Vitality Blast (2025-26) Discussion Thread

[The Bald Eagle]

T20 Blast to be revamped in 2026​

A shake-up to the domestic white-ball summer will take place in 2026, including a slimmed down Vitality Blast played in one block before the start of The Hundred.

A review into the white-ball domestic structure led by the counties - in consultation with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) - recommended changes with an eye on player welfare and competition narrative.

From next summer the T20 Blast competition reduces the group stages by two games to 12 matches per side, with the quarter-finals and Finals Day following on directly so the competition is wrapped up in one block.

The two groups of nine sides will be replaced by three groups of six split into north, central and south groups as they were in 2020.

The Women's T20 Blast competition has a similar reduction in games with the group stages featuring 12 games, down from 14. Finals Day will mirror the men's finale with two semi-finals and a final on the same day.

With Yorkshire Women moving to Tier 1 on professional terms, the structure of the women's T20 changes to two groups of nine with the second-tier sides playing eight group games and a three-team two-match Finals Day.

The six-week break between the group stages and quarter-finals in the T20 Blast has come under fire, with critics saying the competition loses its "momentum".

Counties and the ECB are also set to announce the results of a review into the schedule and structure of the County Championship but no decisions are expected for at least two weeks.

What will happen from 2026

Men's Vitality T20 Blast

The group stage of the Vitality T20 Blast reverts to three groups with North, Central and South Groups with the eight best-placed teams on points and net run-rates going through to the quarter-finals.

North Group: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Durham, Yorkshire and Leicestershire

Central Group: Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Birmingham, Somerset, Glamorgan, Worcestershire

South Group: Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Middlesex, Essex, Hampshire

Each county plays the other teams in their group home and away - a total of 10 matches.

They will additionally play one home game against a county from outside their group and one away game against a side from another group.

The top two teams in each group plus the best two third-placed teams progress to the quarter-finals. The winners of the quarter-finals will progress to men's T20 Blast Finals Day.

BBC

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Teams to qualify for the Semi-final of the Vitality Blast 2025

 

[BouncerGuy]

T20 Blast 2025:
Lancashire vs Somerset, 1st Semi-Final

Lancashire have won the toss and have opted to field

Teams:

Somerset (Playing XI): Will Smeed(w), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Abell, James Rew, Sean Dickson, Lewis Gregory(c), Ben Green, Craig Overton, Migael Pretorius, Jack Leach, Jake Ball

Lancashire (Playing XI): Keaton Jennings(c), Luke Wells, Matthew Hurst(w), Liam Livingstone, Michael Jones, Arav Shetty, George Balderson, Jack Blatherwick, Tom Hartley, Sir James Anderson, Thomas Aspinwall

 

[hassan918]

Somerset finished their innings at 182/7, thanks mainly to a brilliant innings by Tom Kohler-Cadmore who made 81 runs off 55 balls.

 

[hassan918]

Somerset beat Lancashire by 23 runs in the first semi-final.

Somerset 182/7 (20)
Lancashire 159 (19.5/20)

 

[hassan918]

The start of the second semi-final between Northamptonshire and Hampshire has been delayed due to rain.

 

[hassan918]

Hampshire have won the toss and decided to bowl first against Northamptonshire.

 

[hassan918]

Hampshire beat Northamptonshire by 6 wickets (with 15 balls remaining) (DLS method)
Northamptonshire (18/18 ov) 158/7
Hampshire (15.3/18 ov, T:155) 155/4

 

[The Bald Eagle]

High drama in the One-Day Cup final! A boundary catch turned into six after Kyle Abbott’s foot brushed the rope, sealing the cup for Worcestershire with 2 balls to spare (D/L method)