T20 Blast to be revamped in 2026

A shake-up to the domestic white-ball summer will take place in 2026, including a slimmed down Vitality Blast played in one block before the start of The Hundred.

A review into the white-ball domestic structure led by the counties – in consultation with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) – recommended changes with an eye on player welfare and competition narrative.

From next summer the T20 Blast competition reduces the group stages by two games to 12 matches per side, with the quarter-finals and Finals Day following on directly so the competition is wrapped up in one block.

The two groups of nine sides will be replaced by three groups of six split into north, central and south groups as they were in 2020.

The Women’s T20 Blast competition has a similar reduction in games with the group stages featuring 12 games, down from 14. Finals Day will mirror the men’s finale with two semi-finals and a final on the same day.

With Yorkshire Women moving to Tier 1 on professional terms, the structure of the women’s T20 changes to two groups of nine with the second-tier sides playing eight group games and a three-team two-match Finals Day.

The six-week break between the group stages and quarter-finals in the T20 Blast has come under fire, with critics saying the competition loses its “momentum”.

Men’s Vitality T20 Blast

The group stage of the Vitality T20 Blast reverts to three groups with North, Central and South Groups with the eight best-placed teams on points and net run-rates going through to the quarter-finals.

North Group: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Durham, Yorkshire and Leicestershire

Central Group: Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Birmingham, Somerset, Glamorgan, Worcestershire

South Group: Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Middlesex, Essex, Hampshire

Each county plays the other teams in their group home and away – a total of 10 matches.

They will additionally play one home game against a county from outside their group and one away game against a side from another group.

Vitality Blast women’s competition (Tier 1)

Group: Bears, Durham, Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, Yorkshire.

Each county will play 12 group-stage matches – six home and six away. They will play four counties twice and four counties once.

The top four counties at the end of the group stage will progress to women’s Vitality Blast Finals Day, which will include two semi-finals and the final.

Vitality Blast Women’s League 2 (Tier 2)

Group: Derbyshire Falcons, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Sussex Sharks, Worcestershire Rapids.

Each county will play eight group-stage matches – four home and four away. They will play each county either home or away.

The top three counties at the end of the group stage will progress to Vitality Blast Women’s League 2 Finals Day, which will include an eliminator and final.

Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition (Tier 1)

Group: Bears, Durham, Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, Yorkshire.

Each county will play 16 group-stage matches – each county plays each other county at home and away.

The top three counties at the end of the group stage will progress to the knockout stages. The top county progresses straight into the final to meet the winner of the eliminator between second and third place.

Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women’s League 2 (Tier 2)

Group: Derbyshire Falcons, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Sussex Sharks, Worcestershire Rapids.

Each county will play eight group-stage matches – four home and four away. They will play each county either home or away.