the public view it.

I think it has been an even bigger success than people have given it credit for because there's a real buzz about the game down at school level.

I can see it very quickly taking the place of the ICC Champions Trophy, being played in the three years between World Cups.

A lot of my county colleagues would like to see it expanded again next year.

We don't want to see it take over - what we are looking for is a three or four week midsummer window.

I would like to see five home and five away games in the pool stage - double the current amount.

Greg Blewett interview by Martin Gough. Mike Watkinson and Mark Newton were speaking to BBC Test Match Special.


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