SUPER Overs and coloured creases are set to be introduced to the Friends Life Twenty20 from next season as the England and Wales Cricket Board aims to make the game “more viewer friendly”.The ECB has announced a raft of regulations changes for next season, which includes better reward for drawn matches in next season’s LV= County Championship.
Five points will be now be secured for a draw – up from three – in the four-day game, although it is in the shorter formats where the most sweeping changes are set to be made.
Super Overs will be used for tied matches in the Twenty20 group stage for the first time, while “alternative colours to white” will be used for creases subject to a trial.
Batsmen will also have just 60 seconds, rather than the 90 permitted last season, to reach the crease.
In the newly-named Royal London One-Day Cup the ODI playing conditions will attempted to be replicated “wherever possible” including two new balls.
“These changes are designed to make our domestic game even more spectator and viewer-friendly as well as bring the county game into line with rule changes which have been successfully implemented at international level by the ICC,” ECB chief executive David Collier said.
“They will come into force along with the new county schedule next season and are the product of extensive consultation and discussion with all our key stakeholders in the domestic game.”
On the subject of coloured creases and ECB statement read: “Alternative colours to white may be used as crease markings from next season – subject to successful trials.
“This change is designed to make crease markings easier to see for both spectators and TV viewers.”
The changes were proposed by the ECB’s Cricket Committee and approved by the ECB Board on Tuesday.