BACK in 2013, Surrey offered local cricketers the chance to play evening T20 matches.

From having five teams that first year, the competition grew to 16 by 2017 and the short-game format proved so popular that the county has launched its own ‘Surrey Slam’ league.

Flexibility is at the heart of the competition, with opposing captains able to arrange a fixture within a two-week window rather than on a specific date. The only stipulation is that a match must start at 6pm in midweek.

Time is a key factor and games last no more than two and a half hours. The Surrey Slam is also split into regional leagues to minimise travel time. Fielding teams are encouraged to play 10 of their 20 overs before they switch ends, so vastly reducing the number of times the field needs to be changed.

Batsmen retire at 50 runs and bowlers have an overs-limit.

Teams, rather than clubs, are invited to enter and are encouraged to invent their own names – Brockham Bandits, South Nutfield Mavericks, Byfleet Buccaneers for example.

Teams are guaranteed at least four matches before the showpiece finals day – complete with coloured clothing and coloured stumps.

Matt Camp, founder of the Surrey Slam, said: “I wanted to create a competition for the whole of Surrey, giving everyone the opportunity to squeeze a midweek game into a summer evening. I’ve tried to design every element of the competition to take into account 21st century lifestyles. I’ve focussed on flexibility, time-efficiency and accessibility and I’m thrilled to see numbers growing across the county.”

The 2018 Surrey Slam runs from May to August. Anyone interested in playing should visit www.surreyslam.co.uk to find their local team.