As Twenty20 interest grows, Lord's latest changes may end in tiers

A meeting of a 12-man ECB board at Lord's set about sifting through those proposals - and many others - which have been put forward for restructuring the domestic game.

Kenty20: joy forKey(right) and McLaren last season

After receiving a report from business consultants KPMG into the 'economic sustainability' of an English Premier League, the governing body set a deadline of July for putting firm plans in place.

At the heart of the current debate is how best to alter the first-class game to free up space in the calendar without hampering the development of Test players.

Jack Simmons, the chairman of cricket on the board, had raised the possibility of a return to three-day matches but it is understood that this idea has been rejected.

However, the three-conference proposal will be assessed and discussed further over the coming weeks.

There is apparently 'no appetite' for a regional system but, as yet, it is not clear whether the tiers of six counties would be divided on merit - by forming a Division One, Two and Three with promotion and relegation - or by way of a draw.

Either way, the logic is sound in that a championship season would consist of 10 matches rather than the current 16.

For the time being, the counties are waiting for an ECB proposal that will then be tossed around until a compromise is reached.

Despite the initial panic caused by the creation of the Indian Premier League, there is a determination to consider all options thoroughly, hence yesterday's commissioning of market researchers to gauge public opinion during this year's Twenty20 Cup, which has Robert Key's Kent as defending champions.

The mooted EPL's exact format is potentially divisive, with endless theories being put forward.

As one chief executive put it yesterday: "If you asked for the views of 18 people at each of the 18 counties, none of them would say the same thing."

Some talk of the need for mergers, others champion city-based franchises, or more overseas stars, or the odd overseas team.

There is also a consensus view that for an EPL to work, one of the limited-overs competitions will have to be scrapped.

The majority of counties favour retaining the Pro40 league - which draws greater crowds and sponsorship than the 50-over Friends Provident Trophy.

However, those same counties publicly acknowledge the importance of staying in tune with the international game, which, for now, is soldiering on with the 50-over model.