Cricket: Two more years for ECB chief

LORD MACLAURIN of Knebworth was today re-appointed as chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board for a further two years.

MacLaurin took over the post in January 1997, when the ECB replaced the Test and County Cricket Board as English cricket's governing body, and has presided over a dramatic period in the game's history.

He failed to persuade the counties to adopt a two-division county championship last year but has lobbied successfully for the Government to take home Test matches off the "protected" televised events list - a decision which gives cricket the opportunity to negotiate a higher price for screening rights.

"I am very pleased to be continuing in this challenging role," MacLaurin said. "Already we have made considerable progress, although there is still a lot of work to be done."

MacLaurin's first duty will be to meet representatives of the counties and the MCC, who comprise the First Class Forum, to discuss the future structure of the game.