Rugby great Johns to play Twenty20 for NSW

SYDNEY, June 28 (Reuters) Rugby league great Andrew Johns will play two Twenty20 one-day cricket matches for New South Wales next January, Cricket NSW said today.

Johns, the Newcastle Knights captain who is widely regarded as the best rugby league player in the world, will face South Australia in two matches on January 7 and 10 in a bid to attract publicity for the Twenty20 version of the game.

''Being in its infancy, it's important for us to keep it in that context,'' Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert told Australian Associated Press.

''Having a figure with the immense popularity of Andrew Johns represent his state in these matches will trigger unprecedented interest.'' Johns, 32, has played lower grade cricket for Newcastle club Merewether.

REUTERS PDS BST1017