ECB panel to discuss 12-day reduction in domestic cricket schedule

Further discussions will be held at Lord's tomorrow about reforms to the domestic season from 2012 onwards. The six-man working party appointed by the England and Wales Cricket Board will report to the ECB's board, although no firm recommendations are expected until further consultations with the counties. However, the plans will definitely involve a reduction in the amount of cricket played by each county of up to 12 days, which will probably mean tinkering with both the Championship and the one-day competitions. Dave Brooks, the Sussex chief executive, who is on the working party, has also hinted that new formats and competitions may be considered. "We've wandered into this rather than being specifically briefed, but when you look at the success of Twenty20 and the way the game is always moving on, we have tried to leave ourselves space for a bit more innovation," he said. Hampshire, the 2010 Twenty20 winners, will be rewarded with a trip to Antigua in January to play in the Caribbean T20 tournament. Somerset, the runners-up in last August's final at the Rose Bowl, will also take part.