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28-Aug-2009 16:55:00 GMT
England news

Collingwood, Miller Criticise ECB for Scrapping 50-over Format

London: England and Wales Cricket Board on Friday came under attack from current and former players including Paul Collingwood and Geoff Miller, who  criticised ECB for scrapping the one-day format from its 2010 domestic calendar.

The ECB had yesterday replaced the 50-over cricket at domestic level with a 40-over competition when counties voted 15-3 in favour of the latter.

Collingwood said counties must play the format which is accepted globally.

"We want county cricket to mirror international cricket, simple as that. It is important (players) are getting the experience before they get to the international stage. If we are not playing the 50-over game (at county level) it is going to be a hindrance," Collingwood said.

Miller, currently the chief selector, was also baffled by the decision.

"If there is a global 50-over tournament we have to participate in it, and if all we re playing is 40-over cricket then I have a problem with that," Miller was quoted as saying by 'The Times'.

"I am looking at it from a cricketing point of view; I understand there is a financial point of view as well. My job as national selector is to win cricket matches and if we do that, it makes money along the line, as will happen with the Ashes," he said.

Counties, on their part, welcomed the move. "There are straightforward commercial and financial reasons why we prefer 40 overs to 50, because people would much rather watch the shorter game. They prefer to spend the morning at home, then come to the cricket after lunch. That's the modern way and we have to fit in with that," Mark Tagg, the Northamptonshire chief executive said.


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