Lord's say no to city league

ECB chairman Giles Clarke issued a forthright statement following the governing body's AGM at Lord's in which he railed against some of the 'frankly ludicrous' ideas about the way English cricket should combat the star-studded Indian leagues.

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Details of a multi-dimensional agreement with the Texan billionaire Allen Stanford are due to be revealed soon, with all 18 leading counties desperate to climb aboard the potentially lucrative EPL bandwagon, either individually or as part of regional agglomerations.

The concept of teams representing major cities across the country has been floated as a way of increasing public interest. But Clarke said: 'Franchise sport has simply never worked in the UK. Tradition and history rather than Bollywood stars and glitz are the binding which persuade supporters to return week-in, week-out to our grounds — whether it is rugby, football or cricket.

'Some of the ideas spouted in the media have been frankly ludicrous. Can you, I was asked by a leading television executive, imagine cricket lovers rushing down St John's Wood Road to see a franchise called Vodafone Team London owned by an ageing rock star? There has never yet been a successful Team London in any sport and nor is there likely to be any support for a Team Manchester or Team Leeds from traditional areas of rivalry such as Liverpool or Sheffield.'

Matthew Hoggard's eightwicket return to championship action with Yorkshire last week has earned him a place in the England Lions squad to face New Zealand at the Rose Bowl next week, paving the way for a Test recall.

But one notable absentee is Steve Harmison, who has been overtaken by Durham team-mate Graham Onions, the uncapped Steve Kirby of Gloucestershire and Hampshire's Chris Tremlett.

England coach Peter Moores hinted yesterday that Andrew Flintoff has a chance of playing in next month's first Test against New Zealand. 'Once he is playing well he's going to get into that Test team,' he said.

ENGLAND LIONS — Key (Kent, capt), Bopara (Essex), Carberry (Hampshire), Hoggard (Yorkshire), Kirby (Gloucs), Prior (Sussex, wkt), Onions (Durham), Rashid (Yorkshire), Shah (Middlesex), Swann (Notts), Tremlett (Hampshire), Wright (Sussex).