Chairman Chris Grant has welcomed the England & Wales Cricket Board’s review of the domestic Twenty20 competition.
Grant and Chief Executive Simon Storey attended an ECB meeting at Lord’s yesterday with all First Class Counties, the MCC and the PCA discussing the future of the domestic structure.
Grant said: “Every lover of cricket should be concerned with the latest research from ECB that shows participation falling by 10% in the last three year and only 2% of kids between the ages of 7 and 15 rate cricket as their favourite sport. In fact, only 7% had cricket in their top two sports.
“Of the 9.4million people in this Country that see themselves as cricket followers, less than a million actually attend games at present and it is crucial that much more is done to unlock the other 8.5million.
“The ECB presented strong evidence that this can be done by creating a fresh new eight team Twenty20 competition to run in tandem with the existing NatWest T20 Blast, but aimed at a new family audience.
“Following a vote of all first-class counties, we have asked the ECB to put more work into developing the proposal for a two competition structure.
“There’s still a lot of detail that needs to be confirmed, but I’m convinced this approach is the best way of securing Derbyshire’s long-term first-class future.
“Detailed financial modelling has been undertaken and the advent of a new Twenty20 competition, alongside a slightly condensed NatWest Blast will, according to the ECB, bring in a guaranteed £1.35million per year for each county.
“This would clearly be transformational in terms of our financial stability.
“One of the key benefits is that all first-class counties will be shareholders and revenue will be shared equally between all 18 counties.
“I do not subscribe to the argument that this would lead to the death of cricket in Derbyshire. In fact, I believe quite the reverse.
“I think it will lead to 18 counties who will be financially sustainable for the foreseeable future and who will all continue to compete in three traditional domestic competitions.
“We will release further information to our Members and supporters as it becomes available.”
Members are invited to attend a Members Information Evening on Monday 19 September (6.30pm) in the 3aaa Pavilion.
Chairman Chris Grant and Chief Executive Simon Storey will provide Members with full information about the proposed new domestic Twenty20 competition and take any questions.
Members Information Evening
Monday 19 September; 6.30pm to 7.30pm
The 3aaa Pavilion
Refreshments will be available
