Chappell-Hadlee Trophy grows by two matches

The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, which has experienced a nervous existence due to low interest levels and crowded playing schedules, will be expanded to five-match series over the next two years. The first four versions of the trans-Tasman contest have included three games and Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket have agreed to push ahead with the concept.

"We are both very supportive of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy," Justin Vaughan, the New Zealand Cricket chief executive, told the Dominion Post after meeting with Cricket Australia's James Sutherland. "We looked at the future and there is no problem in three of the next four years, it is just 2011, being a World Cup year."

Vaughan wants the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy to become a tradition and the prize will be at stake during the five-game series that was already planned for Australia's revised 2008-09 programme. New Zealand will play three Tests in Australia next November and December and head-to-head one-day contests will replace the annual triangular tournament. It saves the teams facing eachother in two home tournaments in the same season, which happened in 2004-05 and 2006-07.

The two organisations will also explore options for New Zealand and Australia domestic teams to play a Twenty20 event. "We'd like to be more involved in their programme," Vaughan said, "but equally we don't want to devalue our own domestic competition."