Top 20 depends on cash

England's leading cricketers will learn exactly how much their clubs think they are worth if a plan to upgrade the present system of central contracts is adopted.

The 18 first-class counties have agreed "in principle" to support an extension of the existing scheme.

Instead of contracting 12 players for six months at a time, England's selectors will be able to offer their top 20 performers year-long deals - starting this September - provided the money can be found to pay for it all. The chosen men would become full-time employees of the England Cricket Board and paid an average annual salary in the region of £100,000.

That will not prevent the players from appearing in domestic cricket when free from international commitments - but only if their counties are prepared to reimburse the ECB at a rate still to be decided.

Those counties who are struggling financially could then decide to make do without their former stars, possibly depriving them of match practice between Tests or one-dayers.

Many counties rely on income from international matches but England's first Test of the summer has failed to generate queues at the box office. Lord's will be barely half full on Thursday for the opening day of the series against Sri Lanka. Sales for Friday and Saturday are higher.

England captain Nasser Hussain will receive £15,000 after being named Vodafone Cricketer of the Year.