2020 Bob Willis Trophy – Wikipedia

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2020 cricket tournament

The 2020 Bob Willis Trophy was a first-class cricket tournament held in the 2020 English cricket season, and the inaugural edition of the Bob Willis Trophy. It was separate from the County Championship, which was not held in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[1] The eighteen county cricket teams were split into three regional groups of six,[2] with the two group winners with the most points advancing to a final held at Lord’s.[3] The maximum number of overs bowled in a day was reduced from 96 to 90,[1] and the team’s first innings could be no longer than 120 overs.[3]

After a delay due to the pandemic, counties passed a majority vote to start the season on 1 August 2020,[4] with the final starting on 23 September 2020.[5]

In the final round of matches, the game between Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire was abandoned at lunch on the first day,[6] after a member of the Northamptonshire squad provided a positive test for COVID-19.[7] The match was recorded as a draw, with Northamptonshire taking ten points, and Gloucestershire eight.[8] Neither side were in contention to reach the final of the tournament.[9]

Essex became the first team to qualify for the final of the tournament,[10] after they beat Middlesex by nine wickets in their final match, and Derbyshire failed to gain a batting point in their match against Lancashire.[11]Somerset became the second team to qualify for the final after they beat Worcestershire by 60 runs in their fifth match of the tournament.[12] The final finished as a draw, with Essex winning the tournament, after securing a lead in the first innings of the match.[13]

In October 2020, Sussex were deducted 24 points after bowler Mitchell Claydon was found guilty of a ball tampering offence.[14] Claydon was adjudged to have applied hand sanitiser to the ball during a game against Middlesex in August. The player also received a nine-game ban.[15]

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While it was promoted as being a one-off competition,[1] the new structure of three groups of six was retained for the 2021 County Championship.

Background[edit]

Headshot of Bob Willis in a black polo shirt.

The first round of matches in the County Championship were originally scheduled to start on 12 April, with the final round of matches finishing on 25 September.[16][17][18] However in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that the season would be delayed until at least 28 May 2020.[19][20] The following month, Abu Dhabi Cricket (ADC) suggested using facilities in the United Arab Emirates between October and January as a possible solution to playing some fixtures.[21] On 24 April 2020, the ECB confirmed that no professional cricket would be played in England before 1 July 2020.[22][23] As a result of the pandemic, the vast majority of clubs placed players and staff on furlough.[24]

In late May 2020, the ECB looked at the idea of starting the County Championship in August, split into three groups of six teams, with a final at Lord’s.[25] The ECB also confirmed that no domestic cricket would be played before 1 August 2020.[26][27] In June 2020, some clubs raised concerns about the logistics of travelling and the financial viability of playing first-class cricket, with 50-over matches being a more realistic possibility.[28] On 29 June 2020, the ECB confirmed that the domestic cricket season would begin on 1 August 2020,[29] with the format to be agreed in early July.[30] On 7 July 2020, the majority of counties voted to start the season on 1 August 2020.[31]

On 26 July 2020, a crowd of 1,000 spectators were allowed to watch a test event at The Oval in London, the first time people had been to see a live cricket match since the start of the pandemic.[32] Following the success of the trial, a pilot scheme would have allowed up to 2,500 fans to attend the first two days of play of Surrey and Warwickshire’s first matches.[33][34] However, on 31 July 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced crowds would not be allowed to attend sporting events following an increase in COVID-19 infection rates.[35]

The teams were placed into the following groups:[36][37]

  • North Group: Derbyshire, Durham, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire
  • Central Group: Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
  • South Group: Essex, Hampshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex

Fixtures[edit]

The fixtures for the tournament were announced on 24 July 2020.[38][39] Following local COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in Leicester, Leicestershire County Cricket Club’s first home fixture was moved to a neutral venue.[40][41]

North Group[edit]

