Dan Kingdom
@dankingdom96.bsky.social
Yeah, it's disingenuous for the ECB to say the new Blast format is better for the fans. Depends on the luck of the draw in the Metro Bank!
November 26, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Yeah, it's disingenuous for the ECB to say the new Blast format is better for the fans. Depends on the luck of the draw in the Metro Bank!
I suspect Warwickshire are another county who'll particularly feel the loss of matches against counties like Notts, Lancs and Yorkshire, too
4/4
4/4
November 25, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I suspect Warwickshire are another county who'll particularly feel the loss of matches against counties like Notts, Lancs and Yorkshire, too
4/4
4/4
...say that the new format has pretty much killed several of our rivalries in T20 cricket - over the years we've built some intense rivalries with counties like Surrey, Hampshire and Kent which are all gone in the new format, apart from the occasional crossover fixture
3/4
3/4
November 25, 2025 at 10:34 PM
...say that the new format has pretty much killed several of our rivalries in T20 cricket - over the years we've built some intense rivalries with counties like Surrey, Hampshire and Kent which are all gone in the new format, apart from the occasional crossover fixture
3/4
3/4
All of the men's examples cited already happened under the old format
The only local rivalry that's been introduced by the new format is probably Gloucestershire v Worcestershire
And speaking as a Somerset fan I can certainly...
2/4
The only local rivalry that's been introduced by the new format is probably Gloucestershire v Worcestershire
And speaking as a Somerset fan I can certainly...
2/4
November 25, 2025 at 10:34 PM
All of the men's examples cited already happened under the old format
The only local rivalry that's been introduced by the new format is probably Gloucestershire v Worcestershire
And speaking as a Somerset fan I can certainly...
2/4
The only local rivalry that's been introduced by the new format is probably Gloucestershire v Worcestershire
And speaking as a Somerset fan I can certainly...
2/4
Overall...a few thumbs up I guess, and I understand that the women's T20 World Cup has constrained elements of the schedule. Hopefully the issues can be ironed out in 2027.
17/17
17/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Overall...a few thumbs up I guess, and I understand that the women's T20 World Cup has constrained elements of the schedule. Hopefully the issues can be ironed out in 2027.
17/17
17/17
...nights most counties favour for selling tickets
Eg Friday 3 July is weirdly under-utilised, with only 5 games rather than the maximum of 9
Derbyshire host Somerset on the following Wednesday, but I can't see a reason why it couldn't have been this evening instead
16/17
Eg Friday 3 July is weirdly under-utilised, with only 5 games rather than the maximum of 9
Derbyshire host Somerset on the following Wednesday, but I can't see a reason why it couldn't have been this evening instead
16/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
...nights most counties favour for selling tickets
Eg Friday 3 July is weirdly under-utilised, with only 5 games rather than the maximum of 9
Derbyshire host Somerset on the following Wednesday, but I can't see a reason why it couldn't have been this evening instead
16/17
Eg Friday 3 July is weirdly under-utilised, with only 5 games rather than the maximum of 9
Derbyshire host Somerset on the following Wednesday, but I can't see a reason why it couldn't have been this evening instead
16/17
A positive of the new men's format is that it allows all counties to be in action on the same day, but strangely there are only 3 instances of this (Fri 22 May, Fri 10 July and Sun 12 July)
I assumed all the Fridays would be maximised to capacity, given they're the...
15/17
I assumed all the Fridays would be maximised to capacity, given they're the...
15/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
A positive of the new men's format is that it allows all counties to be in action on the same day, but strangely there are only 3 instances of this (Fri 22 May, Fri 10 July and Sun 12 July)
I assumed all the Fridays would be maximised to capacity, given they're the...
15/17
I assumed all the Fridays would be maximised to capacity, given they're the...
15/17
It's also obviously rubbish that women's finals day is on a Friday during term-time in a different city to men's finals day which is being played the following day. Hopefully this can be fixed in future years where no T20 World Cup is being played.
14/17
14/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
It's also obviously rubbish that women's finals day is on a Friday during term-time in a different city to men's finals day which is being played the following day. Hopefully this can be fixed in future years where no T20 World Cup is being played.
