ENGLAND CRICKET
The current 14-match County Championship format, consisting of 10 teams in Division One and eight counties in Division Two, will be retained © Getty
The format of the County Championship is set to remain unchanged following a vote from the Professional County Cricket Clubs (PCCs). A proposal to play a remodelled 13-match County Championship, down from 14 matches, did not pass after failing to receive majority votes amongst the counties.
After a packed English summer, which saw scheduling clashes between international, domestic and The Hundred games, a county-led review of the scheduling and structure was held in consultation with the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA). Proposals to revise the structure of the white-ball competitions, which will see the T20 Blast group stage reduced to 12 games from 14 and be played in a block before The Hundred, were accepted following a vote in July.
A second vote held this week on the proposal to shift to a 13-match County Championship consisting of a 12-County ‘Championship’ and a six-county ‘Championship Two’ did not pass. The proposal also involved increasing the One-Day Cup to 10 group-stage matches, up from eight.
The current 14-match County Championship format, consisting of 10 teams in Division One and eight counties in Division Two, will therefore be retained heading into the 2026 season. There will be no changes to the promotion or relegation rules as well.
Daryl Mitchell, chief executive of the PCA, expressed his disappointment at the result, “The outcome of the men’s domestic structure review fails to support the demands put on elite professional cricketers in 2026 and beyond.
“At the start of the process, there was a consensus from all that the structure is not fit for purpose and change needed to happen, so after a thorough and lengthy process where player views were considered, to remain with the status quo for the County Championship is a concerning decision.
“Unfortunately, the decision-makers have failed to ensure our premiere red-ball competition remains a standout in world cricket by evolving, not just to meet the needs of modern professionals, but to provide a product that captures the imagination for all,” he added.
“The players’ voice must be heard and while we recognise scheduling concerns go well beyond county cricket with a cluttered international calendar and similar issues in other sports, we cannot relent in our ambition to create minimum standards to allow for a safer schedule,” said PCA Chair Olly Hannon-Dalby.
© Cricbuzz
