I haven't detected any disquiet with Lamb among the chief executives Lancashire's Jim Cumbes Lamb news saddens counties

Tim Lamb is to resign as chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, the BBC has learned.

Lamb has been in discussion with lawyers to finalise the terms of his departure and a formal announcement is expected on Thursday morning.

He had told ECB chairman David Morgan of his decision to quit on Monday having been in the job since 1997.

The current operations director John Carr could replace Lamb, but there is no formal process in place.

Lamb, 50, had come under increasing pressure over his handling of the Zimbabwe crisis.

Last year England pulled out of a World Cup match in Harare at the last minute.

And they have still not decided whether October's tour to Zimbabwe will go ahead. Lamb's critics believe he should have resolved both issues at a much earlier stage.

But England remain in a no-win situation and seem set to fulfil the tour despite intense pressure to pull out because of the threat of a �1m fine and a possible ban from the International Cricket Council.

The ECB was forced to make �4 million of cuts after boycotting their World Cup match.

Insulted

Lamb's real critics were the first-class counties, who, critical of his delaying tactics over Zimbabwe, have had their fears heightened by an ECB investigation into domestic cricket.

It argued that the one-day league competition should be incorporated into the County Championship to make up one competition of two divisions.

John Carr is the establishment choice as a possible successor

Lamb was said to be insulted when the various county chairmen instantly dismissed the notion.

Carr is the establishment choice to replace Lamb since his father Donald was once secretary of the Test and County Cricket Board, the organisation that predated the ECB.

But former BBC chairman Gavyn Davies could also be in the frame.

Lamb retired aged 30 after playing cricket as a seam bowler for Oxford University, Middlesex and Northamptonshire.

He was elected to his post on a manifesto that cricket should be treated as "a business within a game rather than a game within a business".

During his tenure - with Lord MacLaurin as chairman until 2002 - the ECB successfully introduced central contracts and an improved England team structure.

He also helped establish the Academy at Loughborough and made county cricket more competitive with promotion and relegation.