Major Venue Awards for Men's Matches 2020-24

The England and Wales Cricket Board [ECB] today approved key venues for major domestic and international matches for a five-year period from 2020, subject to contract.

Following Board approval of the recommendations from an independent Host Venue Panel, led by ECB Deputy Chairman Ian Lovett, ten different venues are set to stage high profile international and domestic men’s matches.

Within the process host venues were determined up to 2024 for:

• Domestic Finals – Edgbaston would be the exclusive host of the T20 Blast Finals, having hosted the event nine times to date, with Trent Bridge the new home for the Final of the 50-over competition from 2020 onwards.
• Test Matches – These would be staged at six different grounds, given the expectation of six home Tests each year. Lord’s would host two each year, with five other venues each staging Test matches over the period.

• T20 and One Day Internationals – Ten venues across England and Wales would host limited overs internationals each season with four staging white ball games exclusively and six staging Tests alongside.

The Host Venue Panel also assessed submissions for the New T20 Competitionrecommending eight venues around which new partnerships would be formed and new teams created. Together, they provide a strong geographical spread, high capacity for attendance, quality experience and access for the widest audience.

On the Board decision to accept the recommendations, Ian Lovett, chair of the Host Venue Panel and Deputy Chairman of ECB, said:

“Today’s discussion and decision followed a rigorous, comprehensive and detailed process by the independent Host Venue Panel, in which they assessed a range of high quality submissions and presentations.

“With a five-year period of international and domestic cricket in prospect, as well as our New Competition being developed, there was very strong interest in hosting these events and the overall standard of submissions was excellent.

“From the start of the process we had clear objectives, set a strong methodology and made best use of all relevant data and insight. To help to assess the submissions a balanced scorecard was used, with key aspects up-weighted to meet the needs of each specific set of matches.

“It’s right that there should be thorough, independent scrutiny of such a significant process and I would like to thank John Crowther, Karen Earl and Mick Hogan for their contributions, knowledge and expertise.

“The ECB Board recognised the quality and integrity of the process and has endorsed the recommendations, with the next stage the detailed discussion and agreement with each of these selected venues.”

- ENDS -

Notes to editors:

1. The Host Venue Panel

The ECB’s Host Venue Panel assesses submissions by venues to host High Profile Matches as part of a rigorous and detailed tender process. The Host Venue Panel is an independent advisory body which was previously known as the Major Match Group. It makes recommendations to the ECB Board with any conflicted Board members abstaining from the discussion and decision on where matches are allocated.

1. Composition of the Panel

The panel is chaired by Ian Lovett, the ECB’s Deputy Chairman. He is joined by the former Chief Executive of the LTA, John Crowther; Karen Earl, formerly Chair of Synergy Sponsorship and of the European Sponsorship Association, and Mick Hogan, the Managing Director of Newcastle Falcons who played a key role in the process to determine Rugby World Cup cities for 2015.

1. Awarding Criteria

The awards are designed to reflect the principles outlined in Cricket Unleashed, ECB’s long-term strategic framework to grow the sport at every level.The panel considers written submissions and presentations which are assessed against a balanced, evidence-based scorecard reflecting the following key criteria: Full Houses, Venue Safety, Security and Operations, Attracting New Audiences, Collaboration & Partnership, Pitches & Cricket Facilities and Revenue Optimisation.

1. Board Meeting

The recommendation of the Host Venue Panel was discussed at the ECB Board meeting on Wednesday 14 February and agreed unanimously.Chairman Colin Graves chose to be excused from the room for the discussion and decision and the chair was taken by Lord Kamlesh Patel, ECB Senior Independent Director.

MAJOR MATCH VENUE RECOMMENDATIONS (PDF attached):

MEN’S INTERNATIONAL, DOMESTIC AND NEW T20 COMPETITION