ECB finalises playing conditions for 100-Ball tournament

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has finalized the playing conditions for their controversial hundred ball competition. It is set to get underway from 2020 as all the proposals regarding the same were approved in a meeting on Wednesday. In a unique move, this format will see the term ‘overs’ going out of the equation with the change of ends after every 10 balls.

One of the interesting things about the new format is every bowler can bowl five or ten consecutive deliveries. Despite the fact that the board is in favour of adapting to the new format, it still remains uncertain if the counties are comfortable with these changes.

ECB released a statement on Wednesday confirming the regulations which read, “The Cricket Committee recommendation for playing conditions in the new competition – agreed by the Board – is for; each innings to be 100 balls, a change of end after every ten balls and an individual bowler able to deliver either 5 or 10 consecutive balls with a maximum of 20 per game.”

ECB going away from tradition

The ‘Hundred Ball’ competition is turning out to be controversial as it will be played by eight city-based teams and not by the 18 Counties which is the tradition. Few of them have serious reservations about the same among which the former Chairman of Somerset Andy Nash expressed his concern. He is of the opinion that the competition could marginalize the non-Test match counties and could divide the domestic game drastically.

The Professional Cricketers’ Association is also pushing the ECB to lend more details about the new format so that there will be an assurance to the players participating in it. Despite the ECB has confirmed that the new competition will go ahead, the playing conditions could be ratified going forward after discussing with 18 Counties and other stakeholders.

Though it will be interesting to see how things progress in the upcoming few months with the ECB ensuring that the ‘whole game’ will be presented in January 2019.

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