NEW Kent captain Robert Key believes the changes to the format of county cricket will help the club improve their one-day performance.

Like Key's shoulder, county cricket has been totally re-constructed for next summer which will help the players and may yet improve attendances.

One-day cricket should benefit most as the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy, Twenty20 Cup and National Cricket League will be played in three distinct blocks, raising the profile of each competition and giving the shortened game renewed cache with players and fans alike.

Key said: "It’s hard to know ahead of the season exactly what impact these changes will make, but I believe the game will benefit.

"From here on one-day cricket matches will be stand alone events rather than shortened games tacked on at the end of our championship matches or matches squeezed in between away trips.

"I think that is one of the reasons why limited overs cricket has suffered in England in recent years, but these changes will give players a chance to practice ahead of each one-day game and opportunity to think and prepare for the different formats.

"That’s good overall, but particularly at Kent where we are looking at ways of improving our limited overs cricket. We have played consistently well in four-day cricket in recent years but have struggled in the shortened game.

"I’ve been as guilty as anyone I guess having been wrapped up with England and scoring championship runs, but that has to change, especially now I’m captain and I’ll be looking for big improvements to our one-day displays."