Martyn Moxon will chair a meeting of the 18 county directors of cricket/coaches at Edgbaston next month where they will discuss the direction of the English domestic game.
Topics of conversation will include the format of the County Championship and the increase in players chasing worldwide domestic T20 contracts and the impact on clubs.
Yorkshire’s director of cricket revealed the news at Saturday’s AGM, where Adil Rashid’s decision to prioritise white ball cricket in 2018 was highlighted.
“County clubs and the game as a whole face challenges over the next few years with regards to where the game is going,” said Moxon.
“That’s been brought about mainly by the increasing number of T20 competitions and how many players want to play in them.
“It’s a tricky balance for us and other counties to protect the four-day game, which we all love.
“It’s a measure of how important everyone feels this is that every county will be represented on April 10.
“What is the County Championship going to look like in the future, what structure should we have, should it be two divisions?
“That’s on the agenda, as is how we manage this 20-over situation because, from our point of view, we want players who want to play for Yorkshire first and foremost.
“But we also have to accept there is life changing money for those good enough to play in these competitions.
“We have to try and get that balance because I – and I’m sure others are the same – don’t want to see counties played off against each other; ‘Yorkshire won’t pay me that because I want to go and play in Bangladesh or at the Big Bash, but Surrey will’.
“I don’t think the game can get to that situation. I think there has to be a common policy of how we play fairly.”
Moxon went on: “To put it into context of how difficult it is for counties. Ok they didn’t get picked, but Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root put their names forward for IPL. On the back of that, England decided they needed to rest them from international (T20) games so they could potentially go and play IPL. They knew that afterwards they are straight into Tests against Pakistan.
“If England have that problem, what does that say about us? The game has got an issue.”
Moxon and chairman Steve Denison both expressed their disappointment with Rashid.
Moxon said: “I am disappointed, and I said it to Adil, that he has chosen to go down this route because he should be playing for England in all three formats with his ability.
“We have renegotiated his contract and aren’t paying him by any means a full contract for this season.
“He is going to be paid to play white ball cricket, which we still believe he adds value in doing. He is a potential match-winner.
“The situation will be reviewed in August because he’s not sure himself how long this is going to be for. It will be interesting to see.
“We will be reviewing it on what value he can add to Yorkshire CCC. That’s all. If he still has value, we will talk to him about an extended contract. If for whatever reason there’s no value, then he will move elsewhere.”
Off the field, Yorkshire chairman Steve Denison delivered positive news, despite the club’s continued level of debt – “a core £24m and about another incremental £18m for the new stand”.
The county made a loss of £54,000 in 2017 and expect another small loss this year due largely to the decreased capacity for redevelopment.
But things will change dramatically in 2019 when Emerald Headingley hosts an Ashes Test and four World Cup matches followed by the ECB’s new T20 competition in 2020 and another Ashes Test in 2023.
In terms of debt repayment, he said: “We have a very robust plan and are tracking along with that.”
Richard Hutton was re-elected as president for a second year, while Moxon and chief executive Mark Arthur were re-appointed to the board and Hanif Malik appointed.
Pauline Beesley was appointed to the members’ committee, KPMG LLP re-appointed as the club’s auditors and David Allan and David Hall were presented with President’s medals following the work with the Archives committee and the Headingley museum.
