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ECB meet to discuss future of Test cricket

The England and Wales Cricket Board will today consider the suggestions for improving Test match cricket that were proposed at the Test Match Strategy Day at Stapleford Park in Leicestershire on Monday.

Six England captains - Andrew Strauss, Michael Atherton, Alec Stewart, Nasser Hussain, Michael Vaughan and Mike Gatting - and numerous past and present Test players - from Dennis Amiss, Ashley Giles, Alastair Cook, Hugh Morris, Angus Fraser, Mike Selvey, Jonathan Agnew, David Lloyd and Geoff Miller - were joined by the chairmen and representatives of the 18 First class counties, representatives of the MCC as well as ECB board members.

Also present were ICC General manager Cricket Dave Richardson, England assistant coach Andy Flower, ICC World Twenty20 director Steve Elworthy and the world's leading umpire Simon Taufel who gave their expert views on a wide range of subjects on what ECB chairman Giles Clarke described as 'an historic day.'

Giles Clarke added; 'I am confident that there has never been such a gathering in the history of cricket in England and Wales. I am extremely grateful for the support of all those who travelled from all corners of the country and the world to share their ideas on the state of Test cricket. Everyone who attended shared the desire that Test cricket be preserved and re-inforced as the pre-eminent form of this great game. It was an enthralling and informative session which allows the ECB board to consider key proposals which will allow us to deliver our promise of making England and Wales the home of Test cricket.'

David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said: ' The input from all areas of cricket provided focus on the key opportunities and issues facing the game. Among those to be taken forward by the Board and discussed at the Strategy Day were:

  • The need to strengthen the Future Tours Programme with a higher percentage of Test Matches to be played between the top teams.

  • To work with ICC to give greater context to Test Cricket through a World Test Championship.

  • To propose to ICC that over rates be improved by using points rewards/penalties within the World Test Championship.

  • To build on the Market Research conducted by ECB in 2008 to meet customer needs.

  • To offer to stage neutral matches in the UK which will assist the high quality venues and facilities in the UK to stage the volume of Major Matches which are required to develop and maintain world class facilities.

  • To support trials of a Decision Referral System in the England v West Indies Test Match Series in the Caribbean.

  • The installation of state of the art drainage at Test Match venues to maximise playing time.

  • To work with venues to ensure that ticket pricing remains good value and is affordable to all.