T20 Blast to be revamped in 2026
A review into the white-ball domestic structure led by the counties - in consultation with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) - recommended changes with an eye on player welfare and competition narrative.
From next summer the T20 Blast competition reduces the group stages by two games to 12 matches per side, with the quarter-finals and Finals Day following on directly so the competition is wrapped up in one block.
The two groups of nine sides will be replaced by three groups of six split into north, central and south groups as they were in 2020.
The Women's T20 Blast competition has a similar reduction in games with the group stages featuring 12 games, down from 14. Finals Day will mirror the men's finale with two semi-finals and a final on the same day.
With Yorkshire Women moving to Tier 1 on professional terms, the structure of the women's T20 changes to two groups of nine with the second-tier sides playing eight group games and a three-team two-match Finals Day.
The six-week break between the group stages and quarter-finals in the T20 Blast has come under fire, with critics saying the competition loses its "momentum".
Counties and the ECB are also set to announce the results of a review into the schedule and structure of the County Championship but no decisions are expected for at least two weeks.
What will happen from 2026
Men's Vitality T20 Blast
The group stage of the Vitality T20 Blast reverts to three groups with North, Central and South Groups with the eight best-placed teams on points and net run-rates going through to the quarter-finals.
North Group: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Durham, Yorkshire and Leicestershire
Central Group: Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Birmingham, Somerset, Glamorgan, Worcestershire
South Group: Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Middlesex, Essex, Hampshire
Each county plays the other teams in their group home and away - a total of 10 matches.
They will additionally play one home game against a county from outside their group and one away game against a side from another group.
The top two teams in each group plus the best two third-placed teams progress to the quarter-finals. The winners of the quarter-finals will progress to men's T20 Blast Finals Day.
Changes to the women's white-ball summer
Vitality Blast women's competition (Tier 1)
Group: Bears, Durham, Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, Yorkshire.
Each county will play 12 group-stage matches - six home and six away. They will play four counties twice and four counties once.
The top four counties at the end of the group stage will progress to women's Vitality Blast Finals Day, which will include two semi-finals and the final.
Vitality Blast Women's League 2 (Tier 2)
Group: Derbyshire Falcons, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Sussex Sharks, Worcestershire Rapids.
Each county will play eight group-stage matches - four home and four away. They will play each county either home or away.
The top three counties at the end of the group stage will progress to Vitality Blast Women's League 2 Finals Day, which will include an eliminator and final.
Metro Bank One-Day Cup women's competition (Tier 1)
Group: Bears, Durham, Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, Yorkshire.
Each county will play 16 group-stage matches - each county plays each other county at home and away.
The top three counties at the end of the group stage will progress to the knockout stages. The top county progresses straight into the final to meet the winner of the eliminator between second and third place.
Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women's League 2 (Tier 2)
Group: Derbyshire Falcons, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Sussex Sharks, Worcestershire Rapids.
Each county will play eight group-stage matches - four home and four away. They will play each county either home or away.
The top four counties at the end of the group stage will progress to the knockout stages. The winners of the two semi-finals progress to the final.
