What Might Be Coming With the T20 Blast Shake-Up
England's T20 Blast — the oldest professional T20 league in the world — has faced questions about its format, scheduling and place in a crowded calendar. With The Hundred dividing opinion and franchise leagues multiplying globally, the Blast may be heading for significant changes.
The Current Format
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Teams | 18 counties |
| Groups | North and South (9 each) |
| Matches per team | 14 group games |
| Knockouts | Quarter-finals, Finals Day |
The Challenges
| Issue | Detail |
|---|---|
| The Hundred | Competes for the same summer window and players |
| Player availability | England stars rarely play Blast cricket |
| Scheduling | 14 group games crammed into a short block |
| Global competition | IPL, PSL, BBL and others attract talent |
Possible Changes
| Proposal | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fewer teams | A slimmed-down elite competition |
| City-based | Following The Hundred's franchise model |
| Window protection | A dedicated slot with England players available |
| Merger talk | Combining Blast and Hundred concepts |
The Hundred Question
The ECB launched The Hundred in 2021 as a city-based 100-ball competition. Critics argue it cannibalised the Blast without growing the game as promised. Supporters point to new audiences and TV deals. The future of both competitions is now under review.
What Counties Want
| Priority | Detail |
|---|---|
| Revenue | T20 is the financial lifeblood of counties |
| Identity | Historic rivalries (Roses, derbies) matter to fans |
| Player pathway | Blast gives young players a stage |
Any shake-up must balance the ECB's commercial goals with the counties' need for income and identity. Finals Day at Edgbaston remains one of the best days in the domestic calendar.
Global Context
| League | Country | Window |
|---|---|---|
| IPL | India | March–May |
| T20 Blast | England | June–July |
| The Hundred | England | July–August |
| BBL | Australia | December–January |
| PSL | Pakistan | February–March |
The Blast's June-July window is valuable, but without England's best players it struggles for star power compared to franchise leagues.
Will the T20 Blast be replaced?
No decision has been made, but the ECB is reviewing the domestic T20 structure including the Blast and The Hundred.
Alice Mirza
Cricket is Alice Mirza’s passion, and he loves playing, watching, and discussing the game. The Cricket blog is my way of spreading my thoughts about the game. Previously, I ghost-wrote for a few websites. For me, cricket is more than just a game.