Tom Smith believes the introduction of a four-day final at the end of the summer is a positive step for second-team county cricket.
This summer sees a new format for red-ball cricket for second-team coach Smith and his players.
In recent seasons, the Championship title has been played throughout the summer and has been decided on an average points per game basis, with not all teams playing the same number of fixtures. Yorkshire were champions in 2022, Smith’s first season in charge.
This year, however, the ECB has introduced a late-season Second XI Championship Challenge.
All 18 counties will be split into three non-regionalised Conferences of six, with each playing five games. The best two winners will then contest a four-day final between September 16-19.
Yorkshire are in Conference Two alongside Derbyshire, Hampshire, Northamptonshire, Somerset and Surrey.
Essex, Gloucestershire, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Sussex and Worcestershire make up Conference One, while Durham, Glamorgan, Kent, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire make up Conference Three.
Yorkshire will also contest the Second XI T20 competition through the summer, while their schedule is boosted by six other red-ball friendlies, of three and four days in length.
The summer starts with five friendlies, beginning with a three-day fixture away against Warwickshire at Portland Road on Monday. That is followed by a four-day game against Smith’s former county Lancashire at Headingley on April 22.
Three-day games follow against Lancashire at Northern, Durham at Scarborough and Essex at Billericay through to mid-May before the T20 action begins.
Of the new Championship Challenge competition, Smith said: “The new structure, it gives that added competitive element to the second team, which is always great to have.
“For lads playing in the second team, it serves different purposes. There’s some coming back from injury, players trying to push their case for selection.
“But those last five games of the season, to have a Championship race so to speak, it can only be a good thing for everybody. I’m really looking forward to seeing how it goes.”
Former all-rounder Smith added: “Especially the youngsters who will be put under pressure, it’s a really good opportunity to go and test themselves with something on the line at a stage of a season where sometimes in the past the table can already have been decided and games can meander a bit.
“To have a final at the end of a four-day block is really good and exciting. It’s something to aim for.
“It still doesn’t change our focus.
“Our main aim will be to improve our players. If they do that and win, brilliant. If we lose, it’s going to happen – we know that.”
