Counties to be rewarded for international outlook

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has tightened its grip on the future and direction of English cricket, thanks to an agreement by the First-Class Forum (FCF) to channel its efforts towards the improvement of the national side.

At its October meeting last week, the FCF agreed to introduce an element of performance-related pay to its fee-payment structure, which will ensure that those counties that are producing more England-qualified players will receive a greater cut of the ECB budget.

The move has come in response to concerns that English first-class cricket has become flooded with non-England-qualified players, in particular an influx of EU-passport-holders from South Africa, who have taken advantage of the controversial Kolpak ruling to ply their trade in England. There is nothing that the ECB can do to prevent the influx, although these monetary incentives may help to persuade the sides of the benefits of buying British.

The key criteria that will be taken into consideration include the number of players that have played for England or other representative sides; the number of Under-23-qualified players on the staff; the number of England-qualified players who have been awarded contracts; and the level of qualification of the coaching staff, and the success of the county academy.

In addition, the FCF has approved the implementation of an England development squad (EDS) of up to 25 players. This pool will be announced some time before the start of next summer, and though it stops short of being an extension of the central-contracts system, the players will fall under Duncan Fletcher's control.

And, as from the 2006 season, there will be a curb on the use of overseas players. Counties will still be allowed two signings, although substitutes will only be permitted in the event of a request from the player's home board. There will be no substitutes for injury; or for substitute cricketers, and all stand-ins will have to be nominated before July 1.