ECB chairman Clarke re-elected unopposed

Giles Clarke has been elected unopposed for a second two-year term as ECB chairman.

Clarke's only challenger, former Conservative party treasurer Lord Marland, withdrew ten days ago after it became clear he would not be able to muster sufficient support among the counties to mount a serious campaign.

"I would like to thank Lord Marland, who is after all a very experienced election campaigner, and also all the counties that voted for me," Clarke said. "I believe that the overriding message from this election is that there is no division of purpose within first-class cricket in England and Wales.

"Indeed, this election has demonstrated quite categorically that, if anything, cricket is more agreed on a common direction that at any time in the last few years."