Published: Nov 29, 2017, 05:59 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 29, 2017, 05:59 PM (IST)
England cricket will continue to promote floodlit cricket in domestic circuit in the 2018 County Championship. All 18 counties will get a taste of playing under lights, spread across four rounds. Defending champions Essex will spearhead the tournament squaring off against Yorkshire at Headingley on April 13 under new coach Anthony McGrath. The final round will commence from September 24.
Says ECB’s head of cricket operations, Alan Fordham
“With England preparing to play their second day-night Test in Adelaide this weekend and a third already arranged for Auckland next spring, the ECB’s Cricket Committee has decided that it is important for us to continue providing experience of playing with pink balls in day-night conditions in the County Championship. Our first floodlit round earlier this year stimulated considerable interest, we have ensured that each of the 18 counties again plays one day-night fixture — and the fact that the matches are spread over three months should allow us to assess some different conditions.”
On the other hand, the group fixtures of England’s domestic ODI Cup will be played from May 17 to June 7. The 18 teams would be a part of North and South groups and each will feature in eight games. The winners from each group will get to play a semi-final at home, while their opponents will be declared by playoffs between the teams finishing second and third on June 14. The final will be held at Lord’s on June 30.
