The domestic 50-over tournament in the West Indies will undergo several changes, with the board incorporating some of the tweaks to the format that were decided on for the international game at the ICC annual conference in Hong Kong earlier this year. In addition the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has introduced some changes of its own.
For starters, the competition has been renamed as Regional Super50. Two balls will be used in each innings, with the opening bowlers starting with a new ball from each end. The batting and bowling Powerplays will be taken between the 16th and 40th overs.
While these changes are in line with the ICC's changes to ODIs, there are a couple of other innovations. Two bowlers from each side will be allowed to bowl 12 overs each. The remaining, as is the case for all bowlers in the 50-over format, will be allowed a maximum of 10. Also, the mandatory close-catcher rule during the field restrictions will be done away with and up to four fielders (not five as is the current rule) will be allowed outside the 30-yard circle in the non-Powerplay overs.
The Regional Super50 will be played in Guyana from October 18 to 29. Barbados and Leeward Islands are the reigning joint winners of the domestic 50-over tournament after a tied final in Jamaica last year.