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Counties Approve Major White-Ball Format Changes for 2026 to Boost Competitiveness and Player Welfare
Structural Overhaul for T20 Blast and One-Day Cup Confirmed
The Professional County Cricket Clubs (PCCs) have unanimously approved a sweeping set of changes to the men’s and women’s domestic white-ball competitions starting in 2026. The move follows recommendations from the Domestic Playing Programme (DPP) review and aims to balance competitive intensity, player workload, and commercial opportunities.
From 2026, the men’s Vitality T20 Blast will see its group stage reduced from 14 matches to 12, reverting to three groups of six counties. In the women’s game, Yorkshire will be promoted from Tier 2 to Tier 1, reshaping the competitive landscape and introducing new Finals Day formats across both the T20 Blast and the One-Day Cup.
These changes have been designed with player welfare, scheduling efficiency, and fan engagement in mind, while ensuring local rivalries remain at the heart of county cricket.
Key Changes to the Men’s T20 Blast
Group Stage Restructure and Scheduling Adjustments
Under the new structure, each county will play home and away against their five group opponents (10 matches) plus one home and one away game against teams from other groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, alongside the best two third-placed sides.
The quarter-finals and Finals Day will now take place before The Hundred, ensuring a more streamlined summer schedule.
Men’s T20 Blast 2026 Groups:
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Group A: Derbyshire Falcons, Durham, Lancashire Lightning, Leicestershire Foxes, Notts Outlaws, Yorkshire
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Group B: Bears, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Somerset, Worcestershire Rapids
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Group C: Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Kent Spitfires, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex Sharks
(Related: See our county cricket fixtures guide for more details on upcoming domestic schedules.)
Women’s Domestic White-Ball Competitions: Tier 1 Expansion
Women’s T20 Blast – Tier 1
Yorkshire’s promotion to Tier 1 will create a nine-team single group, where each team will play 12 matches (four counties twice and four counties once). The top four teams will progress to an expanded Finals Day featuring two semi-finals and a final.
Women’s T20 Blast – Tier 2
Tier 2 will also operate as a nine-team single group but with eight matches per team. The top three teams will qualify for Finals Day, which will feature an Eliminator followed by the final.
Women’s One-Day Cup: Increased Match Volume in Tier 1
Tier 1 Format Changes
The women’s One-Day Cup will expand from 14 to 16 group-stage matches in Tier 1, introducing a new Eliminator match between the second- and third-placed teams to decide the finalist to face the top-ranked side.
Tier 2 Adjustments
Tier 2 will feature the same nine counties as the T20 Blast and retain an eight-match format. The top four teams will progress to semi-finals, with winners meeting in the final.
Leadership Perspectives on the Changes
Professional Game Committee Chair Mark McCafferty described the men’s Blast changes as “a springboard to further investment” in one of the world’s most competitive T20 tournaments. He emphasised the benefits of concentrated local rivalries and the commercial appeal of an earlier Finals Day.
ECB Director of the Women’s Professional Game Beth Barrett-Wild highlighted the collaborative process behind the women’s structure changes. She noted that while players desired a full home-and-away schedule in Tier 1, logistical challenges meant the revised plan was the best immediate option, with a further review planned before the 2027 season.
For more information on the DPP review, visit the England and Wales Cricket Board official site.
Summary of 2026 Domestic White-Ball Reforms
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Men’s T20 Blast: Group stage reduced to 12 matches, three groups of six teams, Finals Day before The Hundred.
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Women’s T20 Blast Tier 1: Yorkshire promoted, 12 matches, expanded Finals Day with semi-finals and final.
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Women’s T20 Blast Tier 2: Single nine-team group, eight matches, three-team Finals Day.
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Women’s One-Day Cup Tier 1: 16 matches, new Eliminator before final.
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Women’s One-Day Cup Tier 2: Eight matches, top four reach semi-finals.
