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The England captain and his Great Britain side are one-nil down in a two-match series against a Rest of the World XI after Friday's game at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Also featured in the Brit team are Rob Key, John Crawley, James Foster and Simon Jones.

The Pertemps Power Cricket Cup is the first of its kind - a shorter version of the one-day game and designed to be played indoors.

An artificial wicket will be laid in the centre of the stadium and the match will feature two 30-over matches split into two innings of 15 overs.

Is this the future of cricket, or just a Mickey Mouse sport?

I attended the two matches at the Millennium Stadium, and I thought they were enjoyable. I still prefer Test cricket, but the 15 overs a side were a bit of light relief, OK now and again, but not everyday.
Vicki, South African import!

No way! There is definitely not too much cricket around. The football season had just ended when the discussion of next season's line-up was underway. Cricket is fighting for television coverage anyway.
Becca, England

I just love cricket. It is my favourite sport. If there is any opportunity to spice it up, get the kids involved and entertain audiences then what harm can it do. Very disappointed at the size of the crowd in Cardiff as a buzzy atmosphere would really have added to the excitement. Can't wait for the Ashes!
Lee Battler, UK

One-day cricket was introduced to make cricket more exciting, and it did just that. Give this a chance - 140 plus runs in 15 overs! I loved it.
Shazad Awan, UK

There have been plenty of exhibition and testimonial games from New York to Kathmandu. The cricket is never competitive and the whole day is just a bit of fun. There was no harm in England's Ashes tourists playing in this tournament, if one can call it that.

However, there is something seriously wrong with Wasim Akram and Saeed Anwar who chose to miss Pakistan's series against Australia to appear in Cardiff. It's like telling your missus that you are going to stay off the drink for a while and then sneaking out for happy hour. They should never be picked again.
Omar Mirza, UK

My son is four and already interested in cricket, but if I took him to watch a Test match he'd be bored stiff in ten minutes. With this game, he won't get a chance to lose concentration as he'll be diving for cover every couple of minutes! Has to be good for the future of the game and I'll bet the players enjoyed it!
Steve, Wales

I went on Saturday with my eight-year-old son. It was brilliant and exciting stuff, completely different. We will definitely be watching the 20-over game next season.
Adrian, England

The present Mickey Mouse indoor game can be likened to rounders - a disgrace to the game of cricket.
J.A.Hadden, England

The more games the better. Indoor cricket is a good, quick and exciting game, so why not play it in the out season? I play cricket all the time and I think the more games the better.
Gary Tulk, England

The English Cricket Board should concentrate on how to make their team play positive and interesting cricket rather than introducing these meaningless games in an attempt to popularise the game in England.
Shyam, India

It was hardly taxing for the players. I was there, and all Nasser really got stuck into was signing autographs for a bunch of kids in the corner. It was a bit of fun, if not exactly cricket, and if it gets kids involved in the sport then what harm can it do?
Dave M, England

On balance, given the fact that The Ashes is the ultimate prize in English cricket, this tournament is mistimed, rather than pointless.
Colin Gilham, England

Too much cricket? Don't be silly, we love it!
Richie, Cheltenham

Cricket is much more physically demanding than it used to be but it's hardly rugby or football. The tiredness you get in cricket is more mental and so this tournament is a bit of fun which the players will relax and enjoy before the rigours of the winter. They could always say 'no' if they didn't want to play.
Paul Proctor, England

Surely Hussain cannot compare this to playing in a county match. He and his players are contracted to play in county games. We have to wait and see if any of them are injured and then re-visit the argument. I for one will be very angry if any of our players receive injuries that threaten their Ashes performances. We have a great chance of success this winter but if our first choice side - which is already missing a number of key players - is not available we will not be giving ourselves and the supporters a decent chance.
Patric Marshall, England

I love cricket and always will, but I get fed up of the hypocrisy of some international players. Nasser Hussain called The Oval test match against India a 'bridge too far'. Then he complained about how tired his players were when they arrived in Colombo for the ICC trophy. I for one for was sympathetic.

