chris.hinton
International Captain
I've not seen this discussed this week but ECB and its counties have come to an agreement for a new Country cricket format
2 first class competitions for the clubs to play for
In 2021, the 18 counties will be seeded and placed into three equally competitive groups of six. The seedings will be based upon their standings in the 2019 County Championship and the Bob Willis Trophy. Each team will play every other side in their group twice — at home and away — giving 10 matches in total.
After a pause in the season for limited-overs cricket to take centre stage, the top two teams in each group will advance into Division One, where they will play four more matches — one apiece against the top two teams from the other groups — in late August and September. Meanwhile, the middle two sides in each group will form Division Two, and the bottom two teams in each group will form Division Three. To keep matches in the lower two divisions keenly fought there will be prize money for the top 14 teams.
Matches in Division One will be branded "Super September" and "The Race to Lord’s". When the division is complete the side finishing top will be declared the winner of the County Championship. However, the top two teams will also meet in a five-day final at Lord’s, to be played for the Bob Willis Trophy. The final will not count towards the County Championship.
2 first class competitions for the clubs to play for
In 2021, the 18 counties will be seeded and placed into three equally competitive groups of six. The seedings will be based upon their standings in the 2019 County Championship and the Bob Willis Trophy. Each team will play every other side in their group twice — at home and away — giving 10 matches in total.
After a pause in the season for limited-overs cricket to take centre stage, the top two teams in each group will advance into Division One, where they will play four more matches — one apiece against the top two teams from the other groups — in late August and September. Meanwhile, the middle two sides in each group will form Division Two, and the bottom two teams in each group will form Division Three. To keep matches in the lower two divisions keenly fought there will be prize money for the top 14 teams.
Matches in Division One will be branded "Super September" and "The Race to Lord’s". When the division is complete the side finishing top will be declared the winner of the County Championship. However, the top two teams will also meet in a five-day final at Lord’s, to be played for the Bob Willis Trophy. The final will not count towards the County Championship.
