Ten first-class counties "are threatening to revolt" against the England & Wales Cricket Board, which they accuse of "going back on its commitment to make the planned domestic city-based Twenty20 tournament" owned by the counties and Marylebone Cricket Club, according to Elizabeth Ammon of the LONDON TIMES. A letter signed by the chairs and CEOs of the 10 counties -- which are "unlikely to be host venues of the new eight-team T20 tournament" that starts in '20 -- was sent to ECB Chair Colin Graves. The letter, sent by Derbyshire, Essex, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Sussex and Worcestershire, reads, "We are committed to a long-term solution that protects and maintains 18 competitive, vibrant FCCs [first-class counties] and MCC, all under the continued governance of the ECB." While even those counties that "voted against the introduction of the new competition are resigned to it going ahead," the letter "is significant because it is the first time a group of clubs has put together unanimous objections." The ECB said that the new competition "has to be owned by a subsidiary of the ECB rather than a new company for tax and legal reasons" (LONDON TIMES, 12/18).
