The final round of County Championship matches next week will take place with some counties in the dark over what is at stake after a decision on the format for next year was deferred until the end of the season.
The Guardian has learned that a vote on the structure for next season has been delayed on integrity grounds, because of concerns that counties in Division One at risk of relegation could field weakened teams if that threat is suddenly removed.
There is also a feeling among the Professional Game Group, who are running the process, that postponement will give them the best chance of securing the 12 votes required to introduce a new structure next season.
Amid ongoing confusion, online secret ballot forms are to be issued next week but the deadline for voting has not been confirmed and no announcement will be made until the season has concluded.
After a lengthy consultation that began in April, the counties will be asked to vote on whether to maintain the current 10-eight divisional split or move to 12-six next season with the fixture list cut from 14 to 12 or 13 matches.
Under the proposed new model advocated by the PGG and the players’ union, the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), the 12-team County Championship Division One would be split into two pools of six next season, with the remaining six clubs in Division Two.
The counties have agreed to cut the Twenty20 Blast from 14 matches to 12 following recommendations from the PCA, but the players’ call to trim the championship has proved more controversial. Surrey, Yorkshire, Middlesex, Essex and Somerset are publicly opposed to any reduction to the 14-game season after consultations with their members, while Derbyshire, Sussex and Kent are thought to be undecided.
Under the current system the bottom two teams in Division One are relegated at the end of the season, with Worcestershire already going down this year if the status quo remains. While a move to 12-six would spare them, the delay in voting means other teams threatened with relegation – including Durham, Hampshire and Yorkshire – will begin their final game of the season next week not knowing where they stand.
Leicestershire and Glamorgan will be promoted from Division Two next season regardless of the outcome of the vote.
