Ticket sales for this summer's international programme are expected to take off following England's Test triumph in Sri Lanka.

So far 280,000 seats have been sold for the Ashes series against Australia, with 90,000 gone for the two Tests against Pakistan and 150,000 for the triangular one-day series.

The England and Wales Cricket Board expects demand to increase as the new season approaches, which is good news for counties who received smaller pay-outs last summer after Tests against Zimbabwe and the West Indies finished inside five days.

ECB chief executive Tim Lamb expects sales to "exceed budget".

He said: "It's going to be great to see full grounds. We hope it will have a knock-on effect in terms of county membership."

The system for compensating counties for centrally contracted players has been altered.

Last season they received a flat fee of �51,000, but this time will be given �26,000 plus top-ups on a match by match basis.

This summer's contracts are expected to be awarded next week and the ECB is likely to stick to an elite squad of 12.

"There is an unequivocal recognition on the part of all the stake-holders in cricket, including the counties, that the success of the England team comes first," said Lamb.

"I think there will be a move in the future to longer-term contracts, but we feel six months is right for the time being."