ECB moves to implement T20 constitution change

Colin Graves has hailed a "watershed" moment for cricket in England and Wales after the ECB board unanimously agreed to trigger the formal process by which changes to the organisation's constitution can be agreed.

Graves, the ECB chairman, insisted the changes would make "the whole game stronger" and suggested cricket could now "attract a whole new audience" with the creation of an eight-team T20 tournament for 2020.

As a result of the board's decision, all 41 constituent members of the ECB (the 18 first-class counties, the MCC, the Minor Counties Cricket Association and the 21 recreational boards) will now be sent amended Articles of Association to approve. The ECB requires 31 positive responses within 28 days of the date on the letter for the changes to be passed. A non-response is effectively a no vote.

The key change relates to the formation of the new competition. Whereas the previous Articles insisted that all 18 first-class counties took part in each of the main competitions run by the ECB, the new Articles will specify that, for the proposed T20 competition only, eight new teams will be permitted to compete and the counties will be excluded.

"The ECB board today gave their unanimous support to trigger a formal process to change the game's Articles of Association and allow a new T20 competition," Graves said.

"Our members have seen the evidence for why the new T20 proposal is the right way to reach new audiences, create new fans and fuel the future of the game.

"Together, we can now take a huge opportunity to not only create a deeper engagement with those who currently follow cricket but to attract a whole new audience and ensure the sustainability of our game. This is a watershed moment for us all to make the whole game stronger."

The ECB also announced a fuller review of its Articles of Association, which will cover financial regulations. The process is expected to take around six to nine months with the expectation that it will culminate in a proposal to adopt a new set of Articles at the ECB's AGM in May 2018. A review of the ECB's governance structures, to be led by Ian Lovett, deputy chairman of the ECB, will also be undertaken.

And, in another sign of the weakening grip of the first-class counties - specifically their members - upon the professional game, the ECB announced its intention to establish new Memorandums of Understanding. Rather than agreeing separate MoUs with the first-class counties, the county boards, the premier leagues and the minor counties, the stated aspiration is "to create a single entity for cricket in each county, in line with the shared strategic framework defined by Cricket Unleashed [the ECB's five-year plan for the game]".

"Two years ago, on becoming chairman of the ECB, I promised members open discussion, transparency and accountability with my main objective of attracting more revenue into the game to be passed onto its stakeholders," Graves said.

"The Articles and governance reviews I am announcing today are very much part of delivering this vision. Good governance is critical to effective decision-making, minimising risk and protecting reputation. It's essential for the future success of cricket."