T20 PLANS SET TO MEAN CUT IN ENGLAND TESTS

ECB’S PROPOSAL FOR NEW COMPETITION WILLLL REDUCE NATIONAL TEAM’S SCHEDULE FOR JULYLY

CRICKET chiefs’ plans to revamp Twenty20 cricket in this country are set to have far-reaching consequences for the England team.

A report this week indicated senior ECB figures would like to introduce a city-based T20 competition, similar to Australia’s Big Bash, as early as 2018. The new competition would be played in a single four-week block in July, alongside the T20 Blast.

Yet Standard Sport understands this may mean international cricket in England effec tively shutting down each July. To give a new competition the best possible launch, ECB bosses would want England players to be involved in it.

That is likely to mean a reduction in the amount of international cricket played in England each summer from 2019 because England’s schedule until then is already mapped out by the ICC’s Future Tours Programme.

After that, though, there is more room for manoeuvre and key ECB bosses are keen to see England’s summer schedule reduced by at least one Test, possibly two. If no international cricket were played in July, however, it would create a logistical headache for those who compose the fixture lists. It would be easier if Tests were played over four days rather than five, a possibility that has been discussed by ECB chairman Colin Graves, though such a move would require support at ICC level.

At present, England host two sides per summer, with the first Test series taking place in late May/early June and the second in July/August. Limited-overs cricket is scheduled after both series.

Not only do England face matches being crammed into the schedule in early and late summer, there is also the question of preparation. In a country where Test cricket has always been prized, four weeks’ Twenty20 is hardly the ideal warm-up for an important series.

Mike Fordham, who joined the ECB last year, is thought to have been extremely influential in devising these plans. Fordham used to work for IMG, the global sports and media business, and helped launch t wo Twent y20 franchise tournaments: the IPL in 2008 and the Caribbean Premier League five years later.

The ECB’s proposals have caused a split within the county game and there remains doubt about whether the required majority will vote in favour when the deal is explainedd later this ye a r. T we l ve o f the 18 first-class counties would need to giveive their consent, as would 26 of the 39 representatives of the recreationalational game.

While some counties would back the new competition and others would not, there is a fearear within the first-class game thathat the ECB will present theirr plans as a fait accompli. They are expected to shed further light at a meeting of county chairmen, scheduledd for September 14.

Surrey chief executive Richardhard Gould expressed concern at what the county believe is a lack of clarityy from the governing body about theireir plans. Surrey are keen to retain theireir identity in any new structure and would fight tooth and nail to retain it.

Gould told Standard Sport:ort: “It is frustrating that we are yet too see any of th e s e pr o p o s a l s . Whi le r u mou r s abound, we are looking forwardrward to a sell-out c rowd at The Kia Oval tomorrow for our T20 Blastlast game against Kent.

“We have 165,000 fans and more than 10,000 members. Surrey arere a strong, vibrant club.”