Rothesay County Championship to keep 14-match format after PCCs vote down restructure
The Rothesay County Championship will retain its current 14-match structure after the Professional County Cricket Clubs (PCCs) voted against a proposed remodel that would have introduced a 13-match season with a two-tiered system. The decision maintains the existing Division One and Division Two formats, following a county-led review into the men’s domestic competitions.
PCCs vote down 13-match Championship proposal
The proposal to shift to a 13-match season—dividing counties into a 12-team “Championship” and a six-team “Championship Two”—did not gain the required majority among PCCs. The vote was part of a broader review led by the counties themselves, conducted in consultation with the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA).
The proposed changes also included increasing the group-stage fixtures in the men’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup to 10 per county, up from the current eight, but these changes were also not approved.
Vitality Blast format changes approved
Unlike the County Championship, changes to the Vitality Blast men’s competition were approved by the PCCs in a previous vote held in July. Starting next season, the competition will feature 12 group-stage matches instead of 14, with counties split into three groups of six.
The Vitality Blast will also be played in a dedicated block ahead of The Hundred, with the 2026 Finals Day set for Saturday, 18 July at Edgbaston, aiming to create a more coherent narrative for the tournament.
County Championship and One-Day Cup to remain unchanged
As a result of the latest vote:
- The Rothesay County Championship remains a 14-match competition.
- Division One will feature 10 counties; Division Two will have eight.
- Promotion and relegation stay the same—bottom two from Division One drop down, top two from Division Two move up.
- The Metro Bank One-Day Cup will continue with eight group-stage matches per team, divided into two groups of nine counties.
Communication with players and supporters
The outcome of the vote was shared with all PCCs on the evening before the final round of County Championship matches to ensure players, support staff, and supporters were fully informed ahead of the conclusion of the season.
This decision solidifies the current structure for at least the near future, preserving a format that has continued to draw interest from fans and stakeholders alike.
