"My biggest fear" - Daryl Mitchell concerned franchises could scoop up county talent

The PCA's chief operating officer was the latest guest on The Cricketer's County Conversation podcast

A relentless English cricket schedule threatens to push top talent further towards a lifestyle of franchise competitions, according to PCA chief operating officer Daryl Mitchell.

Following extensive coverage by The Cricketer, the schedule is under fresh scrutiny following the release of results of a player survey which revealed that 81 per cent have concerns about the physical toll of the summer.

Adding rest days and reducing fixture lists are among the PCA's proposals, but a significant shift in the calendar will require compromise from all sides.

Mitchell, the former Worcestershire captain, is concerned that as franchise competitions continue to encroach on the English summer - the Pakistan Super League and Indian Premier League are set to overlap during its opening months in 2025 - players will increasingly gravitate towards shorter, better-paid opportunities rather than grind out a domestic career.

"My overriding view I'm getting from players is they still want to play for England and still want to play red-ball cricket and do well," said Mitchell, speaking as a special guest on episode five of The Cricketer's County Conversation podcast.

Mitchell retired from professional cricket at the end of the 2021 season (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

"That is where a lot of players see a legacy in the game is red-ball cricket and playing in Ashes series and things like that. 

"But that can only go so far and if you keep pushing players to the max - and it is not particularly well-paid county cricket compared to the franchise leagues around the world - at some point people are going to start drawing a line and saying 'you know what I'm not going to play for England now, I've got to 26, 27 I'm not there yet, I'm just going to play in the PSL in the early part of the year, I'll play in the MLC later in the year, and I'll play in The Hundred'.

"We'll push them away from county cricket which is my biggest fear."

Available to download via Spotify, Acast, Apple and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts), County Conversation is also viewable via The Cricketer's YouTube channel.

Alternatively, listen to episode six in its entirety below:

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