Durham captain backs new 40-over league (From The Northern Echo)

Durham captain backs new 40-over league

4:48pm Thursday 19th November 2009 in

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DURHAM captain Will Smith believes the ECB's decision to dispense with domestic 50-over cricket from next season could have a positive impact on the national team.

The ECB released the 2010 first-class fixtures today, the first such list since the county game was restructured to feature the new ECB 40 League in place of the Friends Provident Trophy and the Pro40.

Critics of the decision have suggested that the lack of a 50-over format will leave players ill-prepared for one-day international cricket.

But Smith, who led Durham to a second consecutive championship title this summer, believes the opposite is true.

"I'm pretty happy we have 40-over cricket because it has proved to be a fun game to play," he said.

"It's highly skilled, perhaps more so than 50 overs where you tend to get that lull in the middle overs. You tend not to get that in 40 overs.

"It makes for a more exciting game for players and also for spectators."

He added: "It's good we've gone that way. No, it doesn't mirror international cricket but it will breed more forward-thinking, skilled players.

"Those players will be the type that want to take advantage of situations and take the chances that will win games.

"I think that will benefit England in the long run because they will have players who will be able to deal with pressure situations."

Smith even suggested that if the format flourishes in the county game, it could be introduced in the international game in the future.

"I'm sure the administrators of the international game are continually looking for ways to keep the game fresh and maintain the levels of support," he said. "So I'm sure if it is a success here, if it is attended by large numbers of people and produces exciting cricket then they will look at it."

Reflecting on Durham's chances of picking up a third championship title, Smith was cautiously optimistic.

Following the traditional curtain-raiser against the MCC, Durham's campaign gets underway against newly-promoted Essex at Riverside on April 15 and ends with another home match, against Somerset, on September 13.

Smith added: "There's a lot of hard work to come, and plenty of ups and downs along the way no doubt. We're certainly not taking it as a given that we have the right to win a third title.

"We have to earn that right, the same as the last two years. If we can get into that same winning frame of mind, there's no reason why not but we have eight other teams looking to do exactly the same.

"There's a lot of cricket to come before then but Somerset are a very competitive team, a quality side.

If it does work out Durham versus Somerset in the last week of the season for the championship then great.

"Those are the kind of situations we'd love to be involved in but if we win it with two games to go, all the better."

Other notable dates in the calendar include Twenty20 finals day at Hampshire's Rose Bowl on August 14, 2005 Ashes hero Matthew Hoggard's first match as Leicestershire captain against Northamptonshire on April 9 and, on May 18, Monty Panesar's return to Wantage Road with new county Sussex following his surprise release by the Steelbacks.

The first Roses clash of the season is at Headingley on May 29, while all eyes will be on Middlesex at the start of the Twenty20 Cup on June 3, when new signing Adam Gilchrist could make his county debut.

The ECB 40 League which will, as expected take place predominantly on Sundays, begins on April 25 and runs until a Lord's final on September 18.

The newly-convened Recreational XI make their first appearance against Surrey on May 2, while Holland enter the fray against Yorkshire on May 15.

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