Changes implemented ahead of County Championship season

England and Wales Cricket Board have confirmed competition changes ahead of the 2023 County Championship.

Points system

There are two changes to the way points are awarded from the 2023 LV= Insurance County Championship.

Drawn matches: will be worth five points to each county, which is a reduction from eight points. This is a return to the pre-pandemic value for drawn matches.

Batting Bonus Points: will be achieved at 250 (one point), 300 (two points), 350 (three points), 400 (four points), 450 runs (five points). This is an increase of 50 runs for each point, with 110 overs in which to achieve them being retained.

There is no change to bowling bonus points, or other points awarded for the match result. (Win remains at 16)

These two changes also follow recommendations of the men’s High Performance Review and are aimed to encourage teams to bat long on well-prepared surfaces and take matches deep into Day 4, while at the same time provide an extra incentive to win the match.

Kookaburra balls

There will be a trial of Kookaburra balls, which will be used in Rounds 9 and 10 of this season’s LV= Insurance County Championship (25-28 June and 10-13 July).

Those two rounds have been selected because all 18 First-Class Counties will be playing in both rounds, thus ensuring competitive balance.

The trial use of the Kookaburra balls in the LV= Insurance County Championship was one of the recommendations of the men’s High Performance Review.

Both rounds will see the trial tested away from Edgbaston, with Warwickshire travelling to Essex in Round 9 and Kent in Round 10.

Registration of overseas players

First-class counties will be permitted to register four overseas players at the same time, but there remains a maximum of two overseas players who can play per match.

The previous maximum of overseas players who could be registered at the same time was three.

This decision follows discussions with the First-Class Counties and ensures that those counties who wish to register two red-ball and two white-ball specific players are able to do so during periods of the season when there is a dovetailing of Vitality Blast and LV= Insurance County Championship matches.

MCC law changes can be viewed here.