England Cricket Board (ECB) Confirms 2025 Domestic Schedule
Author: Vishnu Reddy
Updated At:
The 2025 English Country season would kick-off on April 4 next year with the defending champs Surrey taking on Essex at Chelmsford. That week would also see as many as 18 counties spring into action from April 4-7.
The structure for men's county cricket has largely been unchanged since the 2024 season. The season commences with eight rounds of the Championship, now sponsored by Rothesay followed by group stage fixtures of the Vitality Blast, which is split into two blocks of Championship cricket in June and July.
Then lastly, the Hundred and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup are scheduled during the latter stages of the season in August and subsequently, in September it all culminates together featuring the knockout rounds of the Championship, men's T20 Blast, One-Day Cup, and the Disability Premier League final.
Possible Changes Lurking on the Horizon
It is estimated that the ECB is working on a plan to orchestrate a new County Partnership Agreement and has reportedly shelled a staggering amount of money in the past 18 months to make it a reality. The new agreement will involve sweeping match allocations on an unprecedented scale for 2025-2031, and the introduction of the new three-tiered women's county structure along with the ongoing Hundred equity sale.
The ECB managing director of competitions and major events Neil Snowball that his administration has faced some hiccups along the way while restructuring the men's programme, especially after Covid-19.
"All of that meant it didn't feel like the right time to undertake a significant look at the men's domestic competitions. But once we get to the other side of the Hundred sales process, we'll obviously look at that again. So that's why we're sticking with the same structure, with a few tweaks, for 2025."
Amidst all this development, the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) reiterated the importance of "safe scheduling" to ensure player welfare is prioritized whilst implementing the structural changes.
The introduction of a revamped women's game, in addition with eight newly professional Tier 1 teams, would mean that 335 women's county matches would be staged across the summer. It will be kicked off by the first block of One-Day Cup games in April and May, followed by the launch of the T20 Blast - which will see every county host at least one men's and women's joint matchday. Moreover, Trent Bridge and the Utilita Bowl will play host to the finals of the men's and women's One-Day Cup respectively.
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