ECB announce franchise competition will be 100 balls a-side

The brainchild of the ECB board, T20 Development Group and T20 Governance Group, the new tournament is aimed at broadening the appeal of cricket in the UK

^{Radical new plans have been announced for English domestic cricket}

English cricket will witness its first 100 balls-a-side match in 2020, the ECB have announced.

In another radical shift in the landscape of domestic cricket, the franchise competition - which had previously been expected to feature eight sides competing in a Twenty20 format - will take the form of two innings of 15 six-ball overs, plus a further 10 deliveries, to be bowled at an as yet unspecified point.

The brainchild of the ECB board, T20 Development Group and T20 Governance Group, the new tournament is aimed at broadening the appeal of cricket in the UK.

The governing body, in a statement on Thursday, claimed the structure offers a simplicity to the game which would encourage a new audience.

It said it has been devised with three core messages in mind - the attraction of a wider support base, the promotion of the game of cricket and the need to differentiate from existing competitions. 

^{The new ECB competition is aimed at youngsters}

There had been some fear among counties that the new tournament would encroach on the ground currently occupied by the T20 Blast, which acts as the major gate receipt revenue generator in the English domestic game.

“Throughout its development, we have shown leadership, provided challenge and followed a process. We will continue to do that as the concept evolves," ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said.

“Our game has a history of innovation and we have a duty to look for future growth for the health and sustainability of the whole game.

“There are 18 first class counties, playing red and white-ball cricket, at our core and these counties and competitions will be supported, promoted and benefit from the game’s growth.”

ECB chief commercial officer and managing director of the new competition, Sanjay Patel, said: “The development team has had strong support and encouragement in its conversations to date and it’s time to take the concept wider as we build the detail.

“This is 100-ball cricket, a simple approach to reach a new generation. Based on 15 traditional six-ball overs, the other 10 balls will add a fresh tactical dimension.

^{The T20 Blast will run as well as the new tournament}

“Crucially, this will also help differentiate this competition from Vitality Blast and other T20 competitions worldwide, maintaining our game’s history of successful innovation.

“The players and our valuable broadcast partners under the new TV partnerships from 2020-24 are vital to the success of this competition and they will see the energy, excitement and simplicity of this approach.”

Mention of the ECB's broadcast partners - Sky Sports and BBC Sport will share coverage of the competition - is an interesting sidenote.

When T20 cricket was first introduced it was desgined to be packed into a three-hour period, allowing for young professionals and families to attend after work and school.

Increasingly, the format has become elongated - partly because of the added breaks - such as strategic timeouts - inserted into the game. Broadcasters may have objected to matches stretching to as long as four hours.

The ECB will also need to show how their new-look rules abide by the Laws of the game.

Law 17.1, catering for 'The Over', states that "the ball shall be bowled from each end alternately in overs of six balls".

How the 10 extra deliveries will be distributed on top of the 15 six-ball overs, will be a point of debate for lawmakers.