  • Derbyshire won the toss and elected to field.
  • Ben Aitchison (Derbyshire) made his first-class debut.
  • This was Derbyshire’s highest successful run-chase against another county team.[42]
  • Points: Derbyshire 20, Nottinghamshire 6.
  • Durham won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Jack Shutt (Yorkshire) made his first-class debut.
  • Chris Rushworth (Durham) took his 500th first-class wicket.[43]
  • Points: Yorkshire 19, Durham 3.
  • Leicestershire won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Ed Barnes (Derbyshire) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Derbyshire 24, Leicestershire 3.
  • Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Dom Leech (Yorkshire) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Yorkshire 21, Nottinghamshire 7.
  • Durham won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Points: Lancashire 22, Durham 3.
  • Leicestershire won the toss and elected to field.
  • After rain washed out most of the match, both teams agreed to forfeit an innings in an attempt to produce a result.[44]
  • Points: Durham 10, Leicestershire 10.
  • Lancashire won the toss and elected to field.
  • No play was possible on day 2 due to rain.
  • Points: Nottinghamshire 16, Lancashire 9.
  • Derbyshire won the toss and elected to field.
  • Only 1 over was bowled on day 2 due to rain.
  • George Hill (Yorkshire) made his first-class debut.
  • Dawid Malan (Yorkshire) scored his maiden double century in first-class cricket.[45]
  • Points: Yorkshire 15, Derbyshire 13.
  • Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Only 2.1 overs were bowled on day 1 due to rain.
  • No play was possible on day 4 due to rain.
  • George Burrows (Lancashire) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Yorkshire 11, Lancashire 11.
  • Derbyshire won the toss and elected to field.
  • No play was possible on day 4 due to rain.
  • Points: Derbyshire 14, Durham 12.
  • Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to field.
  • Points: Nottinghamshire 14, Leicestershire 11.
  • Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat.
  • George Lavelle and Jack Morley (Lancashire) both made their first-class debuts.
  • Points: Lancashire 20, Derbyshire 3.
  • Durham won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Points: Nottinghamshire 16, Durham 13.
  • Yorkshire won the toss and elected to field.
  • No play was possible on day 2 due to rain.
  • Points: Yorkshire 21, Leicestershire 3.

Central Group[edit]

  • Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Tom Price (Gloucestershire) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Worcestershire 22, Gloucestershire 3.
  • Warwickshire won the toss and elected to field.
  • Jack White (Northamptonshire) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Warwickshire 14, Northamptonshire 10.
  • Warwickshire won the toss and elected to field.
  • Points: Gloucestershire 20, Warwickshire 4.
  • Somerset won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Craig Overton (Somerset) took his 300th first-class wicket.[47]
  • Points: Somerset 19, Northamptonshire 3.
  • Worcestershire won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Jake Libby and Brett D’Oliveira set a new partnership record for any wicket for Worcestershire (318 runs).[48]
  • Points: Worcestershire 15, Glamorgan 12.
  • Warwickshire won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Jamie Overton (Somerset) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.[49]
  • Points: Somerset 16, Warwickshire 11.
  • Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to field.
  • No play was possible on day 1 due to rain.
  • Points: Glamorgan 11, Gloucestershire 11.
  • Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to field.
  • Points: Worcestershire 20, Northamptonshire 4.
  • Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to field.
  • Callum Taylor (Glamorgan) made his first-class debut.
  • Callum Taylor became the fourth batsman for Glamorgan to score a century on debut in a first-class match.[50]
  • Marchant de Lange scored the fastest century by a batsman for Glamorgan in first-class cricket, reaching the milestone in 62 balls.[51]
  • Points: Northamptonshire 22, Glamorgan 5.
  • Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to field.
  • Points: Somerset 20, Gloucestershire 3.
  • Worcestershire won the toss and elected to field.
  • No play was possible on day 4 due to rain.
  • Points: Worcestershire 13, Warwickshire 13.
  • Somerset won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Points: Somerset 21, Worcestershire 4.
  • Glamorgan won the toss and elected to field.
  • Points: Glamorgan 12, Warwickshire 11.
  • Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to field.
  • The match was called off after lunch on day 1 due to a COVID-19 related issue.[52]
  • Harry Gouldstone (Northamptonshire) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Northamptonshire 10, Gloucestershire 8.

