Well, realistically we will be one of the first counties for the chop if there was a restructuring. We havent got a big ground, money, we dont produce many england players and we have one of the largest contingents of foreign players.
There used to be solidarity between the counties when people suggested a reorganisation of the country structure but recent events have changed this. The two division structure has seen the cream rise to the top, the increase in importance of money has meant that teams with test grounds have an enormous advantage over the minnows and also the increase in county transfers has seen the better players move to the bigger counties.
I get the impression that test match counties now see the likes of Leics, Derby and Northants as a burden now. The T20 explosion has perhaps seen the pivotal turning point with counties like Lancashire and Hampshire now visably shouting for 'franchises' and an EPL. It doesnt take a genius to figure out that if Notts and Leics merged or Yorkshire and Derby did, where they would end up playing.
Giles Clarke the current head of the ECB is definitely pro-counties so we have a few more years of safety. We need to use those years to pull ourselves together. This four U25 english rule is a start but we also really need the support of the ECB and wide ranging rule changes if we want to hang onto our young players :icon_sad:
I would guess that if T20 continues its upwards curve then its inevitable that we will be sidelined from that competition. It would take quite a bold and unlikely move to see us scrapped from first class cricket any time soon though.
