MacLaurin sounded a warning for English cricket

Lord MacLaurin says "drastic changes" are needed to ease financial problems caused by falling TV revenues.

He warned that unless action was taken cricket could become like croquet - "a summer sport that was".

MacLaurin retired as ECB chairman last year to focus on business interests.

He was replaced by his deputy David Morgan after five years in charge, a period which saw him establish a reputation as a modernising force within the game.

It would reduce the number of players and allow the counties a wider catchment area for their fan bases From Simon Binks Have your say on TMS

MacLaurin oversaw the introduction of central contracts for England players, the establishment of an ECB Academy to develop young talent, and the introduction of two divisions in the County Championship and one-day National League.

Despite that, he has voiced concerns about the future of county cricket on previous occasions.

Two years ago, MacLaurin called for the number of players in county cricket to be reduced.

South Africa overhaul domestic game

"We have around 450 professional cricketers in this country and that is far too many, the game can only sustain around 200-250," he claimed.

His latest statement comes at a time when the state of county cricket is again the subject of intense debate.

England captain Michael Vaughan questioned whether the current county format makes players metally tough enough for Test cricket following his side's defeat by South Africa at Headingley.

And MacLaurin believes that a consistently successful England side is crucial to the game's well-being.

"If cricket is to survive in this present environment, drastic changes have to be made. But those drastic changes have to be thought through very carefully.

"At the end of the day, we have got to have an England side which is one of the best in the world, if not the best in the world," he said.

Some of the points Ian makes are valid points David Graveney

David Graveney, the chairman of England's selectors, told the BBC that he felt MacLaurin was being overly pessimistic.

But he accepts the need for urgent talks to discuss the current situation.

"All I want is all the stakeholders to get round a table at the same time, that's the counties, that's the ECB, Team England, PCA [players' union], and let's see what the best course of action is for the game.

"I personally think that the 18 counties are sustainable. But it's an ongoing thing, you can't spend money that you haven't got," said Graveney.