Skippers back changes

Australia domestic captains call at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 1, 2010 in Cricket Australia State Cricket Season Launch Melbourne, Australia

The traditionalists will cringe and the spinners will be edgy but Australia's state cricket captains have thrown their support behind the new 'split innings' domestic one-day format, which kicks off on Wednesday.

The domestic 50-over game, the poor cousin of the hugely popular 'Big Bash', has been scrapped for the time being, with games now comprising 45-overs apiece, complete with a crossover after 20 and 25 overs.

"Cricket Australia are taking a step forward to try and change it and at the end of the year it'll either be a real success or we'll go back to the drawing board."

"Personally I think it's a bit hard for the spinners, with four fielders out. The captains are going to have to set unusual fields at times to protect the runs from blowing out," the former Test quick said.

But Western Australia's Adam Voges, himself a handy spinner, said his fellow tweakers would rise to the challenge, just like they did in 20/20.

"For all bowlers it's going to be challenging and I think that's the beauty of the new concept," he said.

Tasmania, who are defending champions of sorts, expect to adapt to the new concept seamlessly, according to captain George Bailey.

"Every time we win a trophy, they change the concept the next year. But it means we get to keep a lot of the old trophies," he joked.

The boom recruit for the Tigers is the cavalier, yet enigmatic former South Australian Mark Cosgrove, who had a rather chilly introduction to the Apple Isle.

"We greeted him with snow – the first time he's seen snow his whole life," Bailey said.

"I think at the moment he's thinking 'what have I got myself into?' but we're all looking forward to seeing how dynamic he can be, particularly in one-day cricket."