England announces international schedule for 2010

The ECB today released the international and domestic schedule for 2010.

England will play two Test matches versus Bangladesh and three One day Internationals in the period from May 27 to June 17, 2010. A further five One-day Internationals will be played against Australia from June 22 to July 3 .

Australia will play Pakistan in two T20 Internationals and two Test matches from July 5 to July 25 .

England will then play a four match npower Test Series with Pakistan from July 29 to August 30 and five ODIs and two International Twenty20s from September 5 to 21 .

The England Lions Team will also compete in a series of One Day Internationals against New Zealand A and India A in July and are seeeking to finalise a tour of One-day Internationals versus Pakistan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in early 2010

The Domestic Structure, in accordance with ECB Articles, is subject to consultation with First Class Counties. The First Class Counties voted 13-5 to adopt the following domestic structure : LV = County Championship has been given priority in the fixture programme and has been confirmed as a two-division competition of 8 home and 8 away matches from 2010 - 2013 .

* The enhanced Twenty20 competition will be played in pools of 9 teams on a geographic basis ( North v South) with the top four teams quailfying for the Quarter Finals from each pool from 2010 - 2013 .

* The domestic limited over competition will be played mainly on Sunday afternoon throughout the season consisting of 3 pools of 7 teams with 6 home and 6 away matches progressing to a Semi Final and Final in September . The powerplays and fielding restrictions will be the same as per International cricket but the match will be played over 40 overs .

There will be only one unqualified player permitted in the LV County Championship and 40 over competition while two unqualified players will be allowed in the Twenty20 .