Domestic Cricket Matches To Be Cut
by Patricia Montgomery, LincsMag Writer.
Date: 31 March 2011
Friends Provident t20
The ECB’s management board this month (March 2011) have approved a reduction in the volume of domestic cricket from 2012, thus the Friends Provident t20, won by Hampshire Royals in 2010, will be reduced from 16 to 10 pool matches a season - starting next year (2012)
During a meeting at Lord’s, the board agreed that the Friends Provident t20 competition will be reduced from 16 to 10 pool matches a season played in a dedicated ‘window’ during June and July, while the knock-out phases of the competition will remain unchanged.
The board also agreed a package of financial measures to ensure that counties will not suffer any adverse economic impact from this reduction in the amount of one-day cricket. It also agreed to retain the LV= County Championship as two divisions of nine teams playing 16 matches a season.
Clydesdale Bank 40
With regard to the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition, the board expressed concern that the proposed addition of a quarter-final round could lead to no guaranteed one-day cricket for counties during August and September, so it has determined that two options be independently reviewed before the next board meeting in May.
These options are either four pools of five teams with a quarter-final, semi-final and final giving eight guaranteed matches or the retention of the current structure of three pools of seven teams with semi-finals and a final.
Four-Year Strategy
The board reviewed proposals to enhance and support county business operations and approved a four-year strategy to assist with the development and marketing of domestic cricket.
Following recommendations from the major match group, the board approved a comprehensive package of matches to be awarded to MCC for the period 2013-2016 inclusive. This will provide a total of 46 major match days at Lord’s during the four-year period.
ACCESS unit
The board further strengthened the regulations concerning anti-corruption and approved the terms of reference and structure of a dedicated ACCESS unit (anti-corruption commission for education, standards and security)
ECB chairman Giles Clarke said: “We are pleased to have agreed a range of measures today which we believe will be to the long term benefit of the county game in England and Wales."
