sport

Twenty20 Cup Ready To Roll

Onions - Values Traditional Format.

Twenty20 cricket in England hits the big time today as counties begin their bid for a place in the multi-million pound Champions League.

Seven matches are scheduled around the country, by which time details of even more 20-over riches will have been announced.

While the 18 first-class counties are facing off for a shot at an autumn jackpot of £2.5million somewhere in Asia, the framework of the England and Wales Cricket Board's partnership with Sir Allen Stanford, including annual £10million one-off showdowns in Antigua and a quadrangular in this country, will be revealed at Lord's.

Suddenly 20-over cricket has become a serious business.

There are arguments for and against gimmicks - such as commentators chatting to players during the action, dancing girls and hot tubs for fans - in cricket's shortest formats.

"I don't think that will change," said Stuart Law, captain of Lancashire, who have reached three finals days. "It is a game we are trying to get to the people.

"The general public who come to watch it aren't necessarily cricket lovers, they come for the entertainment factor.

"Sitting at home in front of your TV, if the commentators are interacting with the players it makes for good viewing.

"It is a game made perfectly to promote on TV and a great spectacle for getting you to a live game for a different perspective with the razzmatazz and atmosphere, which is electric."

Durham's England Lions pace bowler Graham Onions, however, reckons it may become a notch more serious in 2008 and beyond.

"Earpiece conversation: that might change because people might want to concentrate more on the game this year," Onions said.

"In Championship cricket they wouldn't think of putting earpieces in, so the fun element might alter a little bit.

"But then again, when you get on the field you don't think about prize money, you just think about getting through your four overs without going for boundaries."

Traditionalists among county cricketers, including Onions, still value the County Championship as the pinnacle of the game as Test cricket is to international stars.

Yet the money on offer in that format is a drop in the Indian Ocean of Twenty20.

"For Durham we set our goals to win every game that we play, although obviously we can't do that," Onions said. "If I had a choice I would choose Championship cricket without a doubt.

"When I saw what the prize money was for the Championship the other day, I thought 'it's got to be more than that' because Sussex have been such a good team for years.

"People call it proper cricket and if you play a Test match over five days, the best team prevails.

"You can lose a game of Twenty20 with a click of a finger."

In the past other high-profile sportsmen, who have been age group stars at cricket, such as England footballer Phil Neville have been lost to the sport.

But it might be a more difficult decision in future given the potential sums now available for reaching the top.

"People have been saying that if you play four days in the IPL or win something like this you'll be living the life of a footballer," said Onions. "But taking the money away you have to enjoy what you do and the bottom line is everybody thoroughly enjoys playing Twenty20 cricket."