ECB seeks to revitalise one-day game

5 February 2010

ECB chief executive David Collier, right, is to head a structural review into the current volume of domestic cricket in England

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The ECB’s annual strategy conference took place this week in Warwickshire, focusing on the importance of one-day cricket.

Many leading figures in international cricket, including England team director Andy Flower, debated the opportunities surrounding one-day cricket and strategies for England sides to significantly improve performance in this form of the game.

There were also a series of debates on the volume of domestic and international cricket particularly with the pressures of global events, including international club tournaments.

Discussions also focussed on strategies to ensure that all England teams become dominant in one-day cricket and can match the success of the England women’s team who lifted the ICC Women’s World Cup in March 2009.

There were wide ranging discussions on the volume and structure of domestic cricket which would ensure sustainable success for the England team and the role of the England Performance Programme in further developing a talent pathway to deliver players capable of performing at the very highest level of international cricket.

ECB chairman Giles Clarke said: “I am extremely grateful for the support of all those involved in our strategy day where once again we were able to debate the challenges facing our sport.

“A key part of the day revolved around developing a proposal which I will be talking through in next week’s ICC board meeting which aims to reinvigorate one-day international cricket.

“We have discussed adopting a league format, similar to the World Test Championship proposal to ensure that one-day international cricket has a clearly defined structure in years that do not involve a World Cup.

“This will ensure that all series are meaningful on a global scale and will increase the appeal of this form of the game.

“A structural review of the volume of domestic cricket will be carried out under the leadership of (ECB chief executive) David Collier in the near future to ensure that the domestic game is a meaningful and valuable stepping stone to successful England teams."

Collier added: "Early in 2009 we met to analyse the issues surrounding Test match cricket and since that meeting there has been considerable progress made with the ICC implementing a number of the proposals that were discussed.

“I am tremendously encouraged by the quality of discussions we have had around the topic of one-day cricket and am confident that the conclusions reached will help increase the momentum in developing this area of the game globally.”