One-day innovations to make debut

Subs will become the norm soon

England and Australia will become the first teams to try out the new one-day innovations introduced by the International Cricket Council.

The cricket rivals meet in the first of the three-match NatWest Challenge at Headingley next Thursday.

It means each team will be able to use a substitute and there will be a change in the fielding restrictions.

England captain Michael Vaughan said: "It is a new concept and it should be fascinating for the game."

The original plan was to introduce the innovations from 30 July but the ICC said England and Australia could embrace them earlier if they wished.

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England coach Duncan Fletcher is in favour of the changes adding: "It will bring more excitement into the game and it is exactly what was needed.

"Captains and coaches will have a lot more thinking to do and I am particularly pleased that the two five over periods are variable rather than being allocated."

His Australia counterpart John Buchanan said: "We fully support these new changes which place a greater emphasis on tactics on one-day cricket."

Each team will have to name a starting XI before the toss but at any time in the match can introduce a substitute, who will be able to bat, bowl and keep wicket.

The fielding restrictions have been changed from the original first 15 overs of a game to the first 10 overs of a game and then a further two blocks of five overs, whenever the fielding captain chooses.