Player worries grow to support structure review

Professional men’s cricketers in England and Wales have reiterated the need to improve the domestic schedule, citing growing concerns over the impact of workloads on their physical and mental health.

The PCA has visited all 18 Professional Men’s Counties ahead of the 2025 campaign, gathering views and updating every player on progress made and future ambitions in representing their collective needs.

With seven of the men’s meetings combined with their women’s team for the first time, the two-way conversations created discussion points on current priorities for the membership. The progressive integration of the women’s teams into the county environments was a key theme, as well as private investment and how all male and female players can benefit. Meetings also included key PCA updates and player views on a longer-term strategy for the PCA, and the men’s domestic schedule.

The Association has been involved in positive meetings with the counties and the ECB since late 2024 regarding the men’s domestic structure. To support the ongoing review, led by the Professional Counties, a follow-up survey was created to compare results to the 2024 research that highlighted players fearing for their welfare.

With all key questions seeing an increase in the strength of feeling towards change, the main consideration from a player perspective is the concern on their mental and physical health, with 83% confirming they are concerned from a physical point of view due to the current schedule, with 67% concerned regarding their mental state, this is a rise in both stats from the 2024 results.

Noting a wider understanding than ever before from administrators within the game, there is an 11% rise in those believing there should be at least one day between T20 games, meaning nine out of 10 deem this to be a minimum standard.

Guaranteed minimum working conditions regarding, rest, recovery and preparation was also viewed more important within First-Class and 50-over cricket compared to 2024. This was supported by 77% of men’s players believing too much county cricket is played across the summer, an 11% rise based on the data from 2024, with supporting research reiterating the need for a small adjustment to the number of days played.

The newest player data has already been shared with the PCA Players’ Committee, wider playing members, the ECB and the men’s domestic structure review group. This is with the aim of supporting the ambition to improve standards for all, noting players feel they cannot consistently play their optimum cricket, with almost three-quarters of players believing the schedule is not conducive to high performance.

Conversations also took place in all meetings surrounding the NOC Policy, where only 9% agreed it was completely fair, whilst noting progress has been made following the initial implementation note.

PCA Chair, Olly Hannon-Dalby, said: “We have a clear mandate based on the growing feeling amongst the membership that change is required to protect current and future professional cricketers in England and Wales.

“The meetings were set out to support the positive direction of travel we have seen in the domestic structure review meetings the PCA has been part of since late 2024. We are confident there is a greater appetite for change now compared to previous reviews.

“Ultimately, our members are consistently telling the game they are worried about their mental and physical health because of the schedule and almost every conversation I am having is a realistic one. This isn’t about huge reductions or creating conflict, far from it. We want to play as much as we can, in a safe environment at optimum levels to entertain county members and supporters and ultimately drive the game forwards for a vibrant future.”

PCA Chief Executive, Daryl Mitchell, said: “The pre-season meetings are always a highlight of the year as we get a real feel of how each squad is feeling and there is huge positivity from domestic players.

“The introduction of joint meetings with the Tier 1 women’s teams was a huge positive and there has been a fantastic integration across the counties to create the one club, two team ethos.

“We are also in a time of change. There is a great deal of support for the investment the ECB has brought into the game through The Hundred, whilst there are many questions on how all players will benefit, not just those holding Hundred contracts.

“I have been really impressed with the domestic structure review process and this data will only support the work of the group and wider stakeholders in understanding how some reasonable adjustments could have a great impact on pushing domestic cricket to new heights.”

England and Surrey wicketkeeper, Ben Foakes, said: “You hear the amount of money coming into the game and you want to know how the whole game can grow. At Surrey we now have the women’s team which is great and there’s a lot of forward momentum.

“We do play a hell of a lot of cricket. It is tough and I don’t think it necessarily produces the best cricket at times because you have people sleepwalking onto the pitch which definitely doesn’t help. It is a balancing act and it is just about trying to get it right.”

England and Hampshire fast bowler, John Turner, said: “It’s always fascinating to see how the PCA is representing us and fighting for our case. There’s a lot happening in the domestic game so these meetings are important to clarify our stance.

“The structure is a contentious one and you will never please everyone, it’s trying to find what is best for the game as a whole and it feels like we are moving in the right direction.

“From the conversations today, we understand whatever the outcome, it won’t be perfect but it has to be better than what we have at the moment which would allow us to be closer to 100% for every game.”

Findings from the women’s research will be published ahead of the domestic season.