Adelaide gets first Twenty20 international

Australia will play the first international Twenty20 match when they face Pakistan under lights at Adelaide Oval on January 13.

Cricket Australia (CA) will use the 20-over-a-side exhibition to provide fans, sponsors and administrators with a closer look at the concept, which has been used successfully in England and South Africa. "Twenty-over cricket has proved to be popular in various domestic markets overseas, and we're certainly keeping abreast of its progress," the Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said.

Sutherland said CA had no immediate plans to develop a domestic series because there was no organised international competition. "If this changes and international Twenty20 cricket becomes a reality, we will want to be the number one nation at it," he said.

Australia is also scheduled to play Twenty20 matches against New Zealand in February and England on the Ashes tour next year.