Golden Overs, 'hot seats', ball boys and time-wasting penalties to speed up over rates form part of a package of regulations for the ECB's first trial game of the 20 over competition which will replace the Benson & Hedges Cup next year.

The new initiatives will be tested when a Gloucestershire Invitation XI take on Lashings in two 20 over matches in Bristol on Sunday 11 August.

One Golden Over is available to each batting side per match. Available to be taken between the seventh and twelfth overs (inclusive), all runs in a Golden Over will count double, including extras.

With teams having one hour and 15 minutes to bowl their 20 overs, keeping to schedule is essential. The incoming batsman must therefore be in position to take guard, or his partner ready to receive the next ball, within 1min 30secs of the fall of the previous wicket or he will be 'timed out' on appeal. In order to facilitate the next batsman's arrival at the crease, a 'hot seat' at the edge of the playing area will be provided with players expected to jog to the middle to minimise wasted time.

The umpires will be instructed to apply a strict interpretation of time-wasting by the batsman which, compliant to regulations, will result in a five-run penalty: specifically, batsmen are expected to be ready for the start of a new over as soon as the bowler is ready. Ball boys and girls will patrol the boundary to assist the over rate, but a six-run penalty against the fielding side will apply for every over not bowled within the allotted innings time.

Each bowler may bowl a maximum of four overs each and fielding restrictions will apply for the first six overs of each innings.

Lashings will bring a star-studded side to compete for the Gilbert Jessop Trophy, named in honour of the big-hitting former Gloucestershire and England player. Former West Indies captains Viv Richards, Jimmy Adams and Richie Richardson as well as Brian Lara and Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar are all expected to play for the Maidstone-based side.

The first match will start at 12noon and, with a 15 minutes interval between innings, will finish at 2.45pm. Match two will start at 3.30pm and finish at 6.15pm.

Anticipated Lashings side
Brian Lara, Viv Richards, Shoaib Akhtar, Richie Richardson, Grant Flower, Jimmy Adams, Franklyn Rose, Stuart Willams, Junior Murray, Stuart Carlisle, Chris Harris, Sherwin Campbell

Gloucester Invitation XI (from):
Jo Angel, David Terbrugge, Mohammad Kaif, Dinesh Mongia, Mark Alleyne, Jack Russell, Ian Harvey, Martin Ball, Jeremy Snape, Tim Hancock, Jonathan Lewis, Alex Gidman, James Averis, Ian Fisher.

Tickets will be on sale at the gate on the day.

© ECB 2002