ECB holds emergency meeting to discuss weather disruption
The ECB has held an emergency meeting to discuss how to ensure that the continuing abysmal weather does not ruin this year's Twenty20 Cup
Cricinfo staff
29-Jun-2007
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It was agreed that an option of up to one hour's additional scheduled time to complete play be approved as a temporary regulation in 2007 .
They also reviewed the option of rescheduling matches. Due to the condensed playing schedule it was agreed that this was not feasible in order to complete the group stages ahead of the quarter-finals. It was agreed that with the growing interest of spectators in Twenty20 cricket, the feasibility of reserve days be considered for future years.
The county chiefs stressed they were taking all steps to minimise the impact of the weather, and this included an easier system of switching venues if possible. Worcestershire have already taken advantage of this option by relocating matches to Kidderminster and Himley.
The ECB also sought to provide emergency assistance to counties through the
hiring of four additional super sopper machines.
'The positive and constructive views expressed to combat these exceptional weather conditions is a credit to all counties," said David Collier, the ECB's chief executive. "Everyone is mindful that Twenty20 is people's cricket and is the season centre piece for domestic cricket supporters. Counties and the ECB are working in partnership to seek to maximise play and also maintain the credibility of this important competition."
The meeting also agreed to warmly support a proposal from ECB to host a special seminar to share best practice in crowd management and to seek to eliminate unruly crowd behaviour which, while infrequent at cricket, is a matter which the ECB and the counties wish proactively to ensure does not creep into the game.