Quick cricket 'has no appeal'

"One of the flaws about the 20-over idea is that the kids won't have broken up for holidays by then which defeats the object of it. There are 18 different counties with different needs. The cities might want it but Taunton is a town of 60,000 people and they're not going to watch it. I look on myself as a traditionalist."

If the go-ahead is given, all other first-class cricket will be suspended during the competition which will run at the same time as Wimbledon fortnight. Work has begun on trying to attract television coverage and sponsorship.

Meanwhile, a suggestion for play-offs in the Norwich Union League is likely to be rejected by the counties but they are strongly in favour of allowing clubs a second overseas player next year. When foreign stars were first brought in 40 years ago, some counties, like Warwickshire, had four imports but the proposed limit will be held at two.

Wage bills in the county game are rising fast but although imports are costly, they are not the highest-paid players. Worcestershire's Graeme Hick is top, earning £100,000 a year. Others with high basic salaries in the range of £75,000 to £80,000 are Hampshire's Alan Mullally, Sussex captain Chris Adams and Andrew Caddick of Somerset.

When the next batch of England contracts are awarded at the end of the year, the biggest names like Nasser Hussain, Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Flintoff will be offered up to £250,000 a year for a 12-month contract.