Outside Edge: T20 changes offer golden opportunity to bring cricket back to the masses - even if it's a step from tradition

Without question, the development of a domestic tournament between non-county-based sides would be historic. To some it is anathema while others might politely suggest that it will begin to correct an anachronism

Northamptonshire celebrate after winning the Natwest T20 Blast final at Edgbaston cricket ground on August 20, 2016 (Getty)

Wednesday’s vote in favour – at least in principle – of a new city-based T20 tournament caught some county members off guard. A few clearly found it hard to believe that their frequently dyed in the wool chairmen would betray decades of tradition in favour of a step into the unknown.

There are caveats of course. As things stand, the meat has yet to be put on the bones of the proposal – there is still some way to go before it becomes a reality, as some chairmen were quick to make clear. Nonetheless, the ECB now has a mandate to push ahead with the idea and, barring some fairly dramatic changes of heart, it would be surprising if a new competition didn’t emerge.

Without question, the development of a domestic tournament between non-county-based sides would be historic. To some that is enough to make it anathema; others might politely suggest that it will begin to correct an anachronism.

Those who would retain the status quo point to the fact that there are 200-odd professional cricketers in this country: most will plainly not be involved in an eight-team competition that will seek to attract a decent number of overseas stars to join the top local players. Moreover, after a dip in 2014, attendances for the existing T20 Blast have been growing, which suggests spectators are already engaged by what is on offer. Fans worried about change will also wonder if this is the thin end of the wedge. The ECB says the current county-based tournament will continue in addition to the new event – but for how long can two competitions run in parallel? And if city teams take off in the T20 format, what about the County Championship itself?

For anyone who loves the county game it is hard not to feel a twinge of anxiety at the very least. There is also the unending frustration of listening to any number of suits talking about the need to engage more fans, yet in the same breath waxing lyrical about the benefits cricket has enjoyed by virtue of its exclusive Sky TV deal.

The 2016 T20 final between Northamptonshire and Durham (Getty)

Nobody doubts that the relationship with Sky has brought in vast sums to ECB coffers and the money has trickled down to a degree. But if “engagement” is the conundrum that needs to be solved then it defies all logic to conclude that a lack of free-to-air live coverage is not part of the problem. Indeed, it seems hugely optimistic to assume that a new tournament will, as a matter of course, attract a vastly different set of spectators to its matches.

All that having been said, a new elite tournament could provide English cricket with a boost. The T20 Blast is a well-contested and often exciting affair. But it rarely matches the glamour of the Big Bash or the IPL. If it were to became a tournament from which domestic pros could win selection to the new, city-based contest later in the summer, then not only would we get a new, all-singing, all-dancing competition with the best global names, the quality of the Blast could itself be improved.

Scheduling of course will be key. Turning the 50-over Royal London Cup into a straight knockout tournament would be an obvious way to free up some space (and probably makes sense in any case). Likewise, the initial stages of the Blast could be fought out in three groups of six instead of two of nine.

Whatever the solution, the ECB now has a golden opportunity to use this moment to truly bring cricket back to the masses, especially with its current Sky deal coming to an end in 2019. If it has any sense at all it must ensure that the next broadcasting agreement provides some live cricket to a non-subscription channel. A failure to do so may result simply in the same old audiences watching a slightly wider range of tournaments, which might be good for the ECB’s finances but it won’t grow the game’s fan base. And that ultimately is crucial to cricket’s long-term survival.

Essex clinch promotion as the Championship reaches its exciting conclusion

While debates will continue over the best way to bring more eyeballs to the T20 format, the health of the domestic four-day game ought to be in little doubt this week. As the Championship reaches its climax there have been thrilling matches and outstanding personal performances.

Essex won promotion with a game in hand at Chelmsford, and it was appropriate that current and former captains, Ryan ten Doeschate and James Foster, were at the crease when the requisite bonus point was secured. The club, which enjoyed such success in the 1980s and 90s, has considerable talent in the ranks – the only wonder is that there has been so much underachievement for so long.

Meanwhile, the race for the division one title, which seemed to be developing into a two-horse race, has been thrown wide open by Somerset’s late run, with victory over Yorkshire putting the cat very firmly among cricket square-dwelling pigeons. The evergreen (indeed, increasingly tree-like) Marcus Trescothick made short work of a paltry fourth-innings chase, while Jack Leach’s fine late-season form continued, as he took all of Middlesex’s final six wickets to fall. Four five-wicket hauls in his last five matches is one way for a spinner to nudge England selectors.

Middlesex’s failure to beat Lancashire means that with one round of matches to go, the Championship remains wide open. Now we just have to hope this glorious Indian summer lasts for another week.