The 2020 Bob Willis Trophy was a first-class cricket tournament held in the 2020 English cricket season, and the inaugural edition of the Bob Willis Trophy. It was separate from the County Championship, which was not held in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. The eighteen county cricket teams were split into three regional groups of six, with the two group winners with the most points advancing to a final held at Lord's. The maximum number of overs bowled in a day was reduced from 96 to 90, and the team's first innings could be no longer than 120 overs.
Bob Willis, after whom the competition was named.
Background
The first round of matches in the County Championship were originally scheduled to start on 12 April, with the final round of matches finishing on 25 September. However in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that the season would be delayed until at least 28 May 2020. The following month, Abu Dhabi Cricket (ADC) suggested using facilities in the United Arab Emirates between October and January as a possible solution to playing some fixtures. On 24 April 2020, the ECB confirmed that no professional cricket would be played in England before 1 July 2020. As a result of the pandemic, the vast majority of clubs placed players and staff on furlough.
In late May 2020, the ECB looked at the idea of starting the County Championship in August, split into three groups of six teams, with a final at Lord's. The ECB also confirmed that no domestic cricket would be played before 1 August 2020. In June 2020, some clubs raised concerns about the logistics of travelling and the financial viability of playing first-class cricket, with 50-over matches being a more realistic possibility. On 29 June 2020, the ECB confirmed that the domestic cricket season would begin on 1 August 2020, with the format to be agreed in early July. On 7 July 2020, the majority of counties voted to start the season on 1 August 2020.
On 26 July 2020, a crowd of 1,000 spectators were allowed to watch a test event at The Oval in London, the first time people had been to see a live cricket match since the start of the pandemic. Following the success of the trial, a pilot scheme would have allowed up to 2,500 fans to attend the first two days of play of Surrey and Warwickshire's first matches. However, on 31 July 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced crowds would not be allowed to attend sporting events following an increase in COVID-19 infection rates.
Teams
The teams were placed into the following groups:
North Group: Derbyshire, Durham, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire , Central Group: Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, Worcestershire , South Group: Essex, Hampshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex
Fixtures
The fixtures for the tournament were announced on 24 July 2020. Following local COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in Leicester, Leicestershire County Cricket Club's first home fixture was moved to a neutral venue.
North Group
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to field. , Ben Aitchison (Derbyshire) made his first-class debut. , This was Derbyshire's highest successful run-chase against another county team. , Points: Derbyshire 20, Nottinghamshire 6.
Durham won the toss and elected to bat. , Jack Shutt (Yorkshire) made his first-class debut. , Chris Rushworth (Durham) took his 500th first-class wicket. , Points: Yorkshire 19, Durham 3.
Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat. , George Balderson, Tom Hartley and Ed Moulton (Lancashire) all made their first-class debuts. , Points: Leicestershire 22, Lancashire 4.
Leicestershire won the toss and elected to bat. , Ed Barnes (Derbyshire) made his first-class debut. , Points: Derbyshire 24, Leicestershire 3.
Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bat. , Dom Leech (Yorkshire) made his first-class debut. , Points: Yorkshire 21, Nottinghamshire 7.
Durham won the toss and elected to bat. , Points: Lancashire 22, Durham 3.
Leicestershire won the toss and elected to field. , After rain washed out most of the match, both teams agreed to forfeit an innings in an attempt to produce a result. , Points: Durham 10, Leicestershire 10.
Lancashire won the toss and elected to field. , No play was possible on day 2 due to rain. , Points: Nottinghamshire 16, Lancashire 9.
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to field. , Only 1 over was bowled on day 2 due to rain. , George Hill (Yorkshire) made his first-class debut. , Dawid Malan (Yorkshire) scored his maiden double century in first-class cricket. , Points: Yorkshire 15, Derbyshire 13.
Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bat. , Only 2.1 overs were bowled on day 1 due to rain. , No play was possible on day 4 due to rain. , George Burrows (Lancashire) made his first-class debut. , Points: Yorkshire 11, Lancashire 11.
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to field. , No play was possible on day 4 due to rain. , Points: Derbyshire 14, Durham 12.
Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to field. , Points: Nottinghamshire 14, Leicestershire 11.
Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat. , George Lavelle and Jack Morley (Lancashire) both made their first-class debuts. , Points: Lancashire 20, Derbyshire 3.
Durham won the toss and elected to bat. , Points: Nottinghamshire 16, Durham 13.
Yorkshire won the toss and elected to field. , No play was possible on day 2 due to rain. , Points: Yorkshire 21, Leicestershire 3.
Match drawnTrent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham Umpires: Paul Baldwin and Tim Robinson
15–18 August 2020 Scorecard
Central Group
Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat. , Tom Price (Gloucestershire) made his first-class debut. , Points: Worcestershire 22, Gloucestershire 3.
Somerset won the toss and elected to bat. , Tom Lammonby (Somerset) made his first-class debut. , Ben Green replaced George Bartlett for Somerset on day 3 as a concussion substitute. , Points: Somerset 21, Glamorgan 3.
