Those who believe that the existing programme of 16 four-day matches allows insufficient time to practise once the season gets under way will be disappointed at the failure of the Domestic Structure Working Party (DSWP), chaired by Mike Soper, to engineer a way of cutting back the fixture list as favoured by Duncan Fletcher, the England coach.

The First Class Forum, which voted on the package last week, will meet again before the end of March, along with the ECB management board, to consider the DSWP recommendation that the number of counties promoted and relegated is reduced from three to two. This, at least, would provide more stability and encourage a flow of the best players to the top division.

For the limited-overs game, 2006 promises to be a season of two halves. First will come the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy, expanded into a league comprising two regional conferences with the winners meeting in a showpiece final at Lord’s in August. Counties are guaranteed at least nine 50-overs matches to replicate the international game, instead of only one at present.

Ireland, who have improved notably under the intelligent captaincy of Jason Molins, will join the south group, while Scotland are to participate in the north zone as consolation for losing their place in the totesport League. The real losers are the Minor Counties, whose early-round matches against county opponents have been a regular source of experience and income.

When the C & G is all over bar the final, the totesport League will begin in a shorter form in every sense than at present. The two divisions will remain, but counties are to meet only once and each innings will comprise 40 overs instead of the unsatisfactory 45 overs compromise agreed between cricket purists and marketing departments.

If it sounds like the reinvention of the old Sunday League minus the comforting drawl of John Arlott then, to a degree, it is. Matches will be played from mid-July on Sundays, Bank Holidays or under floodlights in midweek. Scheduled when people are actually around to watch, and following a dedicated 15-day slot for the popular 20-overs event, this has been conceived with entertainment in mind.

There will be automatic two-up and two-down promotion and relegation. However, in order to provide a climax, the final match of the season will be a play-off between the third-placed team in the second division and the seventh in the first division for the final division one place. The second division team will have home advantage.

The ECB is to investigate the commercial benefits of including two overseas teams in the Twenty20 Cup by moving to four groups of five teams as opposed to the present three groups of six.

There is greater certainty in another announcement, that an England A team will play either two first-class or one first-class and two one-day matches against the touring sides from 2006.

These games will provide an opportunity for those on the fringes of the England team to impress while aiming to undermine morale among the touring sides.

NEW FOR 2006

CHAMPIONSHIP: No change, but third team in first division rather than second team in second division will receive prize-money

CHELTENHAM & GLOUCESTER TROPHY (50 overs): Counties plus Scotland and Ireland form North and South groups with the winners meeting in a Lord’s final

TOTESPORT LEAGUE (40 overs): Two divisions with counties meeting once. Two automatic promotion places and play-off between third team in second division and seventh in first division

TWENTY20 CUP: As for 2005 (eight matches per county plus quarter-finals and a finals day) but two overseas teams may be admitted

ENGLAND A: to play two first-class matches against the touring teams

COUNTIES: encouraged to employ players all year round

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