ECB announce 2010 schedule

FOLLOWING a 12 month period of detailed consultation the England and Wales Cricket Board has now finalised the format for the 2010 season.

In respect of the International season England will play two npower test matches versus Bangladesh and three NatWest Series One day Internationals in the period from May 27 to June 17, 2010.

A furtherfiveNat West One day Internationals will be played against Australia from June 22 to July 3.

Australia will play Pakistan in two T20 Internationals and two Test matches from July 5 to July 25.

England will then play a four match npower Test Series with Pakistan from July 29 to Agust 30 and five Nat West Series ODIs and two NatWest International Twenty20s from September 5 to 21.

The England Lions Team will also compete in a series of One Day Internationals against New Zealand A and India A in July and are seeeking to finalise a tour of One Day Internationals versus Pakistan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in early 2010 .

The Domestic Structure, in accordance with ECB Articles, is subject to consultation with First Class Counties. The First Class Counties voted 13-5 to adopt the following domestic structure:

The importance of the LV = County Championship has been given priority in the fixture programme and has been confirmed as a two-division competition of 8 home and 8 away matches from 2010 – 2013.

The enhanced Twenty20 competition will be played in pools of 9 teams on a geographic basis ( North v South) with the top four teams quailfying for the Quarter Finals from each pool from 2010 – 2013.

The domestic limited over competition will be played mainly on Sunday afternoon throughout the season consisting of 3 pools of 7 teams with 6 home and 6 away matches progressing to a Semi Final and Final in September . The powerplays and fielding restrictions will be the same as per International cricket but the match will be played over 40 overs.

There will be only one unqualified player permitted in the LV = County Championship and 40 over competition while two unqualified players will be allowed in the Twenty20.

ECB Chairman Giles Clarke (pictured)said ’ Directors of Cricket and Coaches reported through their County votes, that the most successful one – day team in world cricket – South Africa – do not mirror 50 overs at domestic level and that, provided powerplays and fielding restrictions were the same as the international format, the skills required were very similar.

’ The Board acknowledged that the Members of the International Cricket Council will themselves be reviewing the future of 50 over cricket after the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and felt that an increased programme of England Lions matches should be developed in parallel to the First Class Counties decision re the domestic structure.

England and England Lions will continue to play 50 over cricket internationally until the ICC review is complete.