CRICKET fans will get a generous serving of 20/20 cricket this weekend when the 2008 season kicks off with two days of action in the shorter and most exciting form of the game.

Many purists still have their concerns about this short version of the game, but it is quickly gaining in popularity around the world as countries like England, the West Indies and now India have introduced their own 20/20 competitions which is attracting new enthusiasm amongst the fans. Now Bermuda, too, is about to capitalise, with our own 20/20 tournament involving all 16 league clubs and played over three weekends.

"I think it is going to bring some excitement to our local cricket, particularly for the fans," said Bermuda Cricket Board vice president Allen Richardson this week.

"They got a taste of it through the Stanford 20/20 and a lot of people are looking at the India 20/20 (on TV) and with all the excitement that went on down at St. David's last weekend, it certainly rekindled the excitement. I think it is a perfect curtain-raiser to the season, definitely."

Added Richardson: "What precipitated that is it has been extremely difficult putting the league together with various fields closed, with two major ones, Bailey's Bay and St. George's, not being operational until later.

"So we would have been stretched with starting the season and having enough fields. With this format, and the way we zoned it, it means we are using only four fields and it means that the National Sports Centre will get some much-needed use as well. It is not long and drawn out and we do have a lot of cricket to play this year."

The board is constantly reviewing the league structure, trying to find what works best for the game at the domestic level. The two-day format, which was intended to help groom younger players, was used last season but wasn't met with much enthusiasm from the players. The 20/20 format should at least be more popular.

"That (two-day) has been a big disappointment," Richardson acknowledged.

"We tried all sorts of stuff but it just didn't work. We just didn't get the players to come out at all. So we decided to have an open league starting at 10 o'clock and the first team batting will only be allowed to bat 65 overs and the second team allowed 55 overs. That will replace the two-day cricket."

For the 20/20, beginning on Saturday and Sunday at St. David's, National Sports Centre, Southampton Oval and Somerset, the teams will be split into four zones of four teams with each team playing the other once in a round robin which will see the four zone winners advancing to the semi-finals on May 4 at the National Sports Centre. The finals are scheduled for May 10 at NSC.

The East and East Central Zones look to be the two strongest groups in the 20/20 tournament. St. David's, one of the Belco Cup qualifiers from last season, will face stiff competition from their Eastern Counties rivals, Cleveland and Bailey's Bay while St. George's, another Belco Cup qualifier, may be hard-pressed to be in contention having lost a few key youngsters with Ankoma Cannonier, Rodney Trott, Sinclair Smith and Allan Douglas Jr. leaving the club along with wicketkeeper Jason Anderson.

St. David's, too, have been hit by transfers with Sammy Robinson, George O'Brien, Shannon Raynor, Fiqre Crockwell and Mackie Crane all leaving. Cleveland and Bay could be the teams to beat in that group. Cleveland have picked up Dwayne Leverock and the returning Curtis Jackson while Bay have Glenn Smith-Blakeney, Rodney Trott, Sinclair Smith and Dennico Hollis amongst their signings.

The East Central Zone could be the closest as promoted 50-overs teams Devonshire Rec. and Police promise to be major threats after some key signings. George O'Brien, James Celestine, Nyon Steede and Traddie Simpson have joined the Police ranks this season while their Central Counties rivals, Devonshire Rec. have had their ranks boosted with the arrival of Steven Bremar, Mackie Crane, Allan Douglas and Wilbur Burt.

Southampton Rangers should begin the 20/20 as firm favourites in the West where they will line up against Somerset, Somerset Bridge and Willow Cuts.

The West Central zone doesn't look as strong but could still be wide open as Warwick, Leg Trappers, Western Stars and PHC battle for the top spot.

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Schedule

Saturday

East Zone: St. David's v Bailey's Bay (St. David's 11.00); St. George's v Cleveland (St. David's 3.00).

East Central Zone: Flatts v Devonshire Rec. (NSC 10.30); Police v YMSC (NSC 2.30).

West Central Zone: Warwick v Leg Trappers (S.Oval 11.00); Western Stars v PHC (S.Oval 3.00).

West Zone: Somerset v Som. Bridge (Somerset 11.00); Willow Cuts v S.Rangers (Somerset 3.00).

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Sunday

East Zone: Bailey's Bay v St. George's (St. David's 11.00); Cleveland v St. David's (St. David's 3.00).

East Central Zone: YMSC v Devonshire Rec. (NSC 11.00); Flatts v Police (NSC 3.00).

West Central Zone: Warwick v PHC (S. Oval 11.00); Leg Trappers v Western Stars (S.Oval 3.00).

West Zone: Willow Cuts v Somerset (Somerset 11.00); Somerset Bridge v S.Rangers (Somerset 3.00).