Essex oppose the new T20 competition along with Middlesex

Essex has confirmed their vote against the new T20 competition proposed by the England and Wales Cricket Board yesterday. They maintained that their vote for the tournament last year was for more of ECB’s ploy to extract information rather than a vote in favor.

Currently, Middlesex has backed the decision to oppose the tournament whereas Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Somerset, and Leicestershire have backed the proposal. The ECB needs a three-fourth preponderance of its 41 members to implement the proposal. The 41 member of the ECB consists of  21 non-first-class counties, 18 first-class counties, the Minor Counties Association, and MCC.

The county has also been adamant about the new eight-team regional tournament which is scheduled to begin in 2020. They have also voiced their opinion on the change to the ECB’s Articles of Association by condemning it.

The Essex County Cricket Club Chairman, John Faragher, went ahead to justify his decision to not back another T20 competition in order to preserve the County championship and 50-over format. “We do not support the changes to the Articles of Association and consequently the proposed new T20 competition. It is essential that the County Championship, domestic 50-over and T20 competitions are encouraged to grow, and they must be protected.” quoting Faragher according to saying by cricbuzz.com.

“We recognise and support the Cricket Unleashed Strategy and indeed Essex County Cricket Club has an enviable record in producing England players and Captains. We are focused on expanding cricket in Essex, East Anglia and Metropolitan London, ensuring there are opportunities for all age and ability groups, male and female to be actively involved in the game.” he further added.

Faragher further augmented that with the implementation of the proposed changes, the overall economy of the Board will suffer. “We believe that as a result of the proposed changes, these opportunities will be reduced, that our income overall will suffer and the first class game will be diminished, in contradiction to the ECB’s objective which is to grow the game in this country – an objective that is unlikely to be advanced by a competition which would exclude large areas of the country from any involvement in it” concluded the Essex County Cricket Club’s Chairman.