A majority of professional men’s players in England and Wales believe the county cricket schedule is “not fit for purpose.”

A study undertaken by the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) revealed that two-thirds of county players believe that there is too much cricket played during the summer and that the current schedule is not conducive to high performance.

The congested season takes a toll on players with 81 per cent of them concerned for their physical health and 62% for their mental. Three quarters of players are concerned about their safety travelling to and from fixtures, especially late-night driving after T20 Blast games.

The research was conducted during the PCA’s annual meetings with all 18 first-class counties. These meetings include surveys from individual players and group discussions, as well as encompassing the England men’s squad, to understand players’ priorities.

Former England captain, Joe Root said: “I am extremely passionate about county cricket, and it is apparent the schedule needs to change for a host of reasons to see long-lasting benefits for English cricket.

“I am fortunate to play a significant part of the season for Yorkshire this year and looking at the fixture list from a physical, wellbeing and high-performance angle does cause me concern.

“County cricket is the breeding ground for some of the best talent in the game and this requires world leading structures to allow players to reach their full potential. This is a benefit for everybody in the game.

“Having space to recover, prepare and improve your game during the season is crucial and the creation of minimum standards to protect travel windows and player welfare is non-negotiable.”

A need for more player recovery and rest is a major factor within the study and many players cite the dangers of travelling between fixtures. Seventy per cent of players surveyed believe there should be at least three days rest between four-day games, while 78 per cent stated there should be a minimum of one day rest between T20s.

The views expressed support data from the 2023 ECB Injury and Illness Surveillance Report, which suggest injury risk rises during congested sections of the schedule.

PCA Chair and Glamorgan bowler, James Harris, said: “The schedule divides opinion and we have seen a heightened sense of emotion linked to this in recent years. We know there is a genuine feeling from inside the game that the schedule does not work, we cannot accept these words with no action for any longer.

“Cricketers are there to provide entertainment and to do so need basic minimum standards such as rest and recovery to provide the best possible product on the field to supporters, broadcasters and commercial partners. These standards are currently not at the expectation of a modern-day professional cricketer.”

The first round of Blast fixtures, for example, sees six counties play three matches in four days and another six playing two games back-to-back without a rest day. The fixtures start just three days after the eighth round of Championship fixtures.

Harris continued: “We appreciate a reduction of the county cricket may not meet the approvals of every member, however, we have a duty to challenge the game to protect our players and it is important the PCA is at the table as a leading voice on this topic as we look to evolve the domestic game at the speed required to keep up and aim to exceed competitors.”

The PCA will present feedback, solutions and player suggestions to help the congested schedule to the ECB.