Dear Members,
We’d like to thank all who took the time to provide feedback on the proposed changes to the Domestic Playing Programme (DPP). Your views are central to how we respond as a club and help shape our position within the wider game.
Following consultation at the members’ forum and a review of 95 written submissions, we are now in a position to provide an update on the club’s stance as discussions progress across the professional game.
Our Club Position
We have taken your feedback on board and, along with input from Worcestershire players, the PCA (Professional Cricketers Association), coaches, and staff, developed the following position in response to the DPP proposals.
We’ve approached these proposals through multiple lenses, not just from the players’ or the members’ perspective, but with a balanced view of long-term sustainability, audience experience, financial viability, and the future of county cricket.
Vitality Blast
We are broadly supportive of the proposed changes to the Vitality Blast. A more focused competition, running from May to July, provides the opportunity for:
- Better player availability and performance.
- Higher-quality, better-attended fixtures.
- A stronger marketing window for counties to promote the tournament effectively.
We support the three regional group model, as it maintains historic rivalries, reduces travel demands for players, staff and supporters, and could drive stronger crowd engagement.
Importantly, we do not support the rotation of these groups annually or biannually. Sticking with a fixed regional model creates consistency, familiarity, and fairness, helping members and supporters better follow the tournament and plan their attendance. We believe this stability will ultimately allow supporters greater opportunity to enjoy more of the competition and foster stronger local identities within the T20 landscape.
Additionally, we believe there is a pressing need to relaunch the Blast with a refreshed marketing approach. The competition deserves a bold and innovative repositioning, one that empowers the counties to elevate it into a truly best-in-class tournament for audiences across the whole country.
County Championship
The County Championship remains at the heart of our cricketing identity. We are committed to preserving its heritage while ensuring it remains competitive and relevant in a changing landscape.
After careful consideration, our preferred model is Option D (Option 4):
- A conference structure with a single final provides a simple and understandable pathway to the title.
- It reduces overall volume while retaining competitive tension throughout the season.
- This model strikes a strong balance between tradition, performance, and sustainability.
We are also open to discussions around Option 2, which maintains the current divisional structure with a small reduction in matches. However, we believe Option D is better aligned with the guiding principles of the review: safeguarding player welfare, enhancing match quality, and sustaining fan engagement.
The Club does not favour the only 14-match option on the table, Option 1 (8/10 divisional split), as we feel this is likely to widen the gap between the Hundred host venues and the rest.
