Report reveals lure of IPL

England's top players have given the England and Wales Cricket Board a shot across the bows after it was revealed half of them would consider quitting international cricket early to play in the Indian Premier League.

With money now flowing into the sport like never before, a poll by the Professional Cricketers' Association highlighted that 50% of current England internationals would consider premature retirement.

"The current imbalance between remuneration for Twenty20 cricket and the longer forms of the game does present a very real threat to the existing fabric of the game," the report states.

Within the last nine months, two rival cash-rich leagues have been set up in India, Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford has done a deal with the ECB to stage £10million, winner-takes-all matches each autumn and the rules and regulations for the inaugural Champions League tournament are being drawn up.

"The financial rewards offered by the Indian leagues will entice players to retire early from county and international cricket - and senior players at that. The impact on the strength of our international sides would be huge," the report continued.

"This would have the potential to significantly devalue our TV rights as well as reducing the attraction of English cricket to the fans."

The findings are a warning to the authorities that top talent will look elsewhere if they are not remunerated commensurately with their international peers.

However, the results of canvassing 334 players on the English domestic scene also showed Test cricket is the most revered form of the game.

A whopping 93% believe it is important Test cricket retains its status on the international scene.