BIRMINGHAM Bears will play two less games in the T20 Blast next season as part of a domestic cricket reshuffle.
The Professional County Cricket Clubs (PCCs) reached an agreement to alter the format of the T20 Blast competition from the 2026 season.
This will see all teams play two less games in the group stages of the competition, reducing the number of matches from 14 to 12.
The men’s competition will also revert to three groups of six teams with the quarter-finals and Final Day to take place before the start of The Hundred.
The changes come following the recommendations of the county-led men’s Domestic Playing Programme (DPP) review.
Professional Game Committee chair, Mark McCafferty, said: “These changes to the men’s Vitality Blast will be a springboard to further investment in an historic and much-loved domestic T20 competition which is recognised as one of the world’s best.
“It’s known for its intense local rivalries, and is central to the development of England’s white-ball talent pool and to the financial performance of all 18 counties.
“The new group format intensifies the importance of many of these local derbies, and brings the quarter-finals and the iconic Finals Day back into July.
“This improves the sporting and commercial narrative for sponsorship and TV partners, as well as meeting player wellbeing objectives by improving the group stage schedules and travel demands to allow players to perform at their very best.
“The revamp is part of the current work to further strengthen all our men’s and women’s domestic competitions.
“The PGC was set up by the ECB to drive these growth and development strategies in the domestic game and these first steps will build further impetus for this work.”
