Essex set to defend County Championship AND Bob Willis Trophy titles in 2021 in new-look first class cricket structure

The chairmen have agreed, via a vote, that next summer will welcome the return of the County Championship in a group-stage format.

The first-class season will end with a showpiece five-day Lord’s final with the winners lifting the Bob Willis Trophy.

Essex will defend both titles after they won the 2019 County Championship and this summer’s Bob Willis Trophy final at Lord’s.

The counties are set to play 14 Championship matches each next summer across group and division stages.

Each county has initially been placed into one of three seeded groups of six and will be scheduled to play five home, and five away, matches during the group stage.

Hampshire have been grouped with Somerset, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Middlesex and Leicestershire,

The top two in each group will progress to Division One, with the other counties moving into Divisions Two and Three, where they will each play a further four matches.

The winner of Division One will be crowned the 2021 Championship winners.

The top two teams in Division One will also earn the right to play in the Bob Willis Trophy final at Lord’s.

ECB Chair Ian Watmore said: ‘It must be stressed that this structure has been agreed for next season only and during 2021 we will review and consult with the counties and other stakeholders to decide the appropriate next steps for the men’s domestic structure in 2022 and beyond.’

Seedings for the group stage of the 2021 Championship have been determined based on performances of the counties during the 2019 Championship and the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy.

2021 County Championship Groups:

Group 1: Essex, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Worcestershire, Durham

Group 2: Somerset, Hampshire, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Middlesex, Leicestershire

Group 3: Kent, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Glamorgan, Sussex