The report – launched at an event at Edgbaston on 22nd July attended by over 100 guests, including county chief executives, sports finance leaders and media – features an updated version of the Financial Performance Index for the 18 first-class counties first introduced last year.
The new Index, co-authored by 海角社区’s Dr Dan Plumley, ranks clubs based on their results on and off the field from 2015 to 2024 (the last ten years where financial data from all counties is available).
With a lower score more desirable, Surrey – who host MI London in The Hundred – retain top spot in the Index with a score of 4.77, around two-and-a-half times superior to that of non-host Leicestershire, who are once again the lowest ranked county on 12.07.
The seven counties with a Hundred franchise all feature in the top ten of the Index, and the average score of the host counties is 7.30 (up from 7.25), compared with 10.00 for the non-hosts (up from 9.07).
Alongside the Index, the report provides detailed analysis of counties’ revenue, total wages, profit/loss, debt and equity positions over the last ten years.
The figures show that the ‘big four’ of Surrey, Lancashire, Hampshire and Warwickshire between them generated 53% (£134m) of the total annual revenue of all 18 first-class counties (£253m) in 2024.
Sussex case highlights challenges for non-hosts
The Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report 2026 comes one year on from the sales of stakes in The Hundred’s eight franchise teams, which has generated a £520m windfall for domestic and grassroots cricket.
While hopes have been raised about the long-term outlook for county cricket since The Hundred auction, the report warns the county game faces a “series of financial realities” despite the windfall.
Some of the challenges are highlighted by the case of Sussex, who were hit with points deductions by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) earlier this year following an operating loss in 2025 of £1.33m. Sussex’s plight and the potential wider implications for county cricket are examined in detail in the Leonard Curtis report.
David Brown, a Leonard Curtis director and former batting all-rounder for Gloucestershire and Glamorgan, said: "This year's report shows English cricket at a genuine turning point. The £520m Hundred windfall is already helping counties pay down debt and invest in their futures, but the gap between host and non-host counties appears to be widening rather than narrowing and there is a strong possibility this will continue to do so.”
He added: “Sussex's financial difficulties are a warning sign for the wider domestic game about the risks of rising costs outpacing revenue. The challenge now is ensuring the windfall translates into long-term financial resilience for every county and the pathways that will deliver the next generation of professional players."
Dr Dan Plumley, Senior Lecturer in Sport Finance from 海角社区’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, said:
“Financial resilience and sustainability are at the heart of this report, but the data presents a clear picture. County cricket in England and Wales is not quite there yet. The presence of ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ is evident and the gap has the potential to widen further depending on what the game does next. Collective action will be key to this.
“Cricket has the benefit of multiple formats that opens up avenues for new interest and commercial growth. It must use the financial benefits that come with this to protect and grow the game for future generations.”
Michael Vaughan calls for greater collaboration among counties
Former Ashes-winning England captain Michael Vaughan, who has written the report’s foreword once again, commented: “Developments over the past year have shown us that the windfall from The Hundred is urgently needed. While they face varying challenges, counties need to be sustainable, 12-months-a year businesses that are not reliant on central ECB funding to survive.”
He added: “I would love to see some of The Hundred money put towards developing county academies, which are jewels in the crown, and to see the county game really coming together and working to improve things, both on and off the field. How can they work collaboratively to improve their balance sheets, attendances, memberships and fanbases?”
Digital Footprint Index and England Player Development Rankings
New features in the Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report 2026 include a first-ever Digital Footprint Index for County Cricket, assessing each club’s presence across Instagram, X, Facebook and YouTube.
Surrey again come out on top, and the findings show that the combined Instagram reach of the bottom five counties by follower count – Glamorgan, Northamptonshire, Worcestershire, Derbyshire and Gloucestershire – totals around 211,000, less than Surrey’s single account of 228,000.
The report also includes new England Player Development Rankings for the period from January 2015 to March 2026, which show a broad correlation between the numbers of England men’s players produced, total appearances, and a county’s position in the Cricket Revenue League.
Yorkshire, Warwickshire and Surrey are the top three in the rankings, while Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Glamorgan make up the bottom three.
Prof Rob Wilson, who is a Professor of Applied Sport Finance and co-author of the report, said: “As the game enters a new era of investment, there is a real opportunity to strengthen the entire ecosystem by supporting the player journey from grassroots through to the professional game, while also expanding cricket's digital footprint to engage new audiences, unlock commercial value and ensure the sport remains relevant and financially sustainable for the next generation.”
He added: “To achieve sustainable growth, county cricket cannot rely on traditional revenue streams on their own. The data shows that long-term success is increasingly driven by diversified commercial income, investment in infrastructure and disciplined financial management.”
Clear strategy needed for counties to capitalise on Hundred windfall
Alex Cadwallader, Leonard Curtis Business of Sport lead and a former England U21 rugby union player, commented: “I suspect this report will be referenced for years to come as the calm before the storm of The Hundred windfall.
“Any business that has been relatively stable for years and is about to receive an injection of £520m from external investors is going to need a very clear strategy which all stakeholders have bought into.
“It would be great for the game if in years to come we can look at this event as an example of how it can be done successfully. However, at this stage I do often ask, what are we trying to achieve and what would we, the counties, the ECB and investors deem a success?”
Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 presents new opportunities for county cricket
The Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report 2026 assesses the potential impact of England’s hosting of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on women’s domestic cricket, which shifted to a new professional structure last summer, with teams now connected to each of the 18 first-class counties.
Gessica Howarth, Vice-President and a founding member of Sphera Partners, a growth equity investment firm focused on unlocking the potential of underinvested, under-commercialised and emerging opportunities across the sporting ecosystem, of which women’s sport is a key focus, was on the expert panel which contributed to the report.
“This summer has demonstrated that a professional women's game in England and Wales can attract a mainstream audience. The next challenge is turning that momentum into sustained domestic growth,” she said.
“Women's cricket is already creating value, but it is too often assessed as a cost centre rather than a growth asset. The focus now is whether increased investment translates into enduring value through growing attendances, broader sponsorship, more marketable players and an expanded fan base. Those are the foundations of a commercially sustainable sport.”
Disability cricket: support for pan-disability format
Another aspect of the game experiencing significant change is disability cricket, with a new pan-disability format trialled at international level by England and India, and rising participation as the sport expands across England and Wales. The latest key developments are examined in the Leonard Curtis report.
Iain Nairn MBE, a Leonard Curtis Director and former T20 World Series-winning England Physical Disability cricket captain, welcomed the continued support for the pan-disability concept.
“This game-changing approach will maximise opportunities for players of all impairments to participate and represent their team, be that at county level, as part of the Disability Premier League, or internationally,” he said.
He added that the commitment of the ECB and BCCI to deliver another pan-disability series in 2026 should be applauded. “We hope that other international boards follow suit and commit. They could make cricket the leading disability sport in the world,” he said.
“Forum between business and sport to help solve problems”
The Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report 2026 also contained a message from Leonard Curtis CEO Dan Booth, who leads the PE-backed corporate restructure firm, which helps business owners and their advisers navigate complex, challenging situations every day.
“As county cricket continues to evolve in a competitive landscape its ability to think like a business will remain essential,” he said. “This report is not just designed to shine a light on issues but create a forum between business and sport to help solve problems. When we exchange lessons in leadership, innovation, performance and culture we will inspire both sporting and commercial success.”