CRICKET WAR EXCLUSIVE
Counties clash over restart amid breakaway threats
Battle lines are being drawn between cricket’s counties and there are fears the simmering tensions could even lead to a breakaway league.
Senior figures at some of the bigger counties believe smaller clubs are resisting plans for the domestic game’s return this summer — and that is driving the two factions apart.
there are accusations that some counties are abusing the Government’s furlough scheme and stand to make money should they remain mothballed for the rest of the year.
Sportsmail can reveal some of the bigger counties are ready to restart the four- day game without the group — which is thought to comprise of four clubs — should they decide not to come back. there is also a growing feeling that some of the smaller counties will become purely limited-overs teams.
Following the outbreak of the pandemic, the eCB announced a £61 million emergency bailout to ‘keep cricket in business’. However, they did not attach any conditions to the cash that would force counties to play once it is deemed safe to do so.
Only lancashire and Surrey have not taken advantage of the Government’s furlough scheme, which has been extended to October.
Both are part of a group, thought to consist of 14 counties, who want domestic cricket back on in all formats as soon as possible. ‘Some of these
clubs want to think about why they exist,’ said one frustrated senior official. ‘If they are not willing to come back and play cricket, then what is the point?’ The official added that many players fear the actions of their employers will stop them playing again this season. ‘They have signed contracts and they may have a case for legal action if they are stopped from returning to work,’ the source added. A number of counties have been pushing back on proposals to launch a regionalised County Championship in August amid fears over costs. A reduced competition, with three groups of six, is the preferred model for the four-day game this season, along with a T20 Blast run on a similar basis. Talks are ongoing. ‘If the four say no, then there is a good chance we will do it without them,’ the official said. ‘The view is that they stand to make money from the pandemic if they don’t play. If the situation ends in a breakaway championship, then so be it.’