ECB defer decision on Morgan Review

The ECB has bowed to pressure within the county game by deferring a decision on the Morgan Review and instead has decided to conduct further research throughout the 2012 season into the future of professional cricket in England.

Growing opposition to Morgan's recommendations, which included a reduction in championship matches from 16 to 14, a return to 50-over cricket and 14 Twenty20 matches, left the ECB Board unable to adopt a report that had been months in the making.

County chief executives, coaches and the Professional Cricketers' Association had all lobbied the ECB in the belief that in his urge for compromise Morgan, a former chairman of ECB and ICC, had failed to provide an inspirational blueprint for the game.

Morgan did receive more support for his conclusion that a more concerted approach must be developed among the ECB and the 18 counties towards the future financing of the game. Central marketing strategies will be strengthened.

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, said: "Cricket has a unique opportunity to capitalise on its enviable financial strength from recently secured long term commercial partnerships.

"Whilst many of the recommendations will be implemented immediately, it is important that thorough consumer research and financial analysis is carried out on the detailed strategy to ensure that we have a balanced domestic playing programme which suits the lifestyles of the modern consumer and allows for the production of outstanding players with international potential participating in vibrant domestic competitions."

Morgan achieved that rarest of things in county cricket: unanimity of sorts. The PCA, the vast majority of the county chief executives, coaches and chairmen, the ECB's cricket committee and, according to unofficial on-line polls, the majority of spectators, all expressed their reservations over Morgan's recommendations. The recurring theme of their issue with the report is the reduction in the championship programme and the subsequent compromise to the integrity of the competition.

That left the board with few options. While they were loathe to be seen to U-turn on such a key issue, they were also reluctant to so blatantly ignore the views of all the parties. The solution -- to defer a final decision pending more consultation - could almost be an ECB catchphrase.

But the ECB board, which had already approved the report in principle and had vowed not to tinker around the edges, had to retreat or run the risk of unrest around the counties. Scrapping the report at this stage will be an embarrassment for Morgan, one of cricket's leading administrators, who claimed to have spoken to 300 people before drawing up his findings.

David Collier, the ECB's chief executive, and the newly-appointed managing director of the professional game, Gordon Hollins, have now been charged by the Board with producing "a robust financial plan to ensure the long term sustainability of the game and its stakeholders from grassroots cricket to the Test match arena."