Get cricket news sent straight to your phone
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sport camp offering chance to kick-start American football career
A new sports programme is offering young athletes a chance to kick-start an American football career. Bridge Kickers, a transatlantic sports development company, is launching its first-ever American football kicking camp in the UK. The one-day event will take place at Tilsley Park in Abingdon on Saturday, September 21, and will be led by former NFL kicker Josh Lambo. Josh Millrood, co-founder of Bridge Kickers, said: "Our mission is to help any athlete — whether they're coming from football, rugby, cricket, or no organised sport at all — unlock the opportunity to play college football in the U.S. "If you've got a strong leg and the drive to learn, we'll teach you the rest. "We're not just looking for pros — we're building futures." The camp is open to athletes aged 16 and over and offers professional instruction in kicking and punting, technical video analysis, and on-field feedback. Participants will also receive education on scholarship pathways and recruitment in the US college system. The programme is designed to help UK athletes earn full scholarships in American football and potentially reach the NFL. Attendance costs £100, with limited financial aid available for recently released academy players and those from underserved communities. To register or find out more, visit or email Josh Millrood at josh@
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sunderland beat West Ham on return to Premier League
Sunderland marked their return to the Premier League in style with a 3-0 win over West Ham at the Stadium of Light. Following an eight-year absence from the top flight, the Black Cats withstood some promising attacks spearheaded by Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen in the first half and after the break it was their Championship play-off heroes who proved to be the difference. They went ahead through Eliezer Mayenda's header and Dan Ballard soon extended the advantage, nodding home into the same spot as his last-gasp winner against Coventry in the play-off semi-finals. Substitute Wilson Isidor struck in added time to wrap up three points in Sunderland's first Premier League appearance since May 2017. Sunderland have made 11 signings so far this window and seven of those new arrivals were handed their first starts, with Trai Hume, Ballard and Mayenda the sole survivors from the starting XI who beat Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final. There were two new signings making their West Ham debuts as El Hadji Malick Diouf and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen both started and new signing Callum Wilson made the bench. Bowen threatened in the early stages, weaving through the home defence and forced a low stop from Robin Roefs at his near post before Hermansen denied Habib Diarra at the other end. The visitors began to grow in confidence, with Bowen causing particular problems and the Hammers skipper was at the heart of a brilliant chance, beginning a move which saw Diouf blast a first-time effort on goal, but Ballard made a superb block. As half-time approached, Sunderland won a series of corners, where Hermansen made a comfortable collection from Ballard's header. The hosts had an early opportunity in the second half when Mayenda managed to keep the ball in and cut a pass back into Simon Adingra, but he sliced his effort wide. Regis Le Bris made an enforced change as Jenson Seelt was taken off with an injury while challenging for the ball and Omar Alderete – who joined the club on Tuesday – came on for his debut. Diarra continued to impress for the hosts, winning a corner following a good break down the right before blasting an effort over the bar. Mayenda then found the breakthrough for Sunderland in the 61st minute when Alderete fired a looping cross into the box and the striker jumped high to nod into the bottom corner. West Ham made a double substitution as Tomas Soucek and former Newcastle striker Wilson were introduced, but the hosts extended their lead in the 73rd minute. Adingra picked out Ballard on the left side of the box and the centre-half fired a header into the bottom corner. The Hammers looked to strike in the final stages, but Bowen's flicked header from a corner was blocked and Soucek's tame effort was held by Roefs. The Sunderland goalkeeper made a great stop to tip Wilson's deflected header from a free-kick over the bar in the 88th minute. Isidor then capped off an impressive afternoon for Sunderland two minutes into added time after cutting in from the left and rolling a cool finish into the corner.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
🎥 Call-up deserved? Richarlison shines on Tottenham PL debut
A familiar face to Carlo Ancelotti, Richarlison has earned the trust of the Brazilian National Team's coach in the recent qualifying matches - the first for the Italian. And he shows that he is willing to stay on Carleto's radar for the call-up on the 25th. The Pigeon scored twice - one of them was a stunner - in the 3 x 0 victory over Burnley this Saturday (16), for the inaugural round of the Premier League 2025/2026. He opened the scoring in the packed Tottenham Spurs Stadium just ten minutes in, completing a cross from Kudus. He extended the lead 15 minutes into the second half, again after a play from one of Spurs' new signings. A stunner that reminded us of the one scored against Serbia in the 2022 World Cup. It was similar, huh... Brennan Johnson completed the scoring at 21'. But without a pass from Kudus. Sarr was the one who assisted. Back to the top flight, Walker's Burnley put up a fight. But left much to be desired. Now will it happen? Richarlison left the game soon after for the entry of Solanke, who was recovering from an injury and therefore did not start the season as the attack reference. After many injuries, the Brazilian striker ended the last season with only 24 matches - 11 as a starter. And only five goals - two of them in the PL. He had already performed well against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup decision and started well in the Premier League. Does he deserve to be called up again for the National Team? Give your opinion! Brazil will face Chile (Maracanã) and Bolivia (Municipal de El Alto) on September 4 and 9. These will be the final rounds of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. 📸 NELSON ALMEIDA - AFP or licensors This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here. 📸 Justin Setterfield - 2025 Getty Images
