New domestic structure announced for 2010-13

Date: Thursday 27 August 2009

Enhanced Twenty20 and 40-over competitions are the major changes in the ECB’s domestic format for the 2010-2013 seasons.

After a 12-month consultation period with all eighteen first-class counties, the game’s governing body have decided to keep the status quo with the LV County Championship, with two divisions of nine teams and sixteen games played.

However, it is all change on the one-day scene, with just two competitions running. Firstly, there will be an enhanced Twenty20 competition, with two divisions of nine teams on a regional basis being put in place.

The actual format has yet to be absolutely confirmed but it would seem logical to suggest that group fixtures will take place at home and away against all opposition.

That would mean sixteen first-phase games would be played in the new competition, and if that is the case, then eight Twenty20 group matches would be held at Grace Road.

The top four sides in both the north and south divisions will then progress to a traditional quarter-final.

Again, the splits for the divisions have yet to be decided, but the common-sense approach would be to add Warwickshire, Northants and Worcestershire to the Northern section which already consists of Leicestershire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham, Notts and Derbyshire.

That would leave Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Somerset to join the six teams from the already-existing Southern section; Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Essex, Kent and Middlesex.

In addition to the new structure, two overseas players will also be permitted to play in the new Twenty20 competition, with one allowed in everything else.

In terms of the longer form of the one-day format, 50-over cricket will cease to exist with the scrapping of the Friends Provident Trophy.

Instead, there will be an increased schedule of 40-over cricket with three pools of seven teams. It appears Ireland and Scotland will fill two of those extra three slots having formed part of the FPT this season.

The competition will be played mainly on Sunday afternoons throughout the season, with six home and six away matches. The competition progresses to a semi-final and final in September.

The powerplays and fielding restrictions will be the same as per international cricket even though the match will be played over 40 overs.

The changes were agreed on a majority verdict, with 13 first-class counties in favour of the new structure and five opposed.

In respect of the international season, England will play two npower Test matches versus Bangladesh and three one-day internationals in the period from May 27 to June 17.

A further five one-day internationals will be played against Australia from June 22 to July 3. Australia will play Pakistan in this country in two Twenty20 internationals and two Test matches from July 5 to July 25.

England will then play a four-match npower Test series with Pakistan from July 29 to August 30 and five ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals from September 5 to 21.

The England Lions team will also compete in a series of one-day internationals against New Zealand A and India A in July and are seeking to finalise a tour of one-day internationals versus Pakistan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in early 2010.

ECB chairman Giles Clarke explained the decision-making process. He said: “Directors of cricket and coaches reported through their county votes, that the leading one-day team in world cricket, South Africa, do not mirror 50 overs at domestic level and that, provided powerplays and fielding restrictions were the same as the international format, the skills required were very similar.

“The board acknowledged that the members of the International Cricket Council will themselves be reviewing the future of 50-over cricket after the 2011 World Cup and felt that an increased programme of England Lions matches should be developed in parallel to the first-class counties decision re. the domestic structure.”

England and England Lions will continue to play 50-over cricket internationally until the ICC review is complete.