The Minor Counties Championship is to switch to three-day matches from the 2001 season.

The 20 members clubs voted 15-3 in favour (with two abstentions) at Lord's on October 11 to replace the traditional programme of nine two-day games with six three-day fixtures in a three-year experiment.

The two regional divisions will remain the same, meaning that each team will not play all the other nine in their section every year.

Instead there will be a three-year cycle before each team has met all nine opponents on a home and away basis.

Each county will play three home and three away matches during each season.

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