It looks like 14 Championship matches will be the most likely option for next year:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c5yvpxx7344o

If that's the case well done all who have opposed the wreckers. Hopefully they'll stick on this until 2031 (maybe just adjust it in 2027 so that there are 8 in top division which seems to appeal to Surrey and ECB in particular but might leave too many counties stranded outside the top division) and just arrange the fixtures a bit better than of late. I see they're hailing it as been a good year for 100 crowds up a bit (hasn;t looked that way at Edgbaston from the little attention I have paid to it) but clearly it is all weather related we've had an absolute belter of a 2025 with 4 separate heatwaves so crowds are bound to have had somwhat of an uptick. What a shame county championship cricket hasn't been able to take similar advantage of what has been a lovely summer. Fingers crossed this extends into late September

Bristol update

Dear Members,

You may have read in the press about a meeting this week to discuss the future County Championship and One Day Cup schedule. Contrary to some reports in the press, this is not a meeting at which a final vote will be taken, but an opportunity for debate. On the table are two proposals:

1. A change in structure to a model of 12/6 with two ‘conferences’ in ‘Championship One’ of six teams each, and one conference in ‘Championship Two’ of six teams.

2. A County Championship of thirteen games.

As discussed at Members meetings at both Bristol at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire are not supportive of the 12/6 model and will be voting against this, unless the facts change.

In terms of the number of matches, we have a responsibility to consider the views of players (strongly in favour of a reduction in red ball cricket), Members (strongly in favour of no reduction in red ball cricket), the Executive Team (charged with running the business at a profit) and the Board (charged with representing the views of all involved in Gloucestershire Cricket). Having listened to these views, we believe that the current thirteen-game proposal does not satisfy anybody, and again, subject to change in facts, we are not supportive of the proposal as it currently stands.

We will be calling a Members’ meeting to discuss this and other topics, in the week commencing Monday 15 September, and will confirm details as soon as possible.

In the meantime, if you have any views to share, please contact either me or Neil Priscott, Chief Executive Officer.

Kind regards,

Peter Matthews

GCCC Chair

GerryShedd wrote:

It would appear that the PCA are not planning strike action but Daryl Mitchell, their CEO, informed a meeting of county chairs at Lord's that three county CEOs had suggested the players should strike in a bid to push through change. So it's those CEOs who are the real villains. Who could they be? Obviously not those of Surrey, Middlesex, Yorkshire, Somerset, Kent, Derbyshire Gloucestershire or Essex, which narrows it down a bit.

I have little, if any, trust in McAfferty (appreciate Stuart Cain is our CEO) but given McAfferty's position as chair of the review group, the clubs stated desire to reduce the number of red ball games and Olly's position as chair of the PCA I would have real concerns regarding the ethics here if McAfferty/Stuart Cain were involved in this. I said as much in response to a George Dobell post on twitter, George had the good grace to respond and say 'he didn't believe Warwickshire were one of the three'.

The worst stunt they pulled was not consulting the members directly for a vote.

They then compounded this by only giving the members’ committee three options all of which reduced CC games.

If we had a less apathetic membership like some of the other counties (notably Lancashire) there would be serious consequences for this.

At the moment we seem to be operating without governance or accountability,

Mr Cain in his email to members says:
“I know that discussions about changes to the domestic schedule have been a concern for some and welcomed by others. To reflect this, and the ongoing pressure on household finances, we won’t be increasing prices for 2026. You will still be able to watch all Bears Men’s and Women’s cricket and receive the normal range of benefits.
“We will also continue to take county cricket deep into the county and improve the facilities on and off-the-field at the Rugby Cricket Festival."
If he is talking about members' reactions to the proposed changes, I wonder where he found the "others" who have welcomed the changes.

Considering there is already a decision which has been made which is to reduce the number of T20’s in the season, I should jolly well hope that membership prices are not going up!

I’m no longer a member as life circumstances have changed in the past 5 years however for those of you who still pay I’d not be at all surprised if you were a bit cheesed off with that remark from the CEO.

