Worcestershire Rapids skipper Daryl Mitchell prefers 40 over to 50 over cricket but understands the need to replicate the format played at international level by England ahead of the launch of the Royal London One-Day Cup campaign.
The Rapids will begin their Royal London programme tomorrow with a home clash against Essex Eagles starting at 10.30am.
It is the first time that counties will be playing 50 over cricket for several seasons.
But Mitchell is looking to the Rapids to carry forward the momentum they have built up in LV = County Championship and NatWest T20 Blast cricket this season.
He said: "I haven’t played 50-over cricket for a little while now and, personally, I think the 40-over game has more to offer.
"I think it is more enjoyable for players and spectators, but you have to try to replicate what they do at international level.
"You can’t have a young kid playing their first ever 50-over game in an international game, so it’s only right we copy the format.
"Our lads have done well in four-day and T20 cricket so far this year, so hopefully we can continue that momentum in this new competition.
"Confidence is a big thing in cricket and we need to try to carry that over, although 50-over cricket is a lot different.
"Those extra 10 overs do make a big difference. It extends the middle period, so you can’t lose too many wickets up front and have to build for the death overs.
"If anything, we will probably need a little bit of extra batting to get us through those overs and you have to take a power-play at 35 overs, so that has to be taken into consideration.
"It is a very short competition with just eight games, so you have to start well – simple as that – and hopefully we can start with a win against Essex tomorrow."
Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes has named a 12 man squad for the opening fixture.
He said: "This 50 over comp, over the last two weeks, I had lots of plans to get some 50 over practice in, and get our heads around it.
"But in typical fashion, with the way our schedule is, it means you haven't had time to prepare.
"So we are going to go in a little bit cold but we will try and take this momentum that we've got into the games and we've got some good ideas of how to play. We just haven't practiced them.
"It will be interesting to see but we are not on our own in that situation. Every single team will not have had time to practice.
"The guys had today (Saturday off and they thoroughly deserve it.They need to freshen up and get ready for Sunday and we will just go in cold in many ways.
"But I think the momentum and the way we want to play the game should hold us in good stead and I fancy it will be a good game and hopefully a win for us."
The Rapids will select from: Mitchell,Oliver, Fell, Kervezee, Kohler-Cadmore, Whiteley, Cox, Leach, Choudhry, Shantry, McClenaghan, D'Oliveira.
