The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are trying to resume cricket, by looking for a shortened County Championship for the 2020 season after the global COVID-19 crisis impacted the cricket calendar since mid-March.
While England has already started preparations for international return, the ECB is also making equal efforts to save the domestic season in this Coronavirus time, as the board is hoping to start the domestic season in early August (August 5) subject to government clearance and COVID-19 situation in Britain.
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The reports suggested that the regionalized County Championship will start in August followed by a similarly regionalized T20 Blast and One-day Cup that will run through September and into October.
If the season couldn’t begin in August, then the County season will be reportedly called off, and focus will go entirely on T20 Blast with both domestic tournaments will have three six-team regional groups.
Meanwhile, it is being said that the Championship is set to be split into three regional groups - North, South and West and all teams will play a minimum of five games this season with the top two teams at the end of the regional stage will play a final, probably over five days, at Lord's.
Well, the Vitality T20 Blast season is set to go ahead, including Finals Day at Edgbaston, but there are high chances of the Royal London One-Day Cup’s to be abandoned this year due to COVID-19 crisis.
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Noteworthy, the grounds will be an issue for the domestic games with Edgbaston, Emirates Old Trafford, and the Ageas Bowl being used as bio-secure venues for the international games – England at Southampton, West Indies in Manchester and Pakistan in Birmingham.
(With ESPNcricinfo Inputs)
