KENT County Cricket Club have supported the England and Wales Cricket Board’s restructuring of the one-day game to be phased in from 2006.

Under the plans, limited overs’ cricket will be played in three major blocks through the summer, starting with the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy, a frantic fortnight of Twenty20 Cup action, followed by a re-modelled totesport League to wrap up the season.

Commenting on the changes, which were passed by unanimous vote at the recent first-class forum, Kent chief executive Paul Millman said: “It’s been worked through thoroughly and has taken a long time to resolve.

“Kent have been to the fore in these changes with our chairman Carl Openshaw instrumental in influencing opinion, representing the views of our membership and protecting the welfare of county cricket in general.

“There was quite a demand to cut the amount of cricket we played at county level, but by re-defining the season and giving clearer definition to each format we have retained the number of matches played whilst allowing more time for travel and match preparation.

“And with Wednesday start days for championship matches fairly written in stone, watchers and county supporters will enjoy a clearly laid out season and will know what happens and when.”

From 2006 a re-vamped C&G Trophy will be contested in coloured kit from the start of the season and with the 18 first-class counties split into northern and southern conferences.

Each side will play nine qualifying matches with the winners of each conference meeting for a Lord’s final.

The latter part of the summer will be taken up by new-look totesport League, starting in mid-July and played over a shorter distance of 40-overs per side, it will have two divisions with a two up, two down relegation and promotion format.

A play off between the third-placed finishers in Division 2 and the seventh side in Division 1 is to be introduced - a third place in the top-flight will go to the winners, with the second division side having home advantage.

The popular Twenty20 Cup will form the filling for the one-day cricket sandwich, and will incorporate eight group ties per county played out inside 15 hectic days of June.

From 2006 Twenty20 finals day will include quarterfinals, semi-finals as well as the showpiece and consideration is being given to invite two overseas touring sides into the mix.

If that option is taken up the competition will switch to four qualifying groups of five teams.

Championship cricket remains unscathed, however, with a two division 16-match format.

The breakdown of prize money will change with the top three in Division 1 all receiving a windfall as well as the winners of Division 2.

The ECB are considering a groundswell of opinion to cut championship promotion and relegation places from three to two, but changes to the board’s articles of association need to be made at the next general meeting for that change to be pursued.