Lord Marland Pulls Out Of Election

Lord Marland has withdrawn from the election for the chairmanship of the England and Wales Cricket Board leaving incumbent Giles Clarke to run unopposed for a further two-year term.

Marland, the former Conservative Party treasurer and a key member of Boris Johnson’s campaign to become Mayor of London, made a late challenge in the election, registering his interest in standing for the post just prior to the deadline a fortnight ago.

However the 52-year-old has now stood down citing a lack of county support for his challenge.

He stated: “‘I hope that my candidacy has thrown light on issues that must be urgently addressed in English cricket. Not least the absence of a structure which enables our excellent national players and team to flourish.

‘The fractures within our domestic game, our standing with our traditional overseas partners, and the finances of the sport, have all combined to create a toxicity in the sport.’

To oust Clarke, Marland would have needed 10 votes from the 18 first-class counties and the MCC, but he claims several counties refused even to meet him to hear his views.

Marland had positioned himself as the ‘unifying candidate’ and the man needed to end the ‘current divisiveness’ within the English game. He was openly critical in media interviews of Clarke’s reign in particular the handling of Kevin Pietersen’s dismissal as captain.

Former Somerset chairman Clarke, who became the head of English cricket’s governing body in September 2007, is now likely to be voted in unopposed for a second term when the ballot closes early next week.