02 February 2005	Wednesday	22 Zilhaj 1425

SYDNEY, Feb 1: Twenty20 cricket will be formally included in the Australian interstate competition next season after the abbreviated form of the game proved an instant hit with fans.

Cricket Australia played two experimental Twenty20 games this summer and said they were so successful that the six states would play a competition in that format as part of revamped schedule.

"The Australian public has told us they love Twenty20 and we want to offer fans in each state a chance to see it," Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said in a statement on Tuesday.

Cricket Australia also announced some changes to its international programme next season with the final schedule to be released later this month. Australia will host the World XI in three one-day matches in Melbourne in October then a six-day "test" in Sydney.

They are also scheduled to play three tests against West Indies and three against South Africa. West Indies have traditionally played five test series' when they visit but have been downgraded to three because of a crowded fixture list.

One of the West Indian tests will be played in Hobart, the first time in five years Tasmania has staged a test, while Perth will stage one of the South African tests.

The triangular one-day series will remain intact but Melbourne will not host one of the three finals because they already have the series against the World XI. Sydney and Adelaide will stage the first two finals with Brisbane to host a third if required. -Reuters