On September 15 the First-Class Counties will vote on whether to accept
the proposals in Lord MacLaurin's report - "Raising the Standard". If they agree
with his proposals the changes made will be the biggest ever in English
cricket's 200 year history.
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1998:
Sunday League and Benson & Hedges Cup remain as normal.
Natwest Trophy reduced to 50 overs per side with final one month earlier (in August).
County Championship split into three divisions of 6 counties;
each county plays each team in the other two divisions
counties do not play teams in their own division
play offs at end of the season; you play teams that are equivalently placed in the other 2 groups
1999:
World Cup hosted by England - warm-up periods included when no cricket played
Benson & Hedges Cup is abolished.
A new one-day league is formed;
50 overs per side
two divisions of 9 counties
each county plays the teams in its division once at home and once away
each county plays the teams in the other division once per season
2000:
By this time 2nd XI cricket is completely phased out
It is replaced with a new 38 county championship
