Counties double up Twenty20

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Instead, they will introduce a 20-team event - split into two divisions and involving all 18 first-class counties, plus two sides from overseas - to run through the season from 2010.

In addition, there will be a second Twenty20 competition just for the 18 counties, played mainly on Friday nights in July and August, to replace the Pro40 League, which ends next year.

County chairmen meeting at Lord's today rejected the radical city-based franchise proposal put forward by MCC chief executive Keith Bradshaw and Surrey chairman David Stewart, but incorporated some of their ideas.

The Bradshaw-Stewart plan, leaked last Friday, would have seen the 'New T20' played over 25 days in mid-summer, with sides based at the nine international venues in England and Wales. The scheme - a near carbon copy of the hugely successful IPL - had already attracted interest from investors in America and raised the possibility of each franchise being worth £40million.

Lancashire and Hamphsire backed the idea but there was fierce opposition from other quarters. "It is obvious there is no real support for this proposal," said ECB chairman Giles Clarke.

Bradshaw and Stewart tried to convince ECB members their plan would include all 18 counties, albeit on a partnership basis, and that profits - estimated at £50m in the first year - would be split for the good of the whole game.

But the ECB's market research has shown little enthusiasm from spectators for city-based teams.