However, dangle a few quid in front of the knackered Hussain, and some of his Ashes squad, and lo and behold they have a new lease of life. Whilst everyone is desperate to attract new viewers to cricket it should not be forgotten that there are already people who love watching the game. Don't treat us like idiots, Nasser!
Sanj, UK

This is hardly cricket.
Charles Courtney, UK

What's the point in inventing new and exciting versions of the game is only 'nobodies' are going to be used to promote it? Initiatives like this need to be promoted by current starts like Nasser otherwise nobody will go and watch them. Good on you boys!
Rob Murphy, England

Too much cricket, too much rugby, too much football - what's next, too much lawn bowls! Give me a break, millions would crave the opportunities to play for their country in their chosen sport, and for this reason - and patriotism on top - we barrack, cheer and cry for our national teams.

I can't believe the perpetual cycle of moaning professional athletes I have to read about daily. Get out there and do you best for your country, county, local team. Sport is about enjoyment, if players are not enjoying themselves then do the proper thing and retire from the game.
Mark Fox, UK

Any effort which is being made to bring more fans into the grounds can only be a good thing for the sport. If this does capture the public's imagination and gets more kids playing the game I welcome it.

As for not playing any cricket before the Ashes that is plain stupid. Should the Aussies pull out of their tour to Pakistan so as they don't get injured? Should we not play any warm up games in Oz in case someone gets injured? You can just as easily get injured in nets as you can in a 30 over match!
Mark, England

Oh, come on! How are we supposed to get an England side that will play consistently well if all they ever practice on are nets or each other? Nasser is right, they are just as likely to injure themselves training, so they might as well get some real benefit out of the risk they take everyday.
Matt Pearce, England

International players are expected to play too much cricket, particularly at the one-day level. Take for example England competing in the meaningless ICC tournament in Sri Lanka, ahead of next year's World Cup, even before the end of our domestic season!

The Cardiff tournament is superfluous and will have no benefit for England's preparation for their Australia tour.
Barry Wilbourn, England

I agree with Hussain, players can just as easily injure themselves whilst training. I doubt the players will be throwing themselves around as they would in a high stakes game, it will be played in a similar spirit to a Baa Baa's game. I will be going to Saturday's game and am looking forward to it for what it is, a bit of fun!
Leigh, Wales

Nigel's comments (below) are spot on. England's players and coach are always whining about needing less cricket, more recovery time, etc. Then along comes an exhibition game and suddenly the need for rest evaporates. The ECB are pretty quick off the mark to refuse to let centrally contracted players play for their counties but seem to have no qualms about letting members of the Ashes squad play in these games.

I don't have a problem with the indoor concept or the 30 over a side game. I'm all for innovation. It makes players think about the game in different ways.
Steve, UK

Playing against the Aussies, the England players will need all the practice they can get on whatever surface! Better against a world class XI than against a third rate county side!
Kets, England

Players can't moan about too much cricket when they decide to play in these events. On the plus side though this could be the type of event needed to introduce more youngsters to the game.
Kevin, UK

It seems that as soon as a sport is professional in the UK, we play too much of it. This leads to tired, burnt out players. We should look at the Aussies who must produce more world beaters per head of population than any other country. They play less cricket than us and are world champions.

We need to take a national perspective - in all sports, the England team should come first. The purpose of the supporting structure should be to provide top class players to the England side.
Ewan Slater, England

These members of the Ashes squad could turn up in Australia after a month off, or they could get there having played a few hours of enjoyable cricket against some world-class performers. I know which I'd prefer by way of preparation.
Simon, UK

Never again will I sympathise with Nasser Hussain when he moans about there being too much cricket. Ahead of an Ashes Tour and the World Cup our top players should not be risking injury by playing in what amounts to nothing more than an exhibition.

We already have enough injury problems in the squad and we do not have the strength in depth to cope with any more. I cannot understand how the England captain is allowed to play. What is the point of central contracts if the ECB won't pull the players out of these sorts of games?
Nigel, UK