14/17
14/17
Next year the issue is partly caused by the T20 World Cup at one end and the Hundred's relatively early start at the other
But hopefully in most future years it's possible to play the Blast in one block, and for the scheduling of the knockouts to be better optimised
13/17
But hopefully in most future years it's possible to play the Blast in one block, and for the scheduling of the knockouts to be better optimised
13/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Next year the issue is partly caused by the T20 World Cup at one end and the Hundred's relatively early start at the other
But hopefully in most future years it's possible to play the Blast in one block, and for the scheduling of the knockouts to be better optimised
13/17
But hopefully in most future years it's possible to play the Blast in one block, and for the scheduling of the knockouts to be better optimised
13/17
I support bringing finals day and the QFs closer to the end of the group stage, but in future I hope there is just a little bit more of a gap between the end of the group stage and the QFs, and between the QFs and finals day
12/17
12/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I support bringing finals day and the QFs closer to the end of the group stage, but in future I hope there is just a little bit more of a gap between the end of the group stage and the QFs, and between the QFs and finals day
12/17
12/17
It's also a shame that all the QFs will be on one evening, meaning that, presumably, only one will be on Sky. Having all four televised on consecutive nights (or near enough) is always a highlight of the county calendar.
11/17
11/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
It's also a shame that all the QFs will be on one evening, meaning that, presumably, only one will be on Sky. Having all four televised on consecutive nights (or near enough) is always a highlight of the county calendar.
11/17
11/17
...last two seasons and as for the prospect of many away fans attending a QF potentially on the other side of the country on a Wednesday night with just a few days notice...enough said.
10/17
10/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
...last two seasons and as for the prospect of many away fans attending a QF potentially on the other side of the country on a Wednesday night with just a few days notice...enough said.
10/17
10/17
While it hasn't been ideal to play the QFs and finals day late in the season in the last two seasons, QF attendances were great and it gave away fans the scope to attend in big numbers too
I'm sure QF attendances will still be decent but they will be well down on the...
9/17
I'm sure QF attendances will still be decent but they will be well down on the...
9/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
While it hasn't been ideal to play the QFs and finals day late in the season in the last two seasons, QF attendances were great and it gave away fans the scope to attend in big numbers too
I'm sure QF attendances will still be decent but they will be well down on the...
9/17
I'm sure QF attendances will still be decent but they will be well down on the...
9/17
Bringing the QFs and finals day back into July was always going to cause a bit of a squeeze, but this is far too big of a squeeze
Just two clear days between the end of the group stage and the QFs clearly does everyone a disservice
8/17
Just two clear days between the end of the group stage and the QFs clearly does everyone a disservice
8/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Bringing the QFs and finals day back into July was always going to cause a bit of a squeeze, but this is far too big of a squeeze
Just two clear days between the end of the group stage and the QFs clearly does everyone a disservice
8/17
Just two clear days between the end of the group stage and the QFs clearly does everyone a disservice
8/17
But the biggest issue is the rush at the end of the competition
The last round of group matches, for both men and tier 1 women, is on Sunday 12 July
Men's QFs follow on Wednesday 15 July
Then women's finals day on Friday 17 July and men's finals day on Saturday 18 July
7/17
The last round of group matches, for both men and tier 1 women, is on Sunday 12 July
Men's QFs follow on Wednesday 15 July
Then women's finals day on Friday 17 July and men's finals day on Saturday 18 July
7/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
But the biggest issue is the rush at the end of the competition
The last round of group matches, for both men and tier 1 women, is on Sunday 12 July
Men's QFs follow on Wednesday 15 July
Then women's finals day on Friday 17 July and men's finals day on Saturday 18 July
7/17
The last round of group matches, for both men and tier 1 women, is on Sunday 12 July
Men's QFs follow on Wednesday 15 July
Then women's finals day on Friday 17 July and men's finals day on Saturday 18 July
7/17
...over the bank holiday weekend but I can see the advantages of putting Blast on instead, particularly as that weekend leads into half-term
It means there will presumably be 7 CC rounds before the Blast starts, rather than the 8 we had last season
6/17
It means there will presumably be 7 CC rounds before the Blast starts, rather than the 8 we had last season
6/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
...over the bank holiday weekend but I can see the advantages of putting Blast on instead, particularly as that weekend leads into half-term
It means there will presumably be 7 CC rounds before the Blast starts, rather than the 8 we had last season
6/17
It means there will presumably be 7 CC rounds before the Blast starts, rather than the 8 we had last season
6/17
The Blast starts over the late May bank holiday weekend, which is a week earlier than last season
It also allows England's women to potentially play some Blast leading into the World Cup, although there are NZ and India series at this time too
Personally I prefer CC...
