KEY POINTS:
Twenty20 cricket will now last longer, with the State competition expanded from six to eight rounds for the 2008/09 season.
The four-day State Championship opens the summer in November, with the State Shield one-day championship taking its regular mid-summer spot in December and January.
The expanded Twenty20 competition will be contested during a dedicated four-week period in February.
"Twenty20 cricket offers high octane entertainment in a condensed three-hour window, and is bringing in record crowds both to live games and televised matches," New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive Justin Vaughan said today.
"It simply makes sense for NZC and our major associations to expand that offering in this year's schedule."
Vaughan said Sky TV would increase its cricket coverage to televise eight State Twenty20 matches, and the State Shield final.
- NZPA
