KENT skipper David Fulton has criticised the domineering role of England coach Duncan Fletcher and called for a softly-softly approach to any possible re-structuring of championship cricket.

Fulton, together with Kent's former coach Ian Brayshaw, appealed to Fletcher during the summer over the handling of Rob Key who, despite miserable club form, was pulled out of county cricket to act as 12th man for England's one-day squad.

Kent's captain has re-opened the debate in an article written for the Cheltenham and Gloucester Cricket Year 2003.

While defending the county game against the likes of Bob Willis and the self-appointed cricket reform group, Fulton also remains wary of Fletcher's apparent stranglehold over the county clubs.

He writes: "Any revamp of our domestic structure requires cool-headed objectivity and not a reactionary call for revolution when our national side has a bad day.

"Duncan Fletcher's tight control of centrally contracted players might make sense for Team England, but taking the country's best players out of county cricket is in no-one's long-term interests."

While conceding that the gulf between county cricket and Test standard has widened in recent summers, Fulton believes a carte blanch overhaul is simply not feasible.

He said: "Eighteen counties are here to stay for the foreseeable future. They are set in stone within a constitution more complex than The Matrix - so let's work with the system rather than bash our heads against it.

"Whether it's three divisions of six, two divisions of nine or one of 18, I don't really mind, so long as the competition's worth fighting for and the right amount of cricket is being played."

Fulton added: "If we want to move forward we have to cut the amount of cricket played. If everyone was 15 per cent fresher there would be fewer niggles, less lethargy and more full-throttle cricket."

Fulton stressed: "County cricket is not that broke. Let's stop knocking it and start doing it better."

* The Cheltenham & Gloucester Cricket Year 2003, published by Bloomsbury and edited by Jonathan Agnew, is available from bookshops priced £22.50.