South Group[edit]

  • Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Thilan Walallawita (Middlesex) and Dan Moriarty (Surrey) both made their first-class debuts.
  • Dan Moriarty (Surrey) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.[53]
  • Points: Middlesex 22, Surrey 3.
  • Kent won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Feroze Khushi (Essex) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Essex 21, Kent 7.
  • Essex won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Gus Atkinson (Surrey) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Essex 21, Surrey 3.
  • Hampshire won the toss and elected to field.
  • Points: Hampshire 21, Middlesex 5.
  • Kent won the toss and elected to field.
  • Jack Davies (Middlesex) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Middlesex 13, Kent 11.
  • Hampshire won the toss and elected to field.
  • No play was possible on days 1 and 4 due to rain.
  • Alastair Cook (Essex) scored his 24,000th run in first-class cricket.[62]
  • Points: Hampshire 9, Essex 9.
  • Sussex won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Blake Cullen (Middlesex) and Will Sheffield (Sussex) both made their first-class debuts.
  • Points: Middlesex 20, Sussex 5.
  • Surrey won the toss and elected to field.
  • Nathan Gilchrist (Kent) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Kent 21, Surrey 5.
  • Kent were deducted one point for a slow over-rate.[63]
  • Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Points: Essex 20, Middlesex 3.
  • Kent won the toss and elected to field.
  • Scott Currie (Hampshire) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Kent 19, Hampshire 3.
  • Sussex won the toss and elected to bat.
  • James Coles (Sussex) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Surrey 22, Sussex 6.

Standings[edit]

Teams receive 16 points for a win and 8 for a draw or tie. Bonus points (a maximum of 5 batting points and 3 bowling points) may be scored during the first 110 overs of each team’s first innings.

North Group[edit]

Central Group[edit]

Source: BBC Sport,[64] CricInfo,[65] ECB[66]
(Q) Qualified for Final

South Group[edit]

