THERE is a real danger that the priorities of counties and the England cricket team are heading in different directions.

While England’s greatest achievement will always be winning an Ashes series, county players are quickly realising they can earn more riches from the Twenty20 format.

A fine balance needs to be struck, because winning World Cups should always be within England’s grasp.

But the appetite for 20-over cricket at domestic level means the four-day format will soon start to suffer and, as a result, so will the production line to the national team.

I am a massive fan of Twenty20 cricket – it has revitalised county cricket. The supporters flood in, the television crews turn up and the lure of Champions League and IPL riches is a massive incentive.

The Twenty20 Cup is a fantastic spectacle but we are in danger of it becoming too much of a good thing.

Virtually two months of the season is taken up by it – the real heart of the summer.

The time of year when the wickets are at their best is used up, meaning future Test players are not given the opportunity to hone their skills on the best pitches.

Instead, bowlers are made to look better than they actually are because of the helpful tracks offered up at the beginning and end of the summer.

In turn, batsmen know they will inevitably get an unplayable delivery and fail to build a proper innings.

It is up to the game’s guardians to strike a fine balance to ensure Test cricket always remains the ultimate test of a player’s ability.