First-class Counties agree formats for shortened men's domestic season

• First-Class Counties agree to play a combination of red-ball and white-ball cricket this summer by majority vote
• ECB Board to meet to approve decision in coming days
• Further Medical and Risk assessments to be conducted by all 18 FCCs

The First-Class Counties have agreed to play both red-ball and white-ball cricket during this summer’s shortened men’s domestic season.

A majority vote was reached at a meeting of the FCC chairs today following approval by the ECB Board last month for the new season to commence on August 1.

Today’s agreement by the FCCs will be passed on for ECB Board approval in the coming days after which the details of the new fixture schedule will be drawn up and then announced.

The safety and wellbeing of all players, staff and officials remains the priority of the ECB and all FCCs will undergo further medical risk assessments and venue compliance approval as planning progresses to ensure safe environments for the start of the men’s domestic season.

Ticket holders for men's domestic matches and FCC members are set to be contacted by venues with the options available to them after a new fixture schedule is announced.

ENDS

Editor's Notes

The Original March-July Men’s Domestic Schedule

1. The English professional domestic cricket season was scheduled to begin on 24 March with the traditional Champion County match between holders Essex and MCC in Galle, Sri Lanka.

2. The men’s County Championship was due to start on Sunday 12 April and in total 10 rounds were scheduled up to 1 August.

3. The Vitality Blast was due to commence on 28 May and all group-stage matches were to be staged before the end of July.

4. The men’s Royal London Cup was due to begin on 19 July. A total of 41 matches in the competition were due to be played before the end of July.

5. Fifty-over matches between National Counties and First-Class Counties had been scheduled from 15-17 July.

6. It was announced in April that the launch of the men’s and women’s The Hundred competitions, which were due to begin in July, have been postponed until next summer.