#3)       There are no further trials regarding the referral of decisions by players while available technology remains in its current position.

This is an interesting one because, whatever your views on the use of technology, the referral system trialed last year was an absolute shambles.

#6)       96 overs in the day (a reduction of 8 overs on Days 1-3)
            Three two hour sessions: 11am – 1pm / 1.40pm – 3.40pm / 4pm – 6pm A maximum of 30 minutes of time lost during a day’s play to be made up at the end of that same day on all days except the last day.  No time carried forward from previous days· Over-rate penalties doubled to 1 point for each over not bowled.

Increasing the penalty for a slow over-rate is something that has been widely called for for a number of seasons. Hopefully doubling the sanction will gives some captains a bit of a kick up the backside. The new hours of play (intended to more closely reflect Test match timings) could be acceptable as long as the over-rate is maintained and, as some captains have claimed, performance improve with shorter days. I am not, however, too thrilled with being unable to make up time from previous days. If an hour is lost on the first day why not add 30 mins onto the next two days. All this does is give less chance of a result in championship matches.

#7)       'Dead' LV County Championship matches should be allowed to finish (with the consent of both captains) at the commencement of the last hour regardless of the number of overs remaining to be bowled.

Sensible

#8)       The white ball should automatically be replaced in FPT matches at the end of the 34th over. Any loss of the replacement ball would come from the normal box of   spares.

No such ball change is recommended in NatWest Pro40.  This is a strange one, anyone any theories on this? It might perhaps encourage a consistently high run-rate with the knowledge that it could be more difficult to score in the later overs. It could also have the effect of reducing the number of overs available for a spinner to bowl between ‘powerplays’ and the new ball.

#9)     Powerplays should be adopted as per ICC playing conditions in the FPT. No such change of powerplays should apply in NatWest Pro40 (to remain at the first 15 overs). Further, ECB should raise with ICC whether the positioning of fielders within 15 yards in front of the batsman fulfils the intent of the regulation.

Whatever you think of powerplays, it is surely sensible to ensure that domestic 50 over cricket accurately reflects the conditions in ODIs.


#15)     Points penalties in one-day cricket should be applied to the following season’s competition and be doubled to two points for a “poor” one-day pitch and four points for an “unfit” one-day pitch. 

If penalties cannot be applied in the current season they are to be carried forward, it was felt appropriate to increase the level of deterrent by doubling the  penalty to 2 points for a “poor” one-day pitch and four points for an “unfit” one-day pitch.

This seems to be sensible but, in my opinion, a poor pitch should also include a wicket that gives too match of an advantage to batsman e.g. Taunton 2007.Well! Plenty of points for discussion there and I would say, on the whole, a slight improvement from this year imho.

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