ECB look to reduce County Championship matches

The ECB consider reducing the number of County Championship matches from 18 matches to 14 matches per team from 2014 while 50 over cricket is undoubtedly going to return next season after a thorough review by former ICC president and ECB chairman, David Morgan.

Will fans see less of county matches?

The proposals that were announced today at Lord's include for the 2014 season:

• Ten 50-over matches
• 14 County Championship games
• 14 Twenty20 matches

Morgan has recommended that Twenty20 matches is to be played on Thursday, Friday and Saturday while County Championship matches can start on Friday for early season, Sunday on mid-season and Monday on the end of the season.

"There are divergent opinions concerning the optimum structure to strengthen the domestic game," Morgan said. "There was however a consistency of views expressed that the success of the Team England and Cricket Partnerships departments within ECB should be complimented with the strengthening of the department responsible for the domestic professional game.

"The volume of domestic cricket has made it impossible to schedule consistent start dates and I believe that spectators, players and administrators alike would welcome the certainty which a predictable programme would provide.

"I am convinced that there are no substantive commercial benefits evident from a 40-over format in comparison with the 50-over format which is the standard for international one-day cricket. I have therefore concluded that the board should adopt the 50-over format from 2014. I am pleased that the Board recognised the value of the extensive consultation which has been central to this review and appreciate the kind comments expressed by the board on my initial presentation."

David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said, "The board was highly impressed with the diligent consultation and findings presented by David Morgan. It is clear from David Morgan's initial work that in order to compliment the Team England goal of mirroring success in the Test and Twenty20 formats at the forthcoming World Cups, the format of ODI cricket must be introduced within domestic cricket from 2014.

"To support and strengthen the domestic county game, 14 FL t20 matches should be played, and to provide preparation time for high quality four day cricket, the County Championship should be reduced to 14 matches. The board unanimously endorsed the Morgan Review comments to create an appointment to view with consistent start dates in the County Championship and FL t20 competitions."

With the ECB voting on the proposals on January, the fans only have a small period to voice their concerns for the reduction of County Championship matches.