Counties express discontent over ECB's plans to rejig the County Structure

County Cricke under scrutiny (PC: Twitter)

The England Cricket Board has reportedly completed a 'High Performance Review" under former skipper Andrew Strauss. The final report made after the review comprised of seventeen recommendations. 

One of the recommendations reportedly says the County Championship should be a three division competition, with a six-team top division and two secondary conferences where the winners face each other for one promotion spot each year. Under the proposed format, the 18 counties will also play fewer matches, with each side set to play four less T20 Blast matches and up to four less Championship games.

The reduction in the number of games has led to a lot of counties being upset with the recommendations. One of the major reactions came from the Sussex county chairman Jon Filby and chief executive of Essex, John Stephenson. They both termed the ECB's proposed changes as "unworkable" and have raised "integrity" concerns, said a report in mirror.co.uk.

Filby told BBC O Live Sports Extra that Strauss' high performance review is equally unworkable as far as county cricket is concerned. He further added: 

"When looked at through the lens of high performance it is not only looking through the lens of high performance.

"We are looking through a financial and commercial lens. We are looking through the eyes of our members who have cricket that they want and we're looking very much through a variety of angles that is not just high performance"

"It's something our members love to come and watch"

The proposed reduction of matches will surely affect revenue generation for the respective county grounds. Not only that but the fans will also be robbed of some great cricketing action. Questioning the ECB's recommendations, John Stephenson said,

"That is our life blood, that is what brings in the revenue to the club. But not only that, it's something our members love to come and watch"

Also Read: Ashton Turner to lead Western Australia in the One Day Cup opener