John Read resigns as ECB director of communications

The exodus from the England & Wales Cricket Board has continued, with the news that John Read, their director of communications, is to quit his post. His announcement comes only weeks after Tim Lamb, the ECB's chief executive, tendered his resignation in the wake of the Zimbabwe affair.

"I've enjoyed enormously working for the ECB and being part of the executive team that has helped to drive the game forward," said Read in a statement. Among his achievements in his time in office, was the inception of the Twenty20 Cup, which has exceeded all expectations with its popularity, and a drive towards marketing cricket as a young and stylish and socially-inclusive sport.

At the boardroom level, it was Read who, earlier this year, warned the ECB that they faced dire financial consequences if they undertook a boycott of their Test tour to Zimbabwe, and with that in mind, he issued a cautionary piece of advice. "The Board has achieved a great deal since its inception in 1997, but there is also no doubt that the ECB needs to move to the next stage of its development and modernise its corporate governance processes."

Lamb himself was fulsome in his praise for Read's contribution. "John has been an immensely popular member of the executive team and has always managed to maintain both his sense of perspective and his abiding good humour even during the most challenging times.

"In particular he played a pivotal role in the promotion of the inaugural Twenty20 Cup competition in 2003, and did as much as anyone to ensure its successful launch as an innovative and exciting new form of the game. I wish him every success for the future."