I don't think the powers-that-be in cricket could have imagined what a positive impact the new Twenty20 Cup would make when they dreamt up the idea.

Credit to them for the work they have done in marketing the new competition so well.

The launch match at the Rose Bowl last Friday was a fantastic occasion to be part of with nearly 9,000 people there and even more at the Oval for Surrey's game against Middlesex on the same evening.

The crowds have been excellent all over the country with 6,000 at Beckenham on Monday, the same night we were playing Surrey in front of 3,000 at the Metropolitan Police's ground at Imber Court in the heart of the Surrey stockbroker belt.

In their own way Surrey put on as good a show as Hampshire had on Friday and I'm all for Twenty20 games being staged at small club grounds.

It took me back to my early days at Derbyshire and before that watching on BBC2 on Sunday afternoons when a lot of fixtures in the old John Player League were played at small venues with the crowd sitting around the boundary's edge hoping to see plenty of fours and sixes.

In those pre-white ball days when one-day pitches tended to be a lot better they weren't often disappointed.

While we were watching from the players' balcony on Friday I half jokingly said that in five years' time Twenty20 might be the only limited overs cricket we play. On the other hand, the competition might have died a quiet death by then.

The only people who will determine that are you, the cricketing public.

The ECB have thrown their weight behind the competition by ensuring it is launched successfully and they have been rewarded with big crowds and plenty of media interest.

But next year will the weather be as favourable? Will people come out and watch if there is Euro 2004 football on TV at the same time? And are enough of the new audience sufficiently enthused by what they have seen so far to keep coming back? Time will tell.

Personally, I hope Twenty20 does succeed. Playing in front of such a big crowd with the atmosphere that went with it, both on Friday and then Monday, gave all our players a special buzz.

Purely from a captain's point of view though, I have to say it is a bit of a nightmare.

You have to think on the hoof. There are still things like fielding restrictions and changing the field if someone bowls a front-foot no ball, but everything has to be done that bit quicker.

The onus is on bowlers to have a plan and stick to it while batsmen are constantly thinking about scoring at a run a ball then upping it towards the end while hoping not to lose their wickets.

The crowds obviously love to see the ball disappearing over the boundary, the stumps spread-eagled and guys diving around in the field.

Long may it continue.

Saturday June 21