Poorer county cricket clubs count on the magic of The Hundred

To no one’s surprise, it was Surrey who came out on top by some margin, followed by Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire and Lancashire – all clubs that host men’s internationals and The Hundred.

At the other end of the scale were Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Middlesex, Kent, Worcestershire and Northamptonshire – counties benefiting from neither of those things (Middlesex are mere tenants of Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s).

Yes, The Hundred; the competition creating a gaping chasm between English cricket’s rich and poor, while simultaneously providing a lifeline for the game’s future.

Over the course of an hour’s presentation, the report’s panel – which included Vaughan, the writer of the foreword – described the incoming £520 million windfall from the sale of equity in The Hundred’s eight franchises as a magic pill for clubs on the brink. Each non-host county is expected to bank about £25 million, with hosts maintaining the capacity to generate far more.

“An unprecedented chance to repurpose county cricket,” said one expert. “An amazing opportunity, especially for the counties at the bottom, to build a sustainable future,” suggested another.

“A great opportunity for the game to keep an 18-county system,” said a third.

It all sounds hugely positive, especially for the likes of Northamptonshire (71%), Leicestershire (67%) and Derbyshire (56%), all of whom currently receive the majority of their income from the England and Wales Cricket Board’s central funding pot (which, by contrast, makes up just 6% at Surrey).

One of the report’s authors suggested a number of counties would simply be lost without the cash injection.

But the money comes with a warning. Last year, corporate restructuring firm Leonard Curtis began its delve into the business of sport with a similar report into English rugby union, declaring that seven of the 10 Gallagher Premiership clubs were insolvent on the balance sheet.

In fact, 13 top rugby clubs had received about £13.5million each only five years earlier when private equity firm CVC Capital Partners bought a 27% stake in the sport’s top flight.

But, without guardrails on what that money could be spent on it was quickly frittered away, failing to prevent the demise of Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish in just nine months.

In a bid to avoid a similar fate befalling its counties, the ECB intends to be strong custodians of The Hundred money, only releasing it for such purposes as debt repayment, facility redevelopment and player pathway improvement.

“This chance may not come around again,” said Vaughan.

“It would be a huge mistake for this just to go on player wages. Clubs must be strong because after this sudden influx of money, I would expect pressure from players and agents for higher salaries.

“The new windfall for county cricket is so important and must not be allowed to go to waste.”

The likelihood is there were five other non-cricketing events held at The Oval on the day the report was launched in a room decked with photos of Surrey greats.

Another half-dozen would follow the next day, and the next.

Over the coming six weeks, the ground will host a sold-out England v India Test match ahead of a packed season of The Hundred.

It is not possible to compete; that would be an unattainable mission.

The challenge for most counties is long-term survival.

Photograph by Gareth Copley/Getty Images