England’s domestic season is back with the start of Bob Wills Trophy. Since 1945 this was the longest pause for this County Champion due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost 18 first-class county teams are taking part in this tournament, the eighteen teams will split into three regional groups and will play 4 days and 5 days matches with respect to the tournament fixtures.
The final of this tournament will be played in the month of October at Lords.
Bob Wills Trophy is dedicated to the former English fast bowler Bob Wills who died in December at an age of 70.
This time there are various changes in the format of the game like each team will only 120 overs to play in an inning, the availability of new ball will be after 90 overs now not 80 and the maximum overs will be 90 in a day, not 96. The extension of new ball availability is done to bring spinners more in the game.
All the teams will have their own bio-secure protocol and players will have a daily symptom and temperature checks. There will be 16 points for a win, 8 for a draw which was 5 earlier. The Championship title which was started in 1890 is still at peak of its fortune. Earlier it was only paused during the war times and now it was the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID spike in Leicester has forced the authorities to reschedule its matches in Worcestershire New Road.
The UK government barred the English Cricketing Board for not allowing the spectators in the matches at the amid coronavirus crisis.