KENT are, officially, the best supported cricket county, it has been revealed.

For the first time the England and Wales Cricket Board have released comparative attendance figures obtained from each of the 18-first-class clubs and Kent top the overall table.

They attracted an average crowd of 4,945 at each of their eight, four-day home championship matches in 2003, putting them third in first-class attendance figures.

Yorkshire led the championship crowd rankings with an average gate of 6,359, with Lancashire second with 5,476.

Skipper David Fulton's side finished third in the rankings for their average attendances of 4,945, putting them ahead of Test-match hosting clubs Middlesex (in 4th with 4,768), Warwickshire (9th, 3,797), Surrey (10th, 3,785), Nottinghamshire (12th, 3,264) and Durham (14th, 2,626).

When it comes to National League Cricket, Kent Spitfires rule the roost with an average gate of 4,110.

Lancashire, Warwickshire, Yorkshire and Surrey occupy the next four places respectively, but no other county can boast a 4,000-plus average.

Leicestershire are the worst supported first-class county overall, though newcomers Scotland managed an average gate of just 787 during their first NCL campaign in 2003.