England's professionals call for best T20 overseas players

England's professional cricketers have overwhelmingly called for a reshaped Twenty20 competition capable of rivalling tournaments such as the Big Bash, played in one block to raise standards, help attract the best overseas players and involving England players on a more regular basis.

That yearning for a T20 tournament that will gain more impact on the world stage comes only a few days before Finals Day in the NatWest Blast and, even more importantly, shortly before the final recommendations to county chairmen on September 2 from an ECB structure review group. The survey, conducted by the Professional Cricketers' Association, represents an emphatic call for change and as far as T20 is concerned will broadly find favour with the ECB's chief executive Tom Harrison, who has championed a re-examination of the domestic game in the face of strong resistance from within the 18 counties.

So far 240 of roughly 400 county professionals polled have responded to the survey which has become an important annual snapshot of the views of county professionals and which, by being made public, will be viewed by many as a refreshing counterpoint to the secrecy in which ECB deliberations are being held.More than 80% of respondents agreed or strongly agrees that a Big Bash-style tournament would be good for English cricket - and the clamour for England players to be involved more regularly is even stronger.

To do that would require a leap of faith and a slimming down of the international schedule.There is also a comfortable majority of professionals who believe a better tournament worthy of Big Bash comparison can simply be achieved within the current county structure by introducing a two-division structure with promotion and relegation.

Although more than 80% of professional cricketers believe the Blast is a high-class competition, there is a widespread belief that playing it across much of the season, instead of in a concentrated block such as the Big Bash or IPL, has had a negative effect on standards. As many as 86% disagreed or strongly disagreed that stretching T20 over much of the season had improved standards. (Cricinfo)