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Cricket Counties Ready For Civil War Over Plans To Shake-Up T20

The fight over the future of Twenty20 cricket in England is "likely to drag on for months," with county sources predicting it will "split the game" and "spark a civil war," according to Nick Hoult of the London TELEGRAPH. Counties "fearing for their futures" are to organize a series of meetings to galvanize opposition to the introduction of a city-based Twenty20 tournament. But the England & Wales Cricket Board will "also lobby the counties for change." The ECB will speak to clubs on an individual basis until Sept. 14, when "its full plans are to be presented for city cricket." Work is also going on into the "possibility of promotion and relegation with two divisions and there is also the option of maintaining the status quo, but it is felt radical change is needed." The Test-ground counties are "due to meet on Monday to discuss the proposals, separate from the smaller clubs, underlining where divisions may develop." Of these, Surrey is "leading the fight to retain county identities and, as the richest and most powerful club, will present a formidable obstacle for the ECB." There is "rising anger" among counties that fear for their future and "doubt the board has their interests at heart." A county source said, "It is identity theft and it feels like a takeover but we know they [ECB] are very bullish and very determined. It is probably going to be a split in the game." All counties have been advised "not to reveal details of meetings with the ECB until its full plans have been presented." The ECB hopes the lobbying process "will persuade counties to look beyond their own interests and persuade them to accept change." A vote will not be held at the meeting on Sept. 14 but "a ballot could take place as early as the end of October" (TELEGRAPH, 7/27).

BACKING THE REVOLUTION: In a separate piece, Hoult reported Warwickshire has "become the first county to publicly support plans to introduce a city based Twenty20 tournament alongside the current county competition" from '18. The ECB is "proposing a new Twenty20 tournament styled on the Big Bash" from '18 featuring new teams but with all 18 counties shareholders in the competition. The clubs not involved in the tournament "will be allowed to retain their existing competition played primarily on Friday nights as a compromise solution as the ECB battles to win the support of the counties for its ambitious plans." Warwickshire has already "embraced the city concept" playing as the Birmingham Bears in the Natwest Blast since '14. Warwickshire CEO Neil Snowball believes it has "reinvigorated the club’s Twenty20 fortunes" but needs a "super charged" tournament to help lift crowds at Edgbaston where the average attendance this summer has been 8,699 in a stadium holding 25,000. Snowball: "If that can generate funds that flow down to the counties then it is a win, win situation. I would be very interested in that" (TELEGRAPH, 7/28).

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