County Championship Regulations 2021 Rule 16.3 "Competition Structure"

 

Thanks for sharing this Mike. Mike points out that the 120 overs for first innings from the Bob Willis Trophy has been scrapped, reverting to 96 overs per day and 8 points for a draw.

Get yourself a cup of tea and digest this lot...

16.3 Competition Structure LV= Insurance County Championship 

16.3.1 Group Stage 

16.3.1.1 The teams that finish in first and second place in each of the three groups at the end of the group stage shall progress to Division 1 in the divisional stage. The teams that finish in third and fourth place in each of the three groups at the end of the group stage shall progress to Division 2 in the divisional stage. The teams that finish in fifth and sixth place in each of the three groups at the end of the group stage shall progress to Division 3 in the divisional stage. 

16.3.1.2 Should any teams in a group be equal on points when all matches have been completed, the following tie-breakers will be applied in the order stated: most wins, fewest losses, team achieving most points in contests between teams level on points, most wickets taken, most runs scored. 

16.3.1.3 Should any match in a group be cancelled, all group positions shall be determined on an average points per completed match basis. The tiebreaker in such a case shall be Net Runs per Wicket, defined as runs per wicket scored by a team minus runs per wicket scored against that team. 

16.3.2 Divisional Stage - carrying forward of points and, for tiebreaker purposes, carrying forward of results 

16.3.2.1 If the result of both matches between teams can be carried forward, each team shall carry forward half the aggregate number of points scored in the two matches against the team that goes through to the division from the same group. For tie break purposes, each team shall also carry forward half the number of wins and losses from the two matches against the team that goes through to the division from the same group, as well as half the wickets taken and runs scored. 

16.3.2.2 If the result of only one match between two teams can be carried forward, the teams will carry forward the points scored in that match and for tiebreaker purposes, the result of that match, the wickets taken and runs scored. 

16.3.2.3 If both matches between two teams were cancelled, each team shall carry forward the average number of points carried forward by the other four teams in their new division. Nothing is carried forward in respect of wins and losses and wickets taken and runs scored – refer 

16.3.3.3. 

16.3.3 – Divisional Stage – format and tiebreakers 

16.3.3.1 Each team shall play one match against each of the four teams that have gone through to the division from other groups. 

16.3.3.2 If each team in a division has played at least one of the two matches carried forward from the group stage and no matches in the division are cancelled, the tiebreaker as per 

16.3.1.2 shall apply to any teams finishing on equal points. 

16.3.3.3 If a division comprises two teams who played neither of their group matches against each other, but all subsequent divisional matches are played, the tiebreaker in such a case shall be Net Runs per Wicket, defined as in 16.3.1.3. 

16.3.3.4 If any match in a division is cancelled, then divisional positions shall be determined on an average points per completed match basis. The tiebreaker in such a case shall be Net Runs per Wicket in all divisional matches including those carried forward from the group stage.

16.4 Bob Willis Trophy The top two teams in LV= Insurance County Championship Division 1 shall compete in a 5-day match for the Bob Willis Trophy. If the match is drawn, and if both first innings are completed, the winner shall be the team that scored most runs in the first innings. Should the scores in completed first innings be equal or if both first innings are not completed, the trophy shall be shared. If the match is tied, the trophy shall be shared.