Warwickshire won the toss and elected to field. , Jack White (Northamptonshire) made his first-class debut. , Points: Warwickshire 14, Northamptonshire 10.
Warwickshire won the toss and elected to field. , Points: Gloucestershire 20, Warwickshire 4.
Somerset won the toss and elected to bat. , Craig Overton (Somerset) took his 300th first-class wicket. , Points: Somerset 19, Northamptonshire 3.
Worcestershire won the toss and elected to bat. , Jake Libby and Brett D'Oliveira set a new partnership record for any wicket for Worcestershire (318 runs). , Points: Worcestershire 15, Glamorgan 12.
Warwickshire won the toss and elected to bat. , Jamie Overton (Somerset) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket. , Points: Somerset 16, Warwickshire 11.
Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to field. , No play was possible on day 1 due to rain. , Points: Glamorgan 11, Gloucestershire 11.
Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to field. , Points: Worcestershire 20, Northamptonshire 4.
Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to field. , Callum Taylor (Glamorgan) made his first-class debut. , Callum Taylor became the fourth batsman for Glamorgan to score a century on debut in a first-class match. , Marchant de Lange scored the fastest century by a batsman for Glamorgan in first-class cricket, reaching the milestone in 62 balls. , Points: Northamptonshire 22, Glamorgan 5.
Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to field. , Points: Somerset 20, Gloucestershire 3.
Worcestershire won the toss and elected to field. , No play was possible on day 4 due to rain. , Points: Worcestershire 13, Warwickshire 13.
Somerset won the toss and elected to bat. , Points: Somerset 21, Worcestershire 4.
Glamorgan won the toss and elected to field. , Points: Glamorgan 12, Warwickshire 11.
Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to field. , The match was called off after lunch on day 1 due to a COVID-19 related issue. , Harry Gouldstone (Northamptonshire) made his first-class debut. , Points: Northamptonshire 10, Gloucestershire 8.
South Group
Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat. , Thilan Walallawita (Middlesex) and Dan Moriarty (Surrey) both made their first-class debuts. , Dan Moriarty (Surrey) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. , Points: Middlesex 22, Surrey 3.
Sussex won the toss and elected to bat. , Jack Carson, Henry Crocombe (Sussex) and Ajeet Singh Dale (Hampshire) all made their first-class debuts. , Mitch Claydon (Sussex) took his 300th first-class wicket. , Keith Barker (Hampshire) took his 400th first-class wicket. , Points: Sussex 19, Hampshire 3.
Kent won the toss and elected to bat. , Feroze Khushi (Essex) made his first-class debut. , Points: Essex 21, Kent 7.
Essex won the toss and elected to bat. , Gus Atkinson (Surrey) made his first-class debut. , Points: Essex 21, Surrey 3.
Sussex won the toss and elected to bat. , Jordan Cox (Kent) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket. , Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning (Kent) both scored their maiden double centuries in first-class cricket. , Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning also set a new record for the highest partnership for any wicket for Kent in a first-class match (423 runs). , Points: Kent 24, Sussex 3.
Hampshire won the toss and elected to field. , Points: Hampshire 21, Middlesex 5.
Kent won the toss and elected to field. , Jack Davies (Middlesex) made his first-class debut. , Points: Middlesex 13, Kent 11.
Essex won the toss and elected to field. , George Garton (Sussex) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. , Points: Essex 19, Sussex 3.
Surrey won the toss and elected to bat. , Tom Scriven (Hampshire) made his first-class debut. , Ian Holland (Hampshire) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. , James Fuller (Hampshire) took a hat-trick during Surrey's second innings. , Points: Hampshire 21, Surrey 3.
Hampshire won the toss and elected to field. , No play was possible on days 1 and 4 due to rain. , Alastair Cook (Essex) scored his 24,000th run in first-class cricket. , Points: Hampshire 9, Essex 9.
Sussex won the toss and elected to bat. , Blake Cullen (Middlesex) and Will Sheffield (Sussex) both made their first-class debuts. , Points: Middlesex 20, Sussex 5.
Surrey won the toss and elected to field. , Nathan Gilchrist (Kent) made his first-class debut. , Points: Kent 21, Surrey 5. , Kent were deducted one point for a slow over-rate.
Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat. , Points: Essex 20, Middlesex 3.
Kent won the toss and elected to field. , Scott Currie (Hampshire) made his first-class debut. , Points: Kent 19, Hampshire 3.
Sussex won the toss and elected to bat. , James Coles (Sussex) made his first-class debut. , Points: Surrey 22, Sussex 6.
Standings
Teams receive 16 points for a win and 8 for a draw or tie. Bonus points (a maximum of 5 batting points and 3 bowling points) may be scored during the first 110 overs of each team's first innings.
Final
Essex won the toss and elected to field. , Only 44 overs were bowled on day 1 due to rain. , Essex won the Bob Willis Trophy on first innings lead.