5/17
It also allows England's women to potentially play some Blast leading into the World Cup, although there are NZ and India series at this time too
Personally I prefer CC...
5/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
The Blast starts over the late May bank holiday weekend, which is a week earlier than last season
It also allows England's women to potentially play some Blast leading into the World Cup, although there are NZ and India series at this time too
Personally I prefer CC...
5/17
It also allows England's women to potentially play some Blast leading into the World Cup, although there are NZ and India series at this time too
Personally I prefer CC...
5/17
I'm guessing the ECB wanted to give the opening two weeks of the T20WC a clear-ish run, and ensure the final doesn't clash with anything too major
Obviously there will be some CC and maybe some women's ODC games in this period but they aren't as high-profile as the Blast
4/17
Obviously there will be some CC and maybe some women's ODC games in this period but they aren't as high-profile as the Blast
4/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I'm guessing the ECB wanted to give the opening two weeks of the T20WC a clear-ish run, and ensure the final doesn't clash with anything too major
Obviously there will be some CC and maybe some women's ODC games in this period but they aren't as high-profile as the Blast
4/17
Obviously there will be some CC and maybe some women's ODC games in this period but they aren't as high-profile as the Blast
4/17
I assume the reason it's not being played in one block is the women's T20 World Cup
The first block is from 22 May to 9 June
The T20 World Cup starts on 12 June, and the Blast doesn't resume until 26 June (except some women's tier 2 games on 14 June)
3/17
The first block is from 22 May to 9 June
The T20 World Cup starts on 12 June, and the Blast doesn't resume until 26 June (except some women's tier 2 games on 14 June)
3/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I assume the reason it's not being played in one block is the women's T20 World Cup
The first block is from 22 May to 9 June
The T20 World Cup starts on 12 June, and the Blast doesn't resume until 26 June (except some women's tier 2 games on 14 June)
3/17
The first block is from 22 May to 9 June
The T20 World Cup starts on 12 June, and the Blast doesn't resume until 26 June (except some women's tier 2 games on 14 June)
3/17
I was surprised to see it will not be played in one block. To be fair, I'm not sure if the ECB ever guaranteed that it would be (eg they didn't say it here: www.ecb.co.uk/news/4339206...)
BBC Sport said it here (www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...) but they may have been assuming wrongly
2/17
BBC Sport said it here (www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...) but they may have been assuming wrongly
2/17
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I was surprised to see it will not be played in one block. To be fair, I'm not sure if the ECB ever guaranteed that it would be (eg they didn't say it here: www.ecb.co.uk/news/4339206...)
BBC Sport said it here (www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...) but they may have been assuming wrongly
2/17
BBC Sport said it here (www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...) but they may have been assuming wrongly
2/17
Sussex will play Warwickshire at Edgbaston for the first time (of course, Sussex have played T20s at Edgbaston on several finals days)
5/5
5/5
November 25, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Sussex will play Warwickshire at Edgbaston for the first time (of course, Sussex have played T20s at Edgbaston on several finals days)
5/5
5/5
Lancashire will play Surrey at the Oval in a group stage T20 for the first time, although they have played three previous T20s at the Oval:
- 2005 semi-final v Surrey
- 2005 final v Somerset
- 2008 QF v Middlesex, for some reason
4/5
- 2005 semi-final v Surrey
- 2005 final v Somerset
- 2008 QF v Middlesex, for some reason
4/5
November 25, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Lancashire will play Surrey at the Oval in a group stage T20 for the first time, although they have played three previous T20s at the Oval:
- 2005 semi-final v Surrey
- 2005 final v Somerset
- 2008 QF v Middlesex, for some reason
4/5
- 2005 semi-final v Surrey
- 2005 final v Somerset
- 2008 QF v Middlesex, for some reason
4/5