Team Pld W L T D A Bat Bowl Ded PCF Pts
Essex (Q) 5 4 0 0 1 0 6 12 0 0 90
Kent[a] 5 3 1 0 1 0 12 15 1 0 82
Middlesex 5 2 2 0 1 0 8 14 0 0 62
Hampshire 5 2 2 0 1 0 4 13 0 0 57
Surrey 5 1 4 0 0 0 8 12 0 0 36
Sussex[b] 5 1 4 0 0 0 9 11 24 0 12
Source: BBC Sport,[64] CricInfo,[65] ECB[66]
(Q) Qualified for Final
Notes:
  • Essex won the toss and elected to field.
  • Only 44 overs were bowled on day 1 due to rain.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c “Everything you need to know about the Bob Willis Trophy”. England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  2. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy fixtures announced”. England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b “County cricket’s return: Bob Willis Trophy explainer”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  4. ^ “First-Class Counties agree formats for shortened men’s domestic season”. England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  5. ^ “T20 Blast knockouts to be staged in October to boost chance of fans attending”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  6. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy match abandoned after Northamptonshire player tests positive for Covid-19”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  7. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy: Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire abandoned after positive Covid-19 test”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  8. ^ “Gloucestershire-Northamptonshire Bob Willis Trophy match abandoned after positive Covid-19 test”. The Cricketer. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  9. ^ “English domestic first-class fixture abandoned after positive COVID-19 test”. International Cricket Council. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  10. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy: Essex beat Middlesex by nine wickets to make Lord’s final”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  11. ^ “Essex through to Bob Willis Trophy final with convincing win over Middlesex”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  12. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy: Somerset reach final after victory over Worcestershire”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  13. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy final: Essex draw with Somerset but take inaugural title”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  14. ^ “Sussex deducted 24 points after Mitchell Claydon ball-tampering”. The Cricketer. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  15. ^ “Mitchell Claydon: Sussex seamer banned for ball-tampering”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  16. ^ “ECB announce domestic fixtures for 2020”. England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  17. ^ “County Championship fixtures: Essex start against Yorkshire”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  18. ^ “Championship and Hundred take centre stage in 2020 fixture list”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  19. ^ “No professional cricket in England and Wales before May 28, ECB says”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  20. ^ “County season delayed until at least 28 May because of coronavirus”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  21. ^ “Abu Dhabi to offer ECB use of facilities in order to extend English season”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  22. ^ “ECB announces further delay to the professional cricket season”. England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  23. ^ “Season delayed until July as England-West Indies postponed”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  24. ^ “Coronavirus outbreak: County cricket latest”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
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  27. ^ “Counties wait for ECB approval on August restart plan”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  28. ^ “Setback over potential first-class restart may expose county fault-lines”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  29. ^ “Update on return to play for men’s and women’s domestic cricket”. England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
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  31. ^ “Counties vote to play red and white ball cricket when season starts on 1 August”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  32. ^ “Cricket comes home as spectators make cautious return to Kia Oval”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  33. ^ “Crowd pilot schemes at The Oval & Edgbaston for Bob Willis Trophy”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  34. ^ “Fans allowed to attend first-class cricket for first time since March as pilot scheme extended”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  35. ^ “County pilots for return of crowds cancelled by UK government”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  36. ^ “Fixtures announced as Bob Willis Trophy prepares to get county season underway”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  37. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy 2020 Preview: Essex, Yorkshire among favourites”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  38. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy fixtures 2020: Full schedule, dates, matches”. The Cricketer. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  39. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy: County fixtures – Essex start against Kent, Surrey meet Middlesex”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  40. ^ “Lancashire and Leicestershire to play Bob Willis Trophy match in Worcester”. The Cricketer. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  41. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy: Lancashire v Leicestershire to be played New Road”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  42. ^ “Fynn Hudson-Prentice’s 91* guides Derbyshire to record 365 run-chase”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  43. ^ “Durham v Yorkshire CCC latest – Matthew Fisher and Dawid Malan push Yorkshire towards victory”. The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  44. ^ “Durham and Leicestershire Forfeit An Innings Each To Set Up A Result”. NDTV. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  45. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy: Latest News and Score Updates from Round 3 Day 3: August 15th-18th”. Cricket World. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  46. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy: Somerset poised for win over Glamorgan”. BBC Sport. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  47. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy: England returnees fall cheaply on opening day of second round”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  48. ^ “Glamorgan steady in response to record Libby-D’Oliveira stand”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  49. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy Round 3: Best bits”. England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  50. ^ “Stat Attack: Callum Taylor hits a century on first-class debut”. Glamorgan Cricket. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  51. ^ “No.10 clubs fastest ever century in record partnership”. Cricket Australia. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  52. ^ “Gloucestershire in trouble at lunch on day one before Covid-19 abandonment”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  53. ^ “Surrey spin a bright point amid the disappointment of defeat”. The Cricketer. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  54. ^ “Sussex v Hampshire – Day 1 Bob Willis Trophy”. Cricket World. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  55. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy: Sussex seal three-day win over Hampshire at Hove”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  56. ^ “Jordan Cox, Jack Leach make hay as twin tons put Kent on top”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  57. ^ “Darren Stevens skewers Sussex after Jordan Cox, Jack Leaning run-bonanza”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  58. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy: Kent beat Sussex after Cox & Leaning share record stand”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  59. ^ “George Garton five-for turns game for Sussex against Essex”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  60. ^ “Ian Holland claims six-wicket haul before rain intervenes at Arundel”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  61. ^ “Bob Willis Trophy: James Fuller takes hat-trick as Hampshire thump Surrey”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  62. ^ “Alastair Cook reaches 24,000 first-class runs with latest hundred”. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  63. ^ a b “Bob Willis Trophy: Kent deducted one point for slow over-rate”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  64. ^ a b c Bob Willis Trophy Table, BBC Sport.
  65. ^ a b c Bob Willis Trophy 2020, CricInfo.
  66. ^ a b c Bob Willis Trophy Tables, England and Wales Cricket Board.
  67. ^ “Sussex deducted 24 points in Bob Willis Trophy after ball-tampering charge”. SkySports.com. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

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