The proposed changes to English cricket are exactly what the game needs, but at the same time unworkable, says Jon Filby.
Several changes to improve Test cricket have been suggested by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
There could be a reduction in the number of county championship matches.
Filby said that the high performance review is not feasible.
High performance is what the game needs. He said that they were not only looking at high performance.
We are looking at the financial and commercial side of things. We are looking through the eyes of our members who have cricket that they want, and we are looking at a variety of angles that is not just high performance.
The First Division would be reduced to six teams and there would be dedicated windows for the One-Day Cup.
They came after Australia whitewashed England in the Ashes.
Steven Finn is a former England bowler.
He hoped it meant there was an improvement in the standard of cricket.
Sometimes you can drift through games because they come so quickly.
Quality needs to be improved. Quality is the most important thing for the game to compete more on the world stage, which is why this report is all about.
Alec Stewart doesn't want to be drawn on how many county games are appropriate for players, but he does agree that cutting game time can improve players.
The review was all about balancing the high performance with the low energy, so it is getting that balance right, he said.
The proposed changes wouldn't improve England's Test cricketers according to Essex's chief executive.
He said there were differing opinions on what makes a better Test player.
Reducing the amount of red ball cricket is not the way to produce better Test cricketers.
We wouldn't want to see a reduction in the amount of cricket.
Stewart said that he needs to be aware of the club's finances when making a decision.
He said that if it was just high performance, then go for it.
It is larger than that. We need to respect the members who pay for their membership and come and support them. Does the finances that make the game work out well?
Filby said that the reduction in T20 cricket would hurt their revenue.
He said that the T20 competition fills the ground up in the area.
In terms of profit, we had sell-out games in each of the eight games we played in the year.
The 6,500 people who attend each game are getting the chance to really enjoy themselves.
"It's not right that we shut our ground for a couple of matches when we know there are people who want to come and watch some of the world's great cricketers playing at the other end of the country."
"I don't think the club are in a position to vote for any reduction in home T20 cricket, I agree with Filby," he said.
The revenue to the club comes from our life blood. It's something our members love to see.
Stewart doesn't like playing the County Championship while the hundred is running.
Each county does not lose the same number of players and he wondered if it could be a fair competition.
The 50-over games played during the month of August allow him to blood new talent, so he would rather play cricket in August.
Filby said that his county would not be able to sell tickets for the red ball festival due to the 50-over competition.
He said that the May bank holiday was a good time to attract an audience and people didn't want to watch us play the world champion.
We were unable to sell it. If we can't sell New Zealand, we won't be able to sell red ball cricket.
The festival was one of two red flags in the proposal, the other being a reduction in T20 blast games.
"We can't put the integrity of the competition in danger by playing a lesser red ball competition during the hundred because we can't play championship cricket during the hundred."
I hope the 50-over competition is viewed as a high- performance bonus by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Several players criticized the sport's busy schedule and the PCA players' committee welcomed the review.
The current schedule is unsustainable and needs reform according to the PCA.
The players and the PCA support the vision of making England the best team in the world.
To maximize performance and protect player welfare, players need to be allowed space to grow and develop with appropriate rest and recovery.
It will work to achieve a positive outcome for the players and the game by debating the merits of the findings of the review.
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