Notts Outlaws all-rounder Graeme Swann has admitted that he is desperate to impress the national selectors following the announcement that England will play five winner-takes-all Twenty20 matches in the Caribbean.
Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford confirmed that winning players will pocket £500,000 each in the annual fixture against his West Indies All Star XI in a press conference at Lord’s on Wednesday.
"A few years ago, when Twenty20 started, everybody loved it but it was a bit of fun, a bit of slap and tickle,” Swann told BBC Sport.
"Then it got to the stage when the prize money in England ensured everybody sat up and took notice and now it's a hugely serious part of our sport.
"It's inevitable that me and players like me will be desperate to impress in Twenty20 games to play in that match.
"It's phenomenal - these are revolutionary and exciting times to be a cricketer.”
Stanford hopes that the series will help to reverse the decline West Indies cricket and has said that he believes Twenty20 cricket could become ‘the dominant team sport in the world.’
"It is one night, winner-takes-all $20m," said Sir Allen.
"Twenty20 is what's going to grab the TV revenue and it's the future of sport, make no mistake about that.
“This will expose the sport to a whole different market that has never seen cricket, nor would they be interested to see the game via a Test-match series.
"You have to remember T20 was born right here in England, I didn't invent it, the English invented it.
"We are working with the England and Wales Cricket Board to take it to another level.”
Last week, the ECB announced that the finalists of the domestic Twenty20 Cup will qualify for the Cricket Champions League alongside teams from India, Australia and South Africa.
Notts Outlaws begin their campaign against Yorkshire Carnegie at Headingley on Friday and face Durham Dynamos at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
Notts also have home fixtures against Derbyshire Phantoms (Monday 16 June), Leicestershire Foxes (Thursday 19 June), Lancashire Lightning (Monday 22 June) and Yorkshire Carnegie (Friday 27 June) in the north division of the Twenty 20 Cup.
Notts Outlaws Twenty20 Cup Ticket Information
Discounts of up to £3 per ticket are available on advanced tickets for Notts Outlaws home group fixtures at Trent Bridge when purchased before 4pm the day before each game.
Advance tickets cost £12 for adults, £7 for juniors and senior citizens and £31 for families (two adults and two children).
Groups of ten or more can buy tickets for the special price of £9.60 each in advance in person or by phone from the ticket office.
Group tickets are not available online and must be purchased before 4pm the day before the game.
Tickets are available on the day priced £15 for adults, £15 for senior citizens, £8 for juniors and £38 for families (two adults and two children).
Twenty20 Cup season passes are available until 4pm on Friday June 13 and cost £50 for adults, £30 for juniors and senior citizens and £132 for families (two adults and two children).
To book, call 0870 168 8888 or buy online from the ticket section of the website.
* = Group tickets and season passes are only available from the ticket line.