Points change in Championship

Date: Wednesday 16 December 2009

The following points system and rule changes have been approved for the LV=County Championship and are effective from April 2010.

1. Teams will receive 16 points for a win and 3 for a draw (14 points for a win and 4 for a draw in recent years).

2. Bonus points remain unchanged (a maximum of 5 batting points and 3 bowling points available during each side's first innings) but the threshold for achieving them has reduced to 110 overs (from 120 overs in 2009).

3. The use of the heavy roller will be banned after the commencement of the match.

The changes have been approved in an effort to encourage and incentivise positive cricket throughout the season as well as maintaining and promoting the preparation of good cricket pitches.

Leicestershire Chief Executive David Smith, who also sits on the ECB Cricket Committee, said: "The increase of two points for the win reflects the Committee’s desire to encourage teams to play more attacking cricket rather than just playing cricket that reflects maximum bonus points plus the draw.”

"There is a merit in a hard-fought drawn match, as we saw in the First Test match between England and Australia at Cardiff this year.

“But by reducing the points awarded we feel that recognises the merit in a drawn game, but should also encourage teams to seek a positive result from the outset."