The County Championship "will be played regularly" until the end of July. T20 Blast Finals Day has already been confirmed for July 16 at Edgbaston
The ECB hope to release the domestic fixture schedule in early 2022 following a delay to the calendar being ratified.
Counties have been notified that confirmation of the schedule has been put back and may not be signed off until late January.
As well as considering how to accommodate four men's competitions and three women's tournaments in amongst the international calendar, the ECB are also considering what action to take against Yorkshire who are currently suspended from hosting international and major matches.
The hold up is a particular frustration for the counties that want to start shifting tickets for the new campaign. The Cricketer is aware of at least one whose plans for a Christmas promotion of T20 Blast ticket sales have been dashed by the delay.
There is also pressure to ensure the County Championship is played at the height of summer following criticism of the balance of last season's fixture list.
Compiling the schedule is complicated by Headingley being banned from hosting major matches
The Daily Telegraph understand the number of rounds of matches from June to August could be increased from two to three.
Currently, the plan is for the Championship - which is returning to a traditional two-tier system next year - to take place regularly between April and the end of July.
T20 Blast Finals Day has already been confirmed to return to Edgbaston on July 16.
The Charlotte Edwards Cup will be played in May and June, with the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy to be staged in the second half of the campaign. The Women's T20 County group stage schedule was released last week.
It is likely The Hundred will have to be pushed back due to the women's T20 competition taking place during the Commonwealth Games from July 29-August 7. The success of the double-headers from the inaugural edition is an additional consideration.
Though England men's full schedule has been confirmed, the women are yet to discover many of their opponents for the 2022 summer.
Posted by John tilford on 19/01/2022 at 10:55
Come on ecb get on with them county championship fixtures got to get hotel accomodaion for away matches.
Posted by Rajiv Radhakrishnan on 19/01/2022 at 09:46
I think they should put at least two more white ball formats into the schedule. And start the season in February with one round of championship cricket which is then paused till October. In the intervening months, we can have T20, 50/50, The 100, T10 and The 50. This will have the added benefit of helping players prepare for Test cricket and ensure we have a review of the England set up every four years when an Ashes tour is complete. And players should not get rest days. They need to play 24/7 across the whole country. And Test cricket should be contracted to three days and Ashes series to two matches. And no other teams should be play Tests.
Posted by Chris Nicoll on 18/01/2022 at 09:31
Unbelievable wait for the fixtures. Don’t the ECB realise we have to make plans in advance. So many memberships are going to be lost over this unnecessary dithering. At least give a date when we could expect the release.
Posted by Nick Holdsworth on 17/01/2022 at 18:57
Echoing Dave Vine’s post, I too am still waiting impatiently for the first class fixture list. I have been a Somerset member for 40+ years and, whilst I want to keep my membership until they finally win the Championship, it is beginning to become a dubious expenditure. I do have other things to do in the summer - or the late Spring and early Autumn if the scheduling isn’t changed!
Posted by Dave Vine on 16/01/2022 at 09:36
Still waiting for first class fixtures to be announced, so that I can plan holiday to watch county championship cricket, remember that format ECB !!!!! that’s the one that you schedule in the off season.
Posted by Eric Dawson on 14/01/2022 at 12:58
Waiting to renew my LCCC membership until I see what the fixtures are!In 40 yrs of membership this seasons fixture list publication is the latest I can ever remember. Sadly,dithering by ECB is becoming the norm.
Posted by Neil Nelson on 13/01/2022 at 13:02
Once again no consideration for those of us who follow the 4 day game and like to plan our summers accordingly
Posted by Patrick Carrick on 13/01/2022 at 12:37
Why are the ECB dithering with the release date of fixtures one would like to make reservations at various venues
Posted by Steve Bailey on 13/01/2022 at 08:56
Halfway through January and we are STILL waiting for the ECB to release fixtures for a season due to start in early April. They have had plenty of time to assess the Yorkshire situation and come to decisions, and meanwhile we cricket fans as well as the Counties are being treated deplorably in being given such short notice to make our arrangements for the season.
Posted by Joe Edge on 13/01/2022 at 07:48
How can people plan to attend fixtures when you are dawdling in producing them
Posted by Darren Gosling on 10/01/2022 at 23:41
The ECB said they were looking for a 'new audience' with the Hundred. Well I guess they now have it, as a member of a first class county for20 years I now follow the National Counties instead due to the ludicrous scheduling of the County Championship. All my annual leave and hotels booked for 2022 following Berkshire.
Posted by William Southall on 10/01/2022 at 21:54
Its time the fixtures where out I am waiting to book away matches and accommodation pull your fingers out and sort it out now
Posted by Keith Jeffrey on 05/01/2022 at 13:07
We normally book holidays around the county fixtures after I have bought my membership but this year I will forgo the membership and just forget about the cricket!
Posted by Colin Bexley on 05/01/2022 at 00:37
It’s the smaller counties that suffer from this. I was planning to buy memberships at Sussex as Christmas presents for family and friends but with their holidays etc you need to know what dates you’re looking at. With other presents having been bought, those memberships won’t now be taken.
Posted by Andrew Thorpe on 02/01/2022 at 13:44
The County Championship has become more and more marginalised. Too many very early matches and too many very late matches. Also best English players aren't involved. Loyal, real cricket supporters get a raw deal because administrators cater for the one day beer and skittles fans.
Posted by larry gold on 20/12/2021 at 15:39
cannot understand why the ECB are dragging their feet. dare not print what I actually think as it will probably be deleted
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