BBC SPORT | Cricket | MacLaurin to stand down

Lord MacLaurin will not seek re-election as chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, he confirmed on Wednesday.

MacLaurin cited pressure from business interests - he is also chairman of NatWest and Vodaphone - as a factor in his decision to stand down after six years.

He told Radio 5 Live: "Cricket has got some very difficult times ahead of it and with the best will in the world I couldn't devote the necessary time to it.

"I have a lot of friends in cricket and I didn't want to let them down."

Possible replacements

Mike Soper
(Surrey chairman)

David Morgan
(MacLaurin's deputy)

Tony Lewis
(MCC president)

"I have many other interests and my work for Vodafone is increasingly time-consuming and has to take priority."

MacLaurin's decision is likely to start a battle at Lord's over the next month for one of the most powerful jobs in English cricket.

Nominations for the position close on 27 August, and a new chairman will be confirmed on 4 October.

The battle for succession is likely to feature former England captain and MCC president Tony Lewis, Surrey chairman Mike Soper and MacLaurin's current deputy David Morgan.

However, Soper, previously thought to be a front-runner, said he might pull out.

"If I had to vote for anybody apart from myself it would be for David Morgan," he said.

I have to work out if I can do the job myself and if people want me to do it

Tony Lewis

"If he does put his head into the ring, and I'm 95% sure he will, then I will need to reconsider my position. He's very straight and I rate him very highly.

"But at the same time several county chairman have told me that as I've gone this far I should carry on - I've got some thinking to do."

Morgan, chairman of Glamorgan for five years until 1998, is MacLaurin's nomination as his successor favours gradual change.

But he would say nothing beyond praising MacLaurin's achievements.

High profile

Lewis, a firm advocate on extending the central contracts scheme, will find some favour among the counties simply because he has the biggest profile among the possible candidates.

Mike Soper may not want the job after all

He said he would give himself three weeks to make a decision about whether to stand.

Lewis told BBC Sport Online: "I'm not concerned about anyone else. I have to work out if I can do the job myself and if people want me to do it."

He declined to reveal his manifesto, explaining he "hadn't told anyone else" what it was.

During his time as ECB chairman, MacLaurin has overseen something of a revolution in the game.

He was a key figure in the introduction of central contracts for top England players - seen by many as the most important factor in the resurgence of the England Test side.

He also helped split the Championship and one-day league split into two divisions.

That move is generally thought to have increased the standard of competition.


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