Friends Life t20
| Countries |  England  Wales |
|---|---|
| Administrator | ECB |
| Format | Twenty20 |
| First edition | 2010 |
| Tournament format | Group stage and knockout |
| Number of teams | 18 |
 2010 | |
The Friends Provident t20 is a Twenty20 cricket league in England and Wales run by the ECB. The league consists of the 18 first-class counties teams divided into two divisions of nine teams each (north-south). This plan, announced by the ECB in February 2009, replaced the more ambitious EPL project which would have included two overseas teams. The proposal was substantially modified following the credit crunch, and the change in circumstances of Allen Stanford himself. Friends Provident were announced as sponsors of the competition, having previously sponsored the 50-over competition.[1]
This tournament replaced the Twenty20 Cup as the premier domestic Twenty20 competition of England and Wales.
Competition history
Twenty20 English Premier League was a proposed cricket league to be run by the ECB. The league was to consist of 18 county teams and two overseas teams divided into two divisions of ten teams each. It was rumoured that the two overseas teams were to be a side fielded by Allen Stanford of the West Indies and the winners of the Indian Premier League.[2] After the disgrace of Stanford, this tournament was scrapped. The establishment of the Friends Provident t20 contributed to the discontinuation of the Pro40 League,[2] and a second Twenty20 League (a revamped version of the outgoing Twenty20 Cup) to be held in July, August and September, played on Friday evenings,[3][4]. This did not happen, and instead a modified 40-over league, the Clydesdale Bank 40 was implemented instead.
Inaugural Season
The first season of the Friends Provident t20 is running from June-August 2010. The eighteen counties are split into two (North and South) groups, containing nine teams in each.[5] They play each other at home and away, and the top four teams in each group will compete in a knock-out phase, from the quarter-final stage.[6] The counties were able to register Twenty20 specialist players for the competition, and 2 overseas ("unqualified") players.[7]
2010 Season
| Southern League |
|---|
| Essex Eagles
|
| Glamorgan Dragons
|
| Gloucestershire Gladiators
|
| Hampshire Royals
|
| Kent Spitfires
|
| Middlesex Panthers
|
| Somerset Sabres
|
| Surrey Lions
|
| Sussex Sharks
|
References
- ^ Friends Provident sponsor Twenty20, 15 October 2009, www.ecb.co.uk. Retrieved on 27 May 2010.
- ^ a b "ECB unveil new Twenty20 tournament". Cricinfo. 2008-07-16. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
- ^ "New-look English Twenty20 agreed". BBC. 2008-07-16. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
- ^ ECB To Replace Pro40 With EPL Twenty20 Competition
- ^ Twenty20 groups confirmed, 18 October 2009, www.ecb.co.uk. Retrieved on 27 May 2010.
- ^ Friends Provident t20 - format, www.ecb.co.uk. Retrieved on 27 May 2010.
- ^ First Class Regulations and Playing Conditions 2010 - Regulations Governing the Qualification and Registration of Cricketers, www.ecb.co.uk. Retrieved on 27 May 2010.
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