By Kevin Howells BBC Sport

It was Mrs. Merton who used to encourage us all to take part in a "heated debate" and that is exactly what I thought I would be forced to do on Sport on Five's County Championship discussion programme this week.

There are plenty who want to rubbish the Championship and in an unsual position of being guest instead of interviewer, I was determined to defend the game which brings me a lot of pleasure every summer.

Two chief executives, Yorkshire captain Darren Lehmann and Leicestershire's Neil Burns, along with John Westerbury of The Cricketer magazine were all supporters, as I am, but we still found areas to change and improve the county game.

Lehmann thinks many sides are too negative

As I sat alongside Lehmann in the studio - and without naming the teams concerned - he ticked off in front of me six of the nine sides in Championship Division One who, he believes, play for draws.

In Darren's mind, that is killing off the competition. To eradicate that he proposed six points for a win and two for a draw and throw out the idea of bonus points.

Everyone agreed and I not only think it will improve the entertainment but also make following the table much easier and maintain a greater interest for those who follow the game from a distance.

Middle-age market

I said it was about time that counties started marketing more in cricket's main growth area in this country - not one-day cricket or the " tap and giggle" 20 overs brigade but the over 45s.

Very little if anything appears to be done to attract this group of people who have more time to watch, particulary during the week.

I feel most passion towards those who do all they can to dissuade sponsorship for the various competitions.

Yorkshire are still rolling in the C&G Trophy

One commentator was heard to say that it was stupid to have played Marcus Trescothick in Somerset's C&G Trophy this week after he had broken his thumb.

What would the company giving its name to the competition think when and if England cricketers deem themselves too important to dirty their whites?

One radical alteration to the game which we didn't discuss is to down-size the number of teams.

Regional cricket is getting more and more backing from overseas coaches I hear speak about our game, but there are some in the sport in Yorkshire who fear people inside the England and Wales Cricket Board are also considering the idea.

The ECB would, of course, categorically deny that but the idea that Yorkshire would link up with Durham, Worcestershire with Warwickshire and Sussex with Hampshire etc is an option some strongly believe will improve the game for the players and the overall finances of the sport.

Tradition must stay

I argue against it and I'm accused of being a traditionalist. That may be true but the game won't survive if it's soul and tradition is taken away.

Football and Rugby League may have sold out, but bearing in mind the troubled summer some Football League clubs have faced and Rugby League's ongoing struggles, it should be look and learn, not look and copy for Cricket.

Yorkshire Uncovered is taking a break until mid-August, when we will find out whether the side are still heading towards a Lord's final and whether there is still a slim chance of them staying up in Division One.

Tim Bresnan is one of the club's brightest prospects

Yorkshire fans don't hold your breath - by then, Lehmann will have gone back to Australia.

Batsman Simon Katich was his replacement earlier this summer, but would a bowler be more beneficial this time?

My view is simple - play Tim Bresnan.

As a 17-year-old, he is restricted on how many overs he can bowl in a day, but he always takes early wickets.

He can also do something no other Yorkshire bowler seems to manage at the moment - same ball, same place and six times in succession.

Yorkshire Uncovered can be heard on Thursdays on BBC Radio Five Live's Ian Payne Show (7.00-10.00pm). Next instalment: 15 August.