Support for the ECB T20 Plans

The Easter Bunnies will vote for Christmas

Non first-class counties support new ECB T20 competition.
Rob Johnston.

Cricbuzz.

Saturday, 11 March 2017.

PTG 2072-10492.

The 21 non-first-class counties are in favour of England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) proposed new proposed Twenty20 competition and are likely to vote to change the ECB's constitution should that be required to allow the tournament to take place.

The current ECB’s Articles of the constitution do not allow any competition to be held without the 18 first-class counties having the option to enter. They state: "The board shall not have the power to deprive a first-class county club of the right to participate in all first-class county competitions authorised by the ECB”.

This will likely require amending if a new eight-team tournament, outside the county structure, is to get the go-ahead. Any changes to the ECB's Articles require the votes of all 41 ECB members, which includes the chairmen of the 18 first-class counties, the 21 non first class counties, the Marylebone Cricket Club and the Minor Counties Cricket Association.

According to Devon County Cricket Club Chairman and ECB Board Member Jim Wood, the vast majority of the 21 non first class chairmen are in favour of the new competition and are likely to vote accordingly. "I've spoken to 19 counties. The recreational chairmen are very close to grassroots cricket”, he says. "Many are still involved in local club cricket, even though they are chairmen of their county boards. They understand that our current professional product only meets the need of those currently in cricket".

"What we all recognise is that we need something that is new, innovative and vibrant that's going to attract those that are wavering. What we've got doesn't appeal to a nine-year old. Even if they are cricketers, when you ask them what their favourite cricket is, they tell you Cricket Australia's Big Bash League or the Indian Premier League. They wouldn't tell you our current T20 competition. The average age of people going to the current ‘Blast’ T20 series is 41. It's not children going”.

The latest update document published by the ECB and sent to all counties this week, confirms the approach towards the Articles is being developed. Whether the tournament is deemed a 'first-class county competition' if played by regional teams, and therefore requires changing, is one consideration. The proposal will be circulated to all first-class county chairmen and chief executives during the week commencing on Monday week ahead of the next update meeting on Monday fortnight.

Wood said: "The changes to the current Articles have not been finalised, it's a work in progress.  The 21 non first class county chairmen will be given the opportunity to hear the exact same presentation as the first-class chairmen to then make their decision”.

Critics of the proposed new tournament argue that it could marginalise the first-class counties. Essex chairman John Faragher said two weeks ago that he fears some clubs would become "minor counties" if the plans come in to effect (PTG 2063-10449, 2 March 2017). With the potential for such an impact on the first-class teams, it is fair to ask whether the non first-class counties should be involved in such a decision.

"I have had no push back from my non first-class chairs who have a vote”, says Wood. "The reason they would vote is not because they are treading in to first-class county territory because they're not. This is about a new product that is an ECB product that is linked to a different audience. At the same time, our current T20 competition will continue”.

Wood refutes the allegation that the new competition is driven simply by money. The ECB will start the process to rope in a new broadcasting deal shortly, which could provide a windfall for them and the 18 first-class counties, many of whom need the cash injection. "Yes, it's about developing something that a broadcaster would be interested in although it's not just about money”, says Wood.

The ECB have recently launched their 'Cricket Unleashed' initiative to get more people engaged with the game. Wood sees the proposed tournament as a part of that strategy together with the new 'All Stars' coaching initiative aimed at getting more children to play the game.

"My colleagues feel that doing nothing will watch our clubs gradually disappear. You have to attempt to be innovative. It's not about trying to massage the current cricket audience. It's trying to get a new audience, people who interested in sport and if we can put on something that might attract them, they might come to clubs and more people might play”.

Separate draft for England Test players in new ECB T20 competition.

Nick Hoult.

London Daily Telegraph.

Saturday, 11 March 2017.

PTG 2072-10493.

England’s Test players could appear in the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) proposed new Twenty20 competition when it is launched in 2020.  The latest briefing document for the new tournament, which was circulated to the counties this week, reveals that England’s Test players will be allocated in a separate player draft. 

The document also outlines more detail for the proposed main player draft to be held before the tournament and confirms in writing the ECB’s promise that each of the 18 counties will earn a minimum of £UK 1.3 million ($A2.1 m) a year from the competition even though they will not be taking part.

The new competition will be held in July-August and it had been assumed that England’s Test players would not be able to take part due to international commitments. However, they will be allocated to new teams in a separate draft to the main player auction should a window open for them to appear in the new event.  England’s highest profile players will be used to promote the tournament and will receive a match fee for every game they play.

In the first player draft of its kind in British sport, 13 players will be bought by each of the eight teams. Players will be sold at six salary bands. Two players will be bought in bands A-E then three in band F and teams will be allowed three overseas players.

The ECB memo anticipates that only five players per county will be involved in the new competition meaning more than half of the current 300 professional cricketers in England will not be picked up. They will instead play for their counties in the 50-over tournament that will run alongside the new competition. Two ‘wild-card’ selections per team will be made after the county ‘Blast' Twenty20, giving those players without a deal a way into the new tournament.

The rules for the draft mean that each team will draw lots to decide the order in which they pick before each salary band. Team one will be able to pick the first player in group A, and then the last player in group B and so on. There will be a 24-hour trade period after the draft so teams can swap players to balance their squads.

Coaches will be free to work at their local venue, a reverse of the original plan, and the new teams will be given a set coaching budget.  Teams will be allowed to retain a maximum of eight and minimum of four players for year two. Contracts will be for one year but with an option for a second at a higher salary. Players not retained will go back into the draft for year two.

An independent medical panel will be appointed to rule on injured players, who can be replaced from those not picked in the draft. The same rule will apply for players called up to play Test cricket.

The ECB’s ‘Blast' Twenty20 will start on the final weekend of May and run until mid-July, leaving a gap of only four days before the new tournament begins.  The eight new teams will play 36 matches in total over 38 days and all games will be televised. On the two weekends when there is no Test cricket, matches will be held in the afternoon and evening to capitalise on television audiences.

There is still no indication of where the teams will be based. An independent panel will be set up and the venues will be co-ordinated with allocation of international cricket.  The ECB is to meet to discuss the proposals with the counties on Monday fortnight.