Surrey are the defending county champions.
The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has stated that reducing the County Championship from 14 to 12 games is the “only reasonable option” to safeguard player welfare and elevate standards within the competition.
A review of the domestic cricket structure, aimed at implementing changes for the upcoming season, is expected to conclude in the coming weeks.
A reduction in the T20 Blast, moving from the current format of two groups playing 14 games to three groups playing 12 games, is anticipated to be agreed upon.
However, the future structure of the Championship remains uncertain, with several options under consideration.
The existing structure, comprising 10 teams in the top division and eight in the second, could be maintained. Alternatively, the divisions could be reversed, with eight teams in Division One and 10 in Division Two. Both structures could involve either 14 or 12 games per season.
Another proposed option involves a 12-team top division, divided into conferences of six teams each, alongside a second division of six teams.
Under this format, the County Champion would be determined by a play-off match between the winners of the two top-tier conferences. Additionally, one of the two promotion spots from the second division would be decided by a play-off between the teams finishing second and third.
This system would guarantee 12 games for each county, with a 13th game for those participating in play-off matches.
The PCA favors the conference model but would also support the traditional divisional structure, provided that each county plays 12 games per season.
The organization cites research indicating that 83% of players expressed concerns about the current schedule’s impact on their physical wellbeing, while 67% reported worries about their mental health.
“The schedule has consistently been a contentious issue,” stated PCA chair and Warwickshire seamer Olly Hannon-Dalby.
“The prevailing sentiment in recent seasons, driven by the increasing intensity of fixtures, has brought the game to a point where immediate action is necessary, presenting an opportunity for growth.”
“Altering the County Championship format to 12 league games is the only reasonable option. This would revitalize what I believe could become the premier red-ball competition globally.”
Durham offer support to county cricket shake-up
Any changes to the domestic structure would require approval from 12 of the 18 first-class counties. There are no current plans to modify the One-Day Cup, which is played concurrently with The Hundred in August.
Several counties have already publicly voiced their preferred options.
Surrey and Somerset have expressed support for an eight-team top division and a 10-team second division, retaining 14 games per season.
Middlesex has endorsed maintaining the status quo: 10 teams in Division One, eight in Division Two, and 14 games.
Durham and Lancashire have advocated for the 12-team top division, while Worcestershire has supported both the conference model and a 10-team first division.
In 2022, a high-performance review led by former England captain Andrew Strauss proposed reducing both the Championship and Blast to 10 games each. However, the review faced widespread rejection from the counties.
Unlike the previous review, which was conducted by the England and Wales Cricket Board, this latest effort has been led by the counties to determine the optimal structure for clubs and players.
It was determined that now is an opportune time to act due to several factors: the implementation of a new women’s professional structure and the allocation of major matches to venues for the foreseeable future.
Crucially, revenue generated from the sale of stakes in The Hundred teams is expected to alleviate financial pressure on the counties.
However, given the two-thirds majority required to implement changes, coupled with competing priorities and opinions, the status quo could persist simply due to a lack of consensus.
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