Australia scraps triangular one-day format

Cricket Australia (CA) will scrap its triangular one-day international format after almost 30 years and play more Twenty20 internationals, it was revealed on Tuesday.

CA's schedule for the 2008/09 season involving New Zealand and South Africa shows the organisation attempting to revive interest in its one-day series and moving to meet demand for the ultra-short Twenty20 form.

The triangular one-day format introduced by the late media mogul Kerry Packer in 1979/80 helped revolutionise cricket but has been ditched in favour of a model that ensures Australia plays in each match.

So-called "neutral" matches involving two visiting teams, which have often struggled to attract crowds and television ratings among Australian supporters, have been eliminated.

Instead of a triangular format culminating in a best-of-three final, the upcoming season will involve Australia playing South Africa five times in January then New Zealand five times in February.

South Africa and New Zealand will not play each other.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said the new schedule gave fans "the first-hand opportunity to see their Australian heroes in action every time they attend or tune in to an Australian summer one-day international."

CA has also moved to maximise revenue from Twenty20 internationals, scheduling two matches against South Africa at the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground, and a third against New Zealand in Sydney.

Australia will play the Black Caps in Tests in Brisbane, beginning November 20, and Adelaide from November 28.

They will then face South Africa for a three-Test series in Perth (Dec 12-16), Melbourne (Dec 26-30) and Sydney (Jan 3-7).