The First Class Forum (FCF) met at Lord's yesterday to give further consideration to the Domestic Structure Working Party's (DSWP) report and recommendations on the structure of domestic First Class cricket in England and Wales. The FCF will meet next on Thursday 11 April, again at Lord's, to make final decisions, which will be effective from the start of the 2003 domestic season.

The First Class Forum comprises members of the 18 First Class Counties and the MCC.

The key issues to be decided are as follows:

One-Day International cricket. In order to support the England Management's desire to play more one-day international cricket, a decision will be taken on whether to (a) adopt a structure of two separate five-match series against each touring team, or (b) to have a three-match series against either the early season tourist or a third touring team, followed by a 10-match Triangular Series with a third team flown in to participate when the early season tourist has participated in the three-match Series.

Practice facilities. The FCF will decide whether the current ECB's audit of international ground practice facilities should be extended to include all First Class Counties. This exercise would enable minimum standards to be phased in at the earliest opportunity with incentives for compliance.

Contracted players. The ECB's International Teams Management Group (ITMG) is to investigate a possible extension and enhancement of the current Central Contracts system. A detailed report will be presented to the ECB Management Board and the FCF for their consideration in May 2002.

Issues to be investigated include a possible increase in the number of contracted players, the awarding of 12-month central contracts, and the direct employment of these players by the ECB (the England Contract retainer would replace the payment of a County Salary, but Counties would retain the player's registration with the County Contract lying dormant for the time the player is under contract to the ECB.). Also under investigation will be the possible scheduling of a limited number of matches between England Contracted Players and Counties at strategic times of the season.

Benson & Hedges Cup/20 Over Competition. The Benson and Hedges Cup sponsorship is due to end this coming season. The FCF will decide whether to continue the competition from 2003, or whether, as recommended by the DSWP, to replace the competition with an alternative 20 Over Competition, as part of a drive to attract a new and younger audience to domestic county cricket.

Such a competition would consist of 20 overs-per-side matches, played between 5.30pm-8.15pm, or 7.30pm-10.15pm if under lights, and would be scheduled around the longest days of the year during a specified two-week period. One hour 15 minutes would be allocated to each side, with a 15 minute interval. There would be three regional groups of six teams (each side would play five matches) with the three winning teams and the best runner-up progressing to a Finals Day at Lord's.

Overseas players. The FCF will decide whether to allow the registration of a second unqualified player, or whether to keep the status quo of one unqualified player per First Class County.

Commenting on yesterday's meeting, David Morgan, Chairman of the First Class Forum, said:

"The Working Party has undertaken a very thorough review of how the domestic First Class playing programme should be configured from 2003 onwards. This work has also been underpinned by an extremely comprehensive market research programme among cricket's various stakeholders. Whatever decisions are taken on April 11th, cricket has accumulated a large amount of data that will enable us to market the game even more effectively in the future. The market research has, in particular, clearly shown the need for cricket to become accessible to new and younger audiences. This finding - and others - will need to be fully digested by the First Class Forum before decisions are taken on April 11th".

© ECB 2002