The County Championship will retain the same format next summer after the 18 first-class clubs voted to reject a proposal which would have seen the number of matches played reduced to 13.
The 10 Division One sides and eight in Division Two will each play 14 games as they have since 2016 when the competition was reduced from 16.
“The outcome of the men’s domestic structure review fails to support the demands put on elite professional cricketers,” Professional Cricketers’ Association chief executive Daryl Mitchell said at the time of the decision in September.
“The decision makers have failed to ensure our premiere red-ball competition remains a standout in world cricket by evolving, not just to meet the needs of modern professionals, but to provide a product that captures the imagination for all.”
There will be one change, however, with the experiment of using Kookaburra balls for the mid-summer rounds of matches abandoned. Instead, the Dukes ball will be used throughout the season.
Each team will play six games in the opening seven-week block in April and May, all beginning on Fridays, with a further two each following in June.
The final set of six rounds will commence on 20 August, with the season scheduled to finish on Sunday, 28 September.