Thursday 17 September 2015 10:42, UK
There will be no reduction in the number of LV= County Championship matches next season.
It had been widely reported that 16 matches may come down to 14 from next season, and that the changes could be confirmed after an England and Wales Cricket Board executive committee meeting next week.
That will not happen, however, with ECB set to engage in further discussions on "long-term strategy as well as the domestic structure".
It is understood ECB chief executive Tom Harrison and chairman Colin Graves have written to their county counterparts to update them on the intended process.
Reports during this summer's consultations so far, under the ECB's new management team, have suggested variously that a revamped Twenty20 domestic tournament - or possibly even two to run each season - may mean the need to cut the number of days of championship cricket.
There still appear to be significant proposals to discuss for possible changes, but none is to be brought in for next summer.
An ECB spokesman said: "There have been a lot of valuable conversations across the game over recent weeks, and the time and feedback have been widely appreciated.
"We've heard both a desire to look at the long-term interests of the game and an understandable need to have more detail on the impact of any future changes.
"Clearly, more discussion will be helpful for everyone - and these constructive conversations will focus on the long-term strategy as well as the domestic structure, to help us all make the right decisions."
Sussex were one of the first to issue a response on Wednesday, suggesting that they were broadly supportive of the ECB's current stance.
It began: "The board of Sussex County Cricket Club welcomes the ECB's decision to not make any substantive changes to the domestic schedule in 2016.
"We think the ECB needs to clarify its vision and adopt a new strategy for England and Wales Cricket before seeking changes in the structure.
"In particular, the merit of any change needs to be fully understood and agreed by all stakeholders.
"We are concerned that any proposed reduction to eight teams in the first division of the county championship in 2017 may be a step towards a plan for eight city-based T20 teams in later years - which we do not support."
"Additionally, we considered that it would not be prudent to make changes to the schedule until a full financial analysis and impact study is concluded."
