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ECB reveals 2010 structure
The England and Wales Cricket Board has agreed on a policy for the domestic structure which protected the primacy of Test cricket and the County Championship when they decided on a three-competition domestic structure.
The LV= County Championship will remain as a 16-match two-division competition while the enhanced Twenty20 - P20 - will be played in June and July with a finals day later in the season and there will be a limited-overs Sunday afternoon competition.
Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, said: “We canvassed a wide range of opinion and everyone was behind the principle of the primacy of Test match and County Championship cricket.
“It is important that the County Championship structure is maintained to support the England Test team.
“We all recognise that there is little appetite for Test match cricket in early May and this structure allows us to play Tests in June, July and August.
“We have also listened to the spectators and counties alike about the structure and the consensus was for Twenty20 cricket to be played in June and July with a final later in the season with the qualification matches primarily at weekends.”
ECB chairman Giles Clarke acknowledged there is "little appetite" for Test cricket in the early part of the summer
The enhanced Twenty20 competition will be based on two pools of nine which will be split on north-south lines. This means that the competition retains the local derby element which is so successful at the moment. The matches will be played on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays in the main.
The ECB board have still to decide on the playing regulations for the competition although there will be no restrictions on the number of overseas players who can be registered. However, there will be a restriction, yet to be decided, on the numbers who can play in each competition.
The third competition will see a return of the much loved Sunday League but the exact format is yet to be confirmed but, importantly, spectators will be provided with regular cricket from 2010.
The ECB feels there is a worldwide desire to find a way of reinvigorating and revitalising the 50-over game.
The game has experimented with powerplays and super subs and now the ECB, along with other countries, have decided to explore new options.
Research tells ECB this is something the spectators and counties want to see happen. One option being considered is a 40-over concept with two innings per side with no limitations on bowlers.
The ECB is committed to 50-over cricket at international level with a total of 13 ODIs against Bangladesh, Australia and Pakistan as well as an extended programme of England Lions 50-over games.
These matches, along with those played in Australia in the winter of 2010-11, will provide the practice required for the ICC World Cup in early 2011.
The board have referred their decisions back to the ECB cricket committee so that the schedule, rules and regulations can be drawn up as a matter of urgency.
Official site of the England and Wales Cricket Board
Your comments
As a Northants fan we are pleased to see PRO40 reatined, abig favourite with the members. People and members who work all week dont get to see much cricket so this at least is guaranteed. What we would like is to see is the end of 4 points for a draw in the championship, teams shutting down too early and so killing games..
Phillip ellis on 01/09/09
I agree with Malcolm's principle on first innings and his batting points suggestion, although I would make it 120 divided by overs (rounded down).
Why have bowling points? Most teams get close to maximum and whilst batting points depend on your performance, bowling points may not. If the opposition declare then you have no control.
Dick BOYD on 01/09/09
I think that because there are only 3 competitions the county championship should be extended to 5 days to bring more results, also, the FPT should be played after the T20 when the pro40 is played now so there could be more televised games and also (I think) that pitches are better at this time of the year fewer matches would end with the side batting first being bowled out cheaply leading to a poor game there could also be a rain dyay for all one day matches to reduce the number of no results
Tom Owton on 09/08/09
sensible leaving the championship but get back to 104 overs in a day so more results are possible.sensible bringing back the sunday league but dont mess with format spectators know 40 overs one innings works.let each team have one home and one away midweek floodlit game.also bring back a straight knockout 50 over cup with the minor counties having there day in the spotlight again with a home tie and of course we must have a showpiece lords final.DONT MESS WITH THE GAME TOO MUCH AND ALL FORMS CAN WORK.
glenn wallace on 01/08/09
The county championship should be left alone, it is (in my view) the best form of county cricket and an important stepping stone to perhaps an eventual test call-up.
The new Twenty20 format sounds good, as does the proposed two innings of 40 overs set-up, on sundays too, allowing easier access for casual fans.
The only thing that I suggest should be changed is that the sunday matches should be played in whites, in fact I would go as far as to say that all matches that are played during the daytime (including Twenty20) should have the players in whites.
I say this because it would keep the issues of difficulty polishing the white ball to a minimum, and completely eliminate issues of fielders being unable to see the white ball against overcast skies. Another reason is the simple fact that almost everyone, when thinking of cricket, thinks of men in whites playing with a red ball. This is the traditional view of cricket that is embedded in the minds all casual-fans and everyone else who has no interest in cricket, should we really throw away this tradition so readily? Also apart from that playing in colours just doesn't loke proper cricket.
James Totty on 01/08/09
How about an idea to combine the thrills of 20/20 with the (apparent) need to allow batsmen to play a long innings (as preparation for Test cricket)?
I suggest the following changes:-
1. A limit on the overs in the first innings to, say, 120 per side and the second innings to, say, 60 per side. Total possible = 360 overs at 90 per day. This should encourage faster scoring in the 1st innings without imposing a major restriction on batsmen's time at the crease and........
2. Change the Batting bonus points system by awarding up to 5 points in the 1st innings - calculated by dividing the first 100 runs scored by the overs taken to get them - rounded down. Thus, if it takes 40 overs then 2 points are awarded; 30 overs, 3 points; 20 overs 5 points, etc. Bowling bonus and other points awarded to remain as at present. This system would bring in an element of limited-overs style batting at the beginning of each 1st innings thereby offering added excitement at least twice per match - bigger crowds? - whilst still allowing enough overs after this for batsmen to establish an innings.
MALCOLM DANIELS on 30/07/09