Cricket set for top tier of 10 teams

THE County Championship structure will change from 2020 to include 10 teams in Division One, the England and Wales Cricket Board has announced.

The 2019 season will see three teams promoted and only one relegated in order to reverse the current balance of eight teams in the top flight and 10 in Division Two.

Promotion and relegation will then revert to the current two-up, two-down system from 2020.

An ECB statement read: “While not significantly affecting the ‘best v best’ principle in the top division, this change will provide an appropriate increase in security to Division One teams with a smaller percentage being relegated each season, and a correspondingly increased opportunity for Division Two teams as they will have a greater percentage chance of promotion.”

The T20 Blast will remain in its current format while the county 50-over competition will be played during the same time window as the new short-format competition, details of which are still being confirmed.

“Overseas players will not be allowed to play in the 50-over competition.

ECB chief operating officer Gordon Hollins said: “After receiving unanimous agreement we will move forward with plans that will help ensure that our domestic game remains as vibrant as possible while producing players to help our England teams remain successful.”

■■ England captain Joe Root scored a century on the second and final day of their warm-up match in Colombo.

Root scored 100 from 117 balls before retiring out against a Sri Lanka Board President’s XI.

All-rounder Ben Stokes retired hurt in the afternoon, having being hit on the left arm, but returned to bat after tea and scored 31 while Moeen Ali made 60.

The match ended in a draw with England reaching 365-7 from 90 overs in reply to their hosts total of 392-9 declared.

England had already agreed to bat out day two, regardless of wickets, to give their batsmen as much time in the middle as possible before the Test series, and all nine players who batted made double figures.

Opener Rory Burns strengthened his case for a Test debut in place of the retired Alastair Cook by making 47 before being run out. Joe Denly, also pushing for a Test debut at the top of the order, scored 25 batting at number three.

Keaton Jennings, who disappointed when opening alongside Cook in the summer, was bowled by seamer Kasun Madushanka for just 13.

The three-Test series begins in Galle on November 6.