FINALLY reacting to widespread disapproval of the recent upsurge in county cricketers not qualified for England, the ECB is to introduce a performance element to its fee-payment structure to counties from next year. With the full agreement of the First Class Forum (FCF) — the representative body of the 18 first-class counties — it will reward clubs according both to the number of England-qualified players that they employ and the number who play for England teams. From 2006 there will also be tighter restrictions on overseas players.

Provided that the sums, not yet announced, are big enough to force counties to change their recent policy of trying to buy success, this is potentially the biggest step forward since the split into two divisions five seasons ago. It is the battle for promotion and relegation that has increased activity in the overseas transfer market to an unprecedented degree.

Last season, according to figures produced by Neville Scott, of The Times, for The Wisden Cricketer magazine, 57 per cent of players used by Derbyshire in the county championship were products of secondary schools outside of the UK. Only Glamorgan (13 per cent) and Surrey (15 per cent) were represented by less than 20 per cent of players imported from abroad, judged by this, probably the best, criterion.

Of 369 players who appeared in the championship last season, those who gained their cricketing education overseas — 59 official overseas players and 54 others — represented 30.86 per cent of the total number of appearances. From next year, however, there should be no doubt that county cricket exists primarily to produce England cricketers.

A percentage of the ECB’s overall profit from sponsorship, gate receipts, advertising and broadcasting rights will be distributed according to: the number of players from the county who played for England in the previous season; the number of England-qualified players under 23 contracted by the county; the number of England-qualified contracted players under 35 who played for the county in the two main competitions; and the number of players in the season that the county provided for the England A and England age-group teams.

Playing for the Test team will be worth 2½ times the points gained for a one-day international appearance. The final payment will also be influenced by the level of qualification of the county’s three main coaches: first-team, second-team and academy. In addition, the £50,000 of Sport England money available to each county academy will continue to depend upon their successful management.

No sums have yet been agreed for the other criteria and the devil will be in the detail. Originally, the ECB considered a scheme that would have withheld about a quarter of the overall handout to each county, about £300,000 of the average of £1.3 million a year, until certain criteria were met. I understand, however, that the performance-related percentage now being envisaged is only about £50,000.

It is enough to make some counties consider buying a young English professional before one imported at greater expense, but probably not enough to make wealthier clubs pay greater attention to home-bred players. The management board is intending to increase the percentage in future years and they will need to do so if the measures are to be fully effective.

There will continue to be two official overseas players (those who also play first-class cricket overseas in the winter) but they, and any substitutes, will have to be nominated before July 1. No substitutes for injured players will be allowed in future and there will be no replacements for the officially nominated substitutes.

The FCF has also agreed to the formation of an England development squad of up to 25 players, to be announced before the start of next summer. The squad, to include the 12 centrally contracted players, will be under the control of the England head coach, Duncan Fletcher. It remains to be seen if he will be able to persuade counties to rest players on their own payrolls.

ACTION PLAN

Counties will receive extra reward for:

• producing players for England;
• having England-qualified players under 23 on contract;
• fielding England-qualified contracted players in the two main competitions;
• providing players for England A and age-group teams.

  An England development squad of 25, including players on central contracts, will be set up under Duncan Fletcher.

  From 2006, overseas players and substitutes must be nominated before July 1. No substitutes for injury.