County cricket is here to stay

While the rest of the world's best moonlight for their millions in the Indian Premier League, cricketers here stick diligently to their day job. The fortunate have a crack at Broadway, while here our lot perform repertory theatre in half-empty, draughty town halls.

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County preview

Yes, that blessed anachronism of ours, the County Championship, is back on Wednesday; cloaked, as we all should by now be aware, by probably its darkest ever shadow.

	Room for manoeuvre: Empty seats at Lord's for the traditional MCC v county champions curtain-raiser

It's enough to make one feel genuinely sorry for these chaps. But we shouldn't. They are not exactly put-upon. This is no longer a bad day job.

We already know that England's centrally contracted few can earn basic salaries of upwards of £400,000. And, among domestic county players, six-figure salaries are not uncommon. Those bubbling just below the £100,000 mark are positively plentiful.

This is, of course, no reason for exclusion from the Indian fun. Others are topping up already hefty wages. This is just a reality check amid the present hysteria. As is debunking the worst fears for county cricket right now. With the IPL due to begin two days after the championship, it is fast becoming fashionable to predict its total demise.More Details>>