Overview
- The Cricket Advisory Group, a sub-committee of the ECB Professional Game Committee, confirmed the decision earlier this week.
- All 14 rounds in 2026 will use Dukes balls, ending a three-season experiment with Kookaburras.
- Directors of cricket from all 18 first-class counties called for the pilot to be abandoned at an October meeting.
- The trial expanded from two rounds in 2023 to four in 2024 and 2025, delivering frequent draws and big totals such as Surrey’s 820 for 9 declared against Durham.
- Counties rejected a proposed Championship restructure and retained the 10/8 two-division, 14-match format for 2026, while agreeing to a slight reduction in T20 Blast fixtures.