Cricket: Twenty20 looks set for expansion

New Zealand Cricket is picking the Twenty20 international against the West Indies to be more popular than last year's match against Australia.

The shortened format has proved popular at domestic level, with an average of around two and a half thousand spectators per game in the new local competition.

Last season's retro-theme match against Australia attracted around 25,000 fans.

New Zealand Cricket Marketing Manager Peter Dwan said Chris Cairns' impending retirement should bolster the crowd considerably, although tickets for the format tend to sell late.

At the domestic level, this year's trial format of two games per team in the round robin has attracted good crowds of around two and a half thousand per match.

The final of the inaugural competition is between Auckland and Canterbury at Eden Park on Sunday, with around three to four thousand fans expected.

Dwan said the format has been very popular and they are confident a longer competition will work, but they just need to find the time in their schedule.

He believes the six associations, public and players have responded well to Twenty20 cricket.

- NEWSTALK ZB