Kevin Pietersen suggests franchise red-ball cricket in England with overseas players

Kevin Pietersen believes it is time the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) go ahead and discuss the idea of introducing a franchise-based red-ball cricket tournament in the UK. Pietersen, in a series of tweets, advocated for the introduction of a franchise model in English first-class scene, stating that the aim is to strengthen the […]
 
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Kevin Pietersen suggests franchise red-ball cricket in England with overseas players

Kevin Pietersen believes it is time the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) go ahead and discuss the idea of introducing a franchise-based red-ball cricket tournament in the UK.

Pietersen, in a series of tweets, advocated for the introduction of a franchise model in English first-class scene, stating that the aim is to strengthen the domestic game and save Test cricket in the country.

Kevin Pietersen suggests franchise red-ball cricket in England with overseas players

Kevin Pietersen believes the English first-class scene needs restructuring.

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“The ECB decided in 2015 to prioritise white ball cricket. They won the WC & now have a franchise tournament. Now is the time to franchise red ball cricket. Strengthen all the teams. Good players survive, others don’t. Test cricket will die if they don’t!”, Pietersen tweeted.

 

In the tournament conceptualised in his head by Kevin Pietersen, existing 18 county clubs will be merged to form eight franchise teams, who will play “8-10 four day games a summer.” These teams, Pietersen tweeted, can feature upto two overseas players in a particular playing XI.

 

Kevin Pietersen bats to strengthen the England domestic first-class system

Pietersen, who has always batted for the refinement of the English domestic first-class system, opined that a franchise-based red-ball tournament will help separate the wheat from the chaff in terms of the playing talent and aid a higher level of competition, which would then benefit the England Test side.

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However, with his proposal to restructure the first-class system in UK, Pietersen only attracted more criticism his way. The 41-year-old called out the “unnecessary” abuse that was hurled at him once his tweets came to light.

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One reason why cricket’s traditional base decried the idea advocated by the ex right-hand batsman is that it would bring about an end to the longstanding 18-team first-class county model in a way The Hundred threatens to do in the future.