Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson has attended a meeting along with Gloucestershire and E.C.B. officials to discuss the proposed structure for first class cricket in 2003.

"As always the factors involve developing the continued interest in cricket, marketing and financial developments," he said.

"Marketeers are forever trying to find an alternative audience for new forms of cricket. Their main problem is seeing a continuing need for four-day cricket, and they wish to reduce the four-day game to make room for an extra one day or a new form of short cricket, probably 25 overs per side. One-day matches attract crowds and TV audiences."

"Somerset is rural county with sparse but separate centres of population. The county wonders whether or not an alternative audience exists and therefore wants to protect and retain what we have - 7,000 vibrant and interested members.

"There is a suggestion that the 1 day league could be extended to incorporate more matches during a window of, say, July and August. An added attraction would be a proposed scheme contracting centrally proven international players, and allocating them on a ceded basis to the counties, which would provide a circus.

"The question is, what happens to the County Championship in the meantime? From a cricketing point of view counties need to play 4 day cricket for England purposes. Somerset wonders what a 20-over match would do for playing technique.

The regional meetings that are being held around the country are being held with a view to a consensus being put forward to the First Class Forum in March 2002.

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