It looks as though the ECB may be edging closer to getting what they want. In The Cricketer, George Dobell reports:
Mark McCafferty, the chair of the Professional Game Committee (PGC), outlined both the outcome of recent discussions over the schedule and the timeframe of next steps.
"It was very apparent from the discussions at the September 2 meeting that the Championship 1 version with 10 regular season matches plus three final series matches enjoyed the greatest support and that this should be the proposal that was taken forward,"
"We will issue a final email and voting paper w/c Monday, September 15 that will allow all 18 PCCs to indicate their final preference."
It is not clear, at this stage, if the vote will pass. Several counties have told their members they will not support any cut in the Championship schedule and, if the vote is not passed (it requires a two-thirds majority), the current 14-match season will remain in place. 
But proponents of the plan are increasingly confident. They believe they have 11 votes secured at this stage and believe there is scope for further persuasion at three or four other counties. It is hard to envisage Surrey, Somerset or Middlesex voting for the option.

Just read this. Very worrying indeed. Apparently some counties who were dead against a reduction in the CC are coming around to idea of a reduced schedule. What was once a 'hard no' is now a 'soft no'. GD on X thinks its gonna be very close.

However which way they choose to describe the proposed format it keeps on sounding utterly bonkers.

Even getting away from the appalling drop in fixtures available to watch who the fuck came up with this ridiculous format for deciding the county fucking championship?

They've got a bloody nerve even calling it the county championship if this shit goes through

Anyone sees their PCA rep make sure you have a stern word with them if they back this horseshit.

All this messing about to potentially reduce the season by 6 days in a 6 month period....

Can't wait for the same issues to crop up in the seasons to follow with injuries as they still play 7 games during April and May and 3 games in September

mad wrote:

'However which way they choose to describe the proposed format it keeps on sounding utterly bonkers.
Even getting away from the appalling drop in fixtures available to watch who the fuck came up with this ridiculous format for deciding the county fucking championship?
They've got a bloody nerve even calling it the county championship if this shit goes through'

Fully concur, but the wankers in the red framed specs and focus groups have told them that idiots and their baseball capped families want the 'glamour' of 16.66 overs. Renewed my Warwickshire membership today for the 36th year and was asked if I wanted some sort of 16.66 over bolt on. Informed them that I support Warwickshire, not some foul Tartrazine infused corn snack.

Fully concur, but the wankers in the red framed specs and focus groups have told them that idiots and their baseball capped families want the 'glamour' of 16.66 overs. Renewed my Warwickshire membership today for the 36th year and was asked if I wanted some sort of 16.66 over bolt on. Informed them that I support Warwickshire, not some foul Tartrazine infused corn snack.

is it specifically the putative glamour of 100 ball that they are saying is popular, or the wider concept of 'Franchise Cricket'?
AFAIK they are talking about dropping the 100 ball format, which they only ever introduced because of Sky's exclusive domestic T20 rights, and making the 'Franchise Competition' a 'traditional' T20 as I believe the Sky exclusive deal expires this year.

regarding the 'glamour' of Franchise Cricket and all that comes with it (principally marketing and the premier slot in the season), attendances would suggest they are right, if they are getting more for womens 100 games than for some Bears T20 games at Edgbaston.

George Dobell just tweeted this update from Chelmsford.

Essex - who had a forum tonight - seem to have committed to the 14 game Championship option. Which is interesting because I think those pushing for 13 had them among those open to persuasion.

Good news

Essex say:
Essex County Cricket Club hereby gives 14 days notice of a Special General Meeting (SGM) to be held on Wednesday 24 September 2025...
The meeting will disclose how the Club has voted on the proposed structural changes to the County Championship (if such vote has taken place by the time of the SGM). Subject to a vote having taken place, the Membership present at the meeting will be asked to vote on the following statement as petitioned;
The Members have confidence in the Committee given the way it voted on the county cricket schedule proposals.