Elizabeth Ammon.
The Times.
Thursday, 20 September 2018.
PTG 2579-12985.
Division One of the County Championship is set to expand to ten teams in 2020. Three sides would be promoted from Division Two at the end of the next northern summer season and just one would be relegated.
After months of speculation about a potential restructure, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) working group (PTG 2436-12331, 28 April 2018), chaired by Wasim Khan, the Leicestershire chief executive, has recommended that the championship should continue in a two-division format with promotion and relegation. On Wednesday the board of directors approved the changes in principle, although they still need to be agreed by county chairmen next week.
At least 12 counties need to vote in favour of the changes for them to be implemented although it is thought that most, if not all, will do so given that the recommendations have been drawn up after extended consultation with county chief executives and directors of cricket.
Proposals to move from two divisions to three conferences and eliminate promotion and relegation were rejected as more than half of the 18 first-class counties were opposed to the change (PTG 2559-12887, 1 September 2018). They believe that two divisions promote better, more exciting cricket and that their members like the drama of promotion and relegation.
The number of matches will nevertheless remain at 14 per team. This means that in Division One counties will not play every other team home and away. One proposal to accommodate this is the use of a seeding system, although the details are to be decided.
The board has also approved recommendations that the 50-over one-day competition be played at the same time as the ECB’s new eight-team Hundred-ball competition, over five weeks in July and August. The new competition will include around 96 of the best white-ball players in the country not available for their counties so the 50-over tournament will become more of a development competition with opportunities for younger second-team players.
The proposed changes will also mean that the ECB’s current T20 ‘Blast' is played alongside the County Championship, mostly on Thursday and Friday nights rather than in two three-week blocks as at present. The 'Blast group stages are likely to take place during May and June, with the finals day still in September after the completion of The Hundred'.
Sounds great – More baseball, 50 over comp now a new 2nd XI tournament and an uneven Div 1
ReplyDeleteWell done ECB!!!!!
The ECB's incompetence in these matters is matched only by their inconsistency. It'll all change again a few years later. When they'll also change The 100 to The 150, with 7 ball overs, only on Sky......
ReplyDeleteI can see Freddy Krueger..............Is this the Nightmare on ECB street?
ReplyDeleteHmmmm so let's see a top division of 10 teams and division 2 with 8 so unless they go with one up one down that will mean a 25% chance of promotion each year... Cynical old me cannot help but think it's more a case of the top sides protecting themselves of spending too long down amongst the dead men than a move which is for the good of the game....
ReplyDeleteInteresting proposals
ReplyDeleteI wonder if our erstwhile test selector and current Director of Cluelessness has had an input into this.?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
At least they haven't gone for a 3 league "conference". I will be boycotting the wretched "Hundred" games. Not sure if I will renew my membership as I don't want to support that competition.
ReplyDeleteDoubt that the "Hundred" will be part of a membership deal,As I understand this new competition is more about attracting people who have not been to watch cricket so far.... Good luck with that! for me the "hundred" is just a slightly shorter version of T20 developed with TV in mind..
ReplyDeleteIt's not my intention to attend the new boy on the block but I for one would not dream of giving up my Notts membership..
Yes, Zangakkara, I'm almost certain myself that's their intention. Don't worry d Adam, like Zanga mentions the new ' reduced format to fit bbc tv schedules' AKA the Hundred will not be part of the Notts membership(The powers that be along with the Princess) realise us proper cricket fans, generally, have little interest or no interest in this fiasco. Suspect we may be looking at a tiered option of membership in the near future, which is only what the majority of other counties already offer their supporters
ReplyDeleteYes there will be Trent Bridge CG memberships and Nottinghamshire CCC memberships.
DeleteTrue Supporters and members of all Counties should insist that their Chairmen / CEO's vote against any Competition where Sides do not play each other an equal number of times - it is just NOT CRICKET - and means promotion becomes more of a 'lottery' - you could play weak Sides twice whereas another Side only play them once and the stronger Sides twice - it is an absolute nonsense. The ECB and most County Representatives are brainless to think this is remotely fair and in line with cricket's values of fairness and equality.
ReplyDelete