Vaughan would like to see less four-day cricket

In an interview with Wisden Cricketer magazine, Vaughan called for the number of Championship games cut by half, with each team playing the others in their divison once.

But in a statement released by the England and Wales Cricket Board, he said: "I certainly do not support a reduction in the number of first-class counties."

"It's important that people all over the country have the opportunity to watch first-class cricket," the Yorkshire batsman added.

"And the huge success of the new Twenty20 Cup shows there is a significant appetite for the game".

Vaughan publicly blamed the county system for producing the wrong mental approach after his side slumped to defeat in the fourth Test against South Africa.

But the ECB says it is unlikely changes will be made to county cricket in the next two years.

"It is likely the playing schedule will be looked at again ahead of the 2006 season," a spokesman told the BBC Sport website.

Any major change would require agreement from sponsors and television broadcasters.

Television company Sky have an agreement in place until the end of 2005, the last year of County Championship sponsor Frizzell's four-year, �1m deal.

"The last review was done in spring 2002 and TV contracts are in place until the end of 2005," the ECB spokesman added.

However, the Twenty20 Cup was brought into the schedule this year after an agreement with broadcasters.

And the spokesman conceded there may be "rolling discussions" between interested parties before any official review.

Full story: MacLaurin calls for cuts

Former ECB chairman Lord MacLaurin said earlier this month a third of the 18 counties must go because of cash problems caused by falling TV revenues.