Cricket's 18 First Class Counties and the MCC have agreed to amend and simplify the regulations for the qualification for registration for competitive County Cricket.

At a meeting of the First Class Forum (FCF) yesterday and today (Wednesday), it was agreed that all European Union Nationals will now be 'qualified' for County Cricket as long as they have:

* Neither played First Class Cricket in any full member country outside Great Britain within the 12 months leading up to April 1 immediately before the season in question.

* Nor represented any other full member country at Under 17 level or above within the four years leading up to April 1 immediately before the season in question.

John Carr, the ECB's Director of Cricket, said: "The previous regulations were unnecessarily complex and while we believe we could have argued them reasonably within a court of law, the new regulations are simpler and built on solid legal foundations."

For further information contact:

Andrew Walpole, ECB Media Relations Manager - 0171 4321200/0385 527102