Cricket's First Class Counties Vote for Change

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced that the First Class Forum (FCF) had agreed to the implementation of a new, streamlined management structure for the game on a three-year trial basis.

Following today's meeting at Lord's, the FCF, which is comprised of the 18 First Class Counties plus MCC, agreed to cede key decision-making powers to its existing Management Board. An additional member of the FCF will be elected to the 15-strong Management Board which will be chaired by Lord MacLaurin.

Under the new structure, The Management Board will be responsible for determining the playing programme and playing conditions for First Class Cricket and designating Test Match grounds.

The FCF, which will continue to meet three times a year, retains its powers to approve the budget, adopt discipline and registration regulations and make decisions affecting the promotion and relegation format in the PPP healthcare County Championship and CGU National Cricket League.

The Recreational Forum (RF), which has responsibility for the non-First Class game, has agreed to cede its reserved powers of veto to The Management Board.

It was also agreed at today's meeting that the international affairs sub committee and the Second XI Advisory Group should be discontinued.

Announcing the changes, the Chairman of the First Class Forum, David Morgan, said: "This is a major step forward for the administration of the game in this country. While the First Class Counties will continue to play an important role, cricket as a whole will benefit from a more streamlined constitution and a speedier decision-making process."

Notes: The Management Board is comprised of the ECB Chairman, ECB Chief Executive, the Chairman of the FCF, four members of the RF, three members of the FCF, one member of the MCC and the chairmen of the ECB's Finance, Marketing, England Management, Test Match Grounds and Cricket Advisory Committees.

For further information contact:

ECB Corporate Affairs Department - 0171 432 1200