The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has unveiled plans to retain the County Championship and protect the status of Test match cricket as part of a three-competition structure for domestic cricket.

An enhanced Twenty20 tournament - P20 - and a third limited overs competition will also comprise the English county season from 2010, with the national governing body opting to retain the existing 16-match, two-division arrangement for the County Championship. The new P20 competition will feature two pools of nine county teams split according to geographical location in order to retain the element of local rivalry, while the specifications for the third competition to replace the current Pro40 leagues are yet to be determined.

Potential options being considered for the third competition include a 40-over concept with each team having two innings and no limitations on bowlers, although a 50-over concept could be adopted to complement the ECB's commitment to international 50-over cricket. ECB chair Giles Clarke said: "We canvassed a wide range of opinion and everyone was behind the principle of the primacy of Test match and County Championship cricket. It is important that the County Championship structure is maintained to support the England Test team.

"We have also listened to the spectators and counties alike about the structure and the consensus was for Twenty20 cricket to be played in June and July with a final later in the season with the qualification matches primarily at weekends."