Peter Wright or Tim O'Gorman to replace Jack Simmons as ECB chairman

Tim O'Gorman and Peter Wright have been nominated to replace Jack Simmons, the former Lancashire player, as chairman of the ECB.

Wright, currently chairman of Nottinghamshire, was proposed by Warwickshire and seconded by Surrey and Yorkshire, while O'Gorman was proposed by Derbyshire and seconded by Kent and Leicestershire.

Ballot papers will be sent the chairmen of the 18 first-class counties and the MCC on Thursday and have to be returned by February 12. The winner will be then be recommended to the 41 members of the ECB for election.

O'Gorman, 42, played 117 first-class games for Derbyshire and Don Amott, the Derbyshire chairman, feels this experience is important. "Our committee are firm in their belief that a candidate with experience as a professional cricketer should be nominated. That coupled with Tim's enthusiasm to do the job makes him, we believe, the perfect candidate."

John Morris, the Derbyshire head of cricket, added: "Having played in the same Derbyshire team as Tim for many years, and then having continued to see his valuable work with the PCA, I believe Tim to be an outstanding candidate for the position."