English domestic cricket is set for a significant shake-up, with the professional counties officially agreeing to a new format for the Vitality Blast from the 2026 season onwards.
The changes, which aim to streamline the competition and improve player welfare, will see a reduction in group-stage matches and a return to a more traditional regional group structure.
The agreement, reached by the majority of the 18 professional county cricket clubs (PCCs), follows the recommendations of the county-led men's Domestic Playing Programme (DPP) review.
Key changes to the men's Vitality Blast:
Fewer matches: The number of group-stage matches will be reduced from 14 to 12 for each team.
Three groups: The competition will revert to its original format of three groups of six counties, moving away from the current two-group, nine-team structure. The groups will be based on regional geography, with teams playing each other on a home-and-away basis, plus an additional home and away game against teams from other groups.
Pre-Hundred finals day: Crucially, the quarter-finals and Finals Day will now be played in one condensed block, concluding before The Hundred begins in August. This change addresses a major criticism of the previous schedule, which saw a long, momentum-killing break between the group stage and the knockout phase.
The changes were reportedly driven by several factors.
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The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) has been calling for a reduction in matches to alleviate player burnout, a concern that has been amplified by increasingly congested schedules.
Furthermore, the new format is expected to improve the commercial narrative of the competition, with a clearer identity and a Finals Day held in the peak summer period.
Changes to women's competitions:
The reshuffle also extends to the women's game, with several key changes:
Fewer matches: The women's Vitality Blast (Tier 1) will also see a reduction from 14 to 12 group-stage matches.
Finals day change: The women's Vitality Blast Finals Day will be expanded to include two semi-finals and a final.
While some counties, such as Essex, have voiced disappointment over the reduction in home fixtures and the associated loss of revenue, the changes were passed by the required majority of the PCCs.
The new format is seen as a strategic move to ensure the Vitality Blast remains a vibrant and popular competition, strengthening its position within the English cricketing calendar.
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