Notts General Committee opt to vote for change.

With no guarantees on the two main points to if the tournament succeeds or drains cash and degrades the existing  game, namely:

•  TV rights for Free to view; "some element" just won't be enough and it has to be regular. 
• Where the new teams will be based - if the new audience aren't going to understand teams based around traditional teams in traditional counties then they aren't going to understand some jazzed-up sexily named team playing games at the strange traditionally named venues that are branded with those old traditional county names, they'll get confused. That is unless County cricket gets degraded in the eyes of the new audience by the hype surrounding the new competition and as such undermine the game that members currently enjoy and support.

the Nottinghamshire General Committee and Lisa have decided, surprise surprise to vote for a  change to the Articles and to support the introduction of the new T20 competition.

Dear Member,

Further to our previous letters on the subject and following much discussion at the Members’ Forum, we are writing to provide a further update on the proposal to alter the structure of domestic cricket from the year 2020.

As you are well aware, the main focus of recent coverage has been around the prospective creation of a new eight-team T20 tournament. It is, however, important to remember the wider context of the debate – specifically our game’s new strategy ‘Cricket Unleashed’ which features the three integral strands of ‘More Play’, ‘Great Teams’ and ‘Inspired Fans’.

  

Creating more opportunities for people to pick up a bat and ball, retaining existing audiences whilst inspiring a new family audience and underpinning the financial stability of all 18 First-Class Counties, are essential priorities for the game.

  

On 27 March, at a meeting of the First Class Counties and the Recreational Bodies, the ECB presented the final proposal on a new T20 competition for consideration by all 41 members of the ECB. It outlined much of the detail of how such a tournament could work in practice and answered many of the questions you have raised with us for further clarification.

  

We have detailed below a summary of the main principles.

  

The structure:

• There will be no further reduction in County Championship matches
• The new tournament will comprise of 36 matches in total during a 38-day period in the school summer holidays
• The group games of the 50-over competition will be played concurrently with the new T20 competition and there will also be some Test cricket played during this period
• The existing NatWest T20 Blast competition will continue to be played by all 18 First Class Counties. It will start from the last weekend in May and will conclude in mid-July, prior to the start of the new T20 tournament

  

The teams:

• There will be eight new teams, each with a completely new brand and identity to the existing county teams
• Squads will consist of 15 players, 12 domestic and three overseas
• Each team will have a set budget to spend on both players and coaching & support staff 
• 13 players will be selected in an initial draft and two additional ‘wildcard’ slots will be allocated at a later stage, based on performances in the T20 Blast
• Players not featuring in starting XI’s in the new T20 competition may return to their counties to play 50-over cricket
• England Test players will be assigned to each team but will not play in the new tournament. However, England white ball players will be available
• Venue selection is the subject of an extensive piece of on-going research and they have, therefore, yet to be decided

  

The financial model:

• In terms of revenue distribution, the 18 First-Class Counties and the MCC will receive a guaranteed sum of £1.3 million per year from 2020-2024, plus an equal share of any net revenues above that amount
• The host venues will also receive an additional fee as a contribution to the costs of staging the matches
• 10% of net revenues will be ring fenced for participation programmes linked to the new T20 competition, devised to encourage more people to play the game

  

The competitions:

  

• There will be strong marketing plans and a commitment to centrally support the County Championship, the domestic 50-over competition and the existing T20 Blast to retain and grow the existing cricket supporter base
• The new T20 competition will seek to attract a brand-new audience, particularly families and young people, who are not currently playing or watching cricket

  

In addition to the proposal above, it was confirmed that the broadcast tender for the period 2020-2024 - which will include the rights to the new competition - will include an element of free-to-air television.

  

Following on from the meeting in March, all 41 voting members of the ECB must now decide whether they support the proposal and are willing to agree to a change in the game’s Articles of Association.

  

The current Articles state that all 18 First Class Counties must compete in any domestic competition in England & Wales. For development of the prospective new tournament to continue, a change – specifically relating to this competition only - will be required. This right for all to compete will be retained for all other domestic competitions.

  

As a Club, we have entered into the debate with an open mind and a willingness to listen to the rationale for change. Our view is that we must ensure that any new competition underpins the sustainability of all counties and protects and nurtures the existing game in this country.

  

Following a great deal of consultation and debate, the General Committee and Executive has unanimously opted to vote in favour of the change to the Articles and to support the introduction of the new T20 competition.

  

The outcome of the vote will be known on 25 April. If the proposal is accepted, work will continue to further develop the game’s strategy and the new T20 competition. We will, of course, keep you updated over the coming months.

Finally, may we thank you for all your input throughout this debate and ask you to join us in wishing our new Head Coach Peter Moores and the team well for the 2017 season.

Ms LJ Pursehouse

Chief Executive

Mr R Tennant

Chairman