Reducing the County Championship from 14 video games to 12 is the “solely affordable choice” to guard welfare and enhance requirements, in line with the Skilled Cricketers’ Affiliation (PCA).
A evaluation into the construction of the home sport, aiming to implement modifications subsequent season, is because of conclude within the coming weeks.
A discount within the T20 Blast from the present system of two teams enjoying 14 video games, to 3 teams enjoying 12 video games, is ready to be agreed.
However the way forward for the Championship is much less clear, with a variety of choices on the desk.
The established order of 10 groups within the high flight and eight within the second tier might stay. The divisions might be flipped, to eight in Division One and 10 in Division Two. Both construction might embody 14 or 12 video games per season.
Another choice could be to have a 12-team high flight, cut up into conferences of six, with a second tier of six groups.
The champions could be determined by a play-off between the winners of the 2 top-tier conferences, with one of many two promotion locations from the second tier determined by a play-off between groups ending second and third.
This technique would imply 12 video games for each county and a thirteenth for these concerned in play-off matches.
The PCA prefers the convention mannequin, however would additionally help the standard divisional construction, so long as both is performed over 12 video games per county.
It factors to analysis carried out amongst gamers, the place 83% stated the present schedule precipitated concern for his or her bodily wellbeing and 67% have worries for the psychological well being.
“The schedule has all the time been a contentious situation,” stated PCA chair and Warwickshire seamer Olly Hannon-Dalby.
“The sensation in current seasons resulting from ever-increasing depth of fixtures has led the sport to a place the place optimistic motion must be taken instantly and as a possibility for the sport to develop.
“A change in format of the County Championship to 12 league video games is the one affordable choice and would breathe new life into what I consider would turn out to be one of the best red-ball competitors on the earth.”
