A key debate is looming in English cricket on the future of the domestic first-class game. With the effects of coronavirus projecting a £100 million-plus shortfall in finances, county chiefs are grappling with how to navigate a precarious, uncertain future, with Colin Graves, the outgoing ECB chairman, having publicly stated a desire and need for fewer first-class counties. One solution, among a variety of options, is being worked on by the Professional Game Group, a body that includes the chief executives of Durham, Surrey, Sussex and Nottinghamshire. The outline is for a super-charged conference system that would improve the chances of smaller counties retaining a first-class future, while encouraging the type of elite competition that helps to breed England cricketers, within a vibrant programme

Source: The Times August 26, 2020 16:52 UTC