Oh look - the ECB have just voted in T20 overkill in England

ECB unveils new Twenty20 tournament

Cricinfo staff

July 16, 2008

The much-anticipated English Premier League will get underway in 2010, with two divisions made up of ten teams, after the ECB unveiled a radical shake-up of the domestic game following its board meeting at Lord's.

In a unanimous decision, the format that has been agreed upon will involve all 18 first-class counties, plus two overseas sides to make up the numbers. The current Pro40 competition will be scrapped to make way for the competition, and the matches will be played primarily on Friday nights in July and August.

"I am delighted that the board unanimously supported these creative proposals," said the ECB chairman, Giles Clarke. "I would like to congratulate everyone for their hard work and thank those who went to considerable time and trouble to produce documents for discussion.

"We have already received enormous broadcast and sponsor interest from around the world which was reported to the board by the chief executive David Collier."

The proposal that had been put forward by the MCC chief executive, Keith Bradshaw, and Surrey's chairman, David Stewart, for a nine-team league modelled on the Indian Premier League was rejected out of hand, although in a press release, Stewart threw his weight behind the new initiative. "These are extremely exciting and satisfying proposals for the future of domestic cricket in England and Wales," he said. "I am delighted to support them.

"They incorporate some excellent ideas and Keith Bradshaw and I were delighted to be able to submit our ideas as part of the decision making process and to build on the robust structure proposed by the ECB as a result of detailed consultations undertaken."

According to the ECB, the structure of the new league was decided upon following detailed market research in which spectators stated their desire to watch more Twenty20 cricket. Some of the funding ideas in Bradshaw and Stewart's plan were incorporated at the meeting.

The board also agreed the 2010 season would include a single 50-over competition and 16 County Championship matches in a two-division structure. "We looked at the Schofield Report, which stated that we should be playing competitions that mirror international competitions," Clarke told Sky Sports News.

"Spectators want to watch Twenty20 cricket on Friday nights, in the months of July, August and September, and the county championship in midweek. This is about giving the spectator what they want."

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:Doesn't it have to be ICC sanctioned?

Do they mean 2 divisions with 10 in each or 2 divisions with a total of 10?

Are we talking 10 counties or 10 made up teams?

If we're talking 10 counties, which counties miss out?

If we're talking ten made up areas, how are they decided?

Will the 20/20 cup be scrapped?

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:Doesn't it have to be ICC sanctioned?

Do they mean 2 divisions with 10 in each or 2 divisions with a total of 10?

Are we talking 10 counties or 10 made up teams?

If we're talking 10 counties, which counties miss out?

If we're talking ten made up areas, how are they decided?

Will the 20/20 cup be scrapped?

Basil wrote:TBH, I'm breathing a sigh of relief - as recently as Saturday, Mark Newton briefed some of us who post on Worcs. messageboard to the effect that the three conference idea for the championship was still on the table - so, I'm glad that one got kicked int touch. As a bonus, the championship stays at 16 games.

The One wrote:20 teams = too many matches

is it an up-down 2 divisions or more like the american conference system

JKLever wrote:

Basil wrote:TBH, I'm breathing a sigh of relief - as recently as Saturday, Mark Newton briefed some of us who post on Worcs. messageboard to the effect that the three conference idea for the championship was still on the table - so, I'm glad that one got kicked int touch. As a bonus, the championship stays at 16 games.

Aye - tbh, if they had gone the 3 conference route i'd just about have given up.

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:Ah, if it's the county sides and the Twenty/20 cup is being scrapped, I can't see a problem.

So it'll be County Championship, 50 over competition, EPL. That's fine by me.

All it is is getting rid of the strange and tired Pro40 competition to make room for more T20s.

JKLever wrote:

The One wrote:20 teams = too many matches

is it an up-down 2 divisions or more like the american conference system

It'll be up and down.

So the majority of stars will be in div 1.

Of course 20 teams is too many though - we've been battling with that problem for years.

JKLever wrote:

The One wrote:20 teams = too many matches

is it an up-down 2 divisions or more like the american conference system

It'll be up and down.

So the majority of stars will be in div 1.

Of course 20 teams is too many though - we've been battling with that problem for years.

The One wrote:if its 10 teams in each div thats 45 games each and that too if its not home and away. h&a makes it 90 games in each division and a total of 180 games for the two divisions. add in the semis and finals and you are looking at 186 games in total. the 9 team idea was so much more sensible

The One wrote:just as comparison the ipl had a total of 59 games