A report in The Times says that MCC and Middlesex are considering a merger to create a team that would reduce the gap between first-class and Test cricket. Middlesex have been tenants at Lord's since 1877 and the idea would be use MCC's wealth and expertise to form, what MCC chief executive Keith Bradshaw has billed, "The Manchester United of cricket". Ivo Tennant has the full story.

MCC, which owns Lord’s and has a missionary role in Britain and overseas – and does not play in any established competition – would become the dominant partner in the pooling of resources and assets...

It would tie in with the planned £100 million development of Lord’s, which may incorporate an academy for promising cricketers. “Keith and I will be looking at all options over the next year,” Vinny Codrington, the Middlesex secretary, said. “We have to have an open and honest debate.”