the original format of the natwest series was a three-team triangular tournament, involving england and two visiting international sides. each of the three teams would play the other two three times each, after which the two top teams would face each other in a final at lord's in london. the ten matches would be played at the seven international grounds (lord's, edgbaston, headingley, old trafford, the oval, trent bridge and the riverside ground), as well as other county cricket grounds such as the st lawrence ground (canterbury), sophia gardens (cardiff), the rose bowl (southampton) and at bristol.