GLAMORGAN players are ready to embrace the new Twenty20 cricket competition with enthusiasm and with the aim of winning it.

That is the promise of acting skipper Robert Croft, pictured, who predicts the new initiative will prove a big success.

Glamorgan begin their five zonal matches against Northamptonshire at Sophia Gardens on Monday (start 5.30pm).

Then will follow games against Somerset at home on Wednesday, Warwickshire at Edgbaston on Friday, Worcestershire at Cardiff a week on Monday and Gloucestershire at Bristol a week on Wednesday.

The winners of each group and the best runner-up will then take part in the finals day on July 19.

"I'm sure the competition will be a huge success," said Croft. "It's an exciting new variation of the game and a bold initiative by the cricket authorities and I'm all in favour.

"Some cricket purists might not like it, but I don't believe it will have a detrimental affect on the production of Test cricketers.

"Cricket is in competition with lots of other exciting sports nowadays and we have to find a means of increasing interest in the game and creating more money, which is what it's all about.

"I am sure this new format will pull in a bigger and younger audience and perhaps families and that has to be supported.

"The Glamorgan players are certainly up for it. We're up for anything and we'll certainly be out to win the competition.

"Because it's a new event we'll have to devise strategy as we go along. It's a question of suck it and see. But I'm sure the basic principles will hold true as in most forms of the game."

The Twenty20 matches will be a scaled down version of the 50-overs game with one innings per side, each of twenty overs.

Fielding restrictions will apply for the first six overs of each innings and bowlers will be restricted to a maximum of four overs.

There will also be a free hit for a front foot no ball, one short-pitched per over is allowed and each side must face five overs to constitute a match.

There will be a six-run penalty for each over not bowled and batsmen will be expected to jog to the crease to assist the fielding side achieve their over rate.

To increase spectator numbers and pull in the youngsters and office workers, Glamorgan, like other counties, are introducing new-style entertainment.

On Monday, the theme is Hollywood/Walt Disney fancy dress with children dressing up in appropriate costumes receiving free coke and cinema tickets and the chance of a further prize and adults receiving a free can of beer.

There will also be karaoke in the beer tent with every singer receiving a free drink and the best singer a Glamorgan shirt signed by the players.

Other entertainment will include music and the ECB roadshow with children able to see the speed of their bowling and interviews with players.

"It's all designed to provide fun for everybody," said Glamorgan spokeswoman Amanda Cheshire.