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Lehmann wants Twenty20 limit

South Australian captain and twice World Cup winner Darren Lehmann has warned Cricket Australia to avoid succumbing to the temptation of scheduling an expanded Twenty20 competition next summer.

Fans have voted with their feet in the Twenty20 interstate competition, while a full house is expected at the SCG for today's Twenty20 international between Australia and England.

Lehmann said the two-week competition, in which all six state teams play four games each followed by a final on Saturday, was a good idea but urged administrators not to get too carried away.

"I think it probably is (warranted) for the crowds. I just don't want it to stand too much away from domestic cricket," Lehmann said after his side scored an eight-run victory at Newcastle against a NSW side that included rugby league star Andrew Johns.

"Yes, it's getting people through the gate. The state associations are obviously really happy with the concept. Queensland had 27,000 the other night, New South Wales got a packed house here (10,652) at Newcastle, we've had 10,000 at our games.

"It's fantastic for the state associations. I think as long as we don't get too greedy and over-pack the games and not play too many, and take it to regional centres like New South Wales has done, then I think you will always have great content.

"As soon as they get too many games and play too many, maybe it will lose its edge. So let's keep the edge and let's keep it firing as it is. You've got to have international cricket at some stage with it, but it doesn't have to be rushed because they are packing houses with one-day cricket now anyway."

The inaugural Twenty20 world championship will be hosted by South Africa in September.

Lehmann said the Johns publicity stunt by the Blues was a "great concept".

Popular former all-rounder and 1975 World Cup hero Gary Gilmour was an interested spectator.

"There's 10,000 people here. You don't know if they're here because of Joey or because of the brevity of the game," he said. "There's not much to it. But the players don't want to take it seriously because it would be demoralising for a bowler to be smashed around the park all the time. But from a crowd point of view, it's great. People can afford three or four hours a day. Whereas if you go to a Test match …"

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