The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that 50-over cricket has been scrapped from the 2010 domestic structure, following consultation with each of the first-class county clubs.

A three-competition format will be adopted from the start of the 2010 season, which aims to protect the status of international Test match cricket by retaining the existing two-division structure of the County Championship and giving it priority in the fixture schedule. Domestic limited-overs cricket will now be reduced to 40 overs as part of the new structure, despite international one day cricket having a 50-over format, while an enhanced Twenty20 tournament has also been included in the calendar.

ECB chair Giles Clarke said: "Directors of cricket and coaches reported through their county votes, that the leading one-day team in world cricket, South Africa, do not mirror 50 overs at domestic level and that, provided powerplays and fielding restrictions were the same as the international format, the skills required were very similar. "The board acknowledged that the members of the International Cricket Council will themselves be reviewing the future of 50-over cricket after the 2011 World Cup and felt that an increased programme of England Lions matches should be developed."

The confirmation of the 2010 domestic structure follows a 12-month detailed consultation, and was ratified by the 18 first-class counties, with 13 voting in favour.