Split over county future

Morgan and Willis are on opposing sides

The number of English professional players, teams and matches, and the amount the national team subsidises county cricket, are all subject of debate.

On one side is the Cricket Reform Group, composed of leading figures such as former England captains Bob Willis and Michael Atherton.

On the other is the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), headed by chairman David Morgan.

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For change: Bob Willis

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme, Willis' figures were stark.

"Currently there are 432 professional cricketers in England, costing the game £25m," he said.

"All the money comes from the England team - television, sponsorship, advertising and hospitality at Test matches.

WILLIS' HIT LIST England Test players produced by counties since 1993 Northants: 1 Somerset: 2 Gloucestershire: 3 Worcestershire: 3 Derbyshire: 3 Glamorgan: 4

"The England team provide all the revenue and the First Class Forum squander it on a ring-fenced professional system that doesn't provide good enough Test cricketers."

Willis would like to see 12 of the current 18 first-class counties reduced to part-time status, with 120 professional players based largely at just six counties.

"There is no pyramid of excellence in England leading to the pinnacle of the national side - it happens in every other cricket-playing nation.

"We are miles behind Australia, we scraped a 2-2 draw with South Africa and we are way off the pace in leading the world - we haven't led the world for 50 years."

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Against change: David Morgan

Morgan was quoted in some Sunday newspapers as suggesting a return to the pre-2000 single-division Championship, or a conference-based system, could be the way ahead.

The breadth of the county structure is one of its strengths David Morgan

But he was adamant there would be no reduction in the number of professional sides.

"I do believe that slimmer, leaner county staffs are the way forward," he told Five Live.

"But the ECB is committed to the present 18 first-class counties and 20 minor counties.

"I believe the breadth of the county structure is one of its strengths and the infrastructure is the envy of many cricket-playing countries."

Morgan was also cool on England captain Michael Vaughan's calls to halve the number of four-day matches from the current 16, although there could be some cut.

"The 18 first-class counties are businesses in their own right and they need volume, and quality volume, as do all businesses."

Morgan conceded there could be "minimal changes" made to the Championship structure in 2005 but that nothing would change next season.

However, if television money is decreased when a new deal is negotiated for 2006 onwards, the annual £1.3m handed to each county could be cut.

And less cash could force some of the changes Willis foresees.