A number of boardroom-level changes were revealed by the ECB on Friday, one of which is that Andrew Strauss will step down as the performance cricket committee’s head and strategic advisor.
Since September 2020, Strauss, the former captain of England, has carried out both roles. He is well-respected in the English game, in part because of his close relationships with many of the current players. Between 2015 and 2018, he was the England men’s cricket team’s director. From February to May 2022, he again served in that position on an interim basis.
In the most recent High-Performance Review for Men, Andrew Strauss oversaw 17 recommendations for English cricket to think about and put into practice following a 4-0 loss in the 2021–22 Ashes.
However, two of the review’s main tenets—the proposed restriction of County Championship games and designated times for domestic limited-overs cricket—were not adopted because they fell short of receiving the minimal support of at least 12 of the 18 counties.
Strauss has decided to leave the ECB since he has taken on external tasks. At the annual general meeting of the board later this month, he will formally retire.
In a statement, Strauss said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time at the ECB and am proud of having contributed to a successful period for our England teams. With increasing commitments outside of the organisation, sadly I’ve decided it’s time to step away from my current role. I wish the new board all the very best as it continues in its mission to grow our game.”
ECB chief executive Richard Thompson offered his thanks: “Andrew has given outstanding service to English cricket over many years in a number of different roles. I’ve greatly valued the advice and expertise he has provided in my time as chair, and have enjoyed working with him.”
“We are currently implementing the vast majority of recommendations from his impressive High-Performance Review, which I believe will help our England men’s teams to sustain their success. I have no doubt he has much more to contribute to the game and hope he will return in the future.”
In addition, the ECB has appointed Penny Avis, Baroness Zahida Manzoor, Jennifer Owen Adams, and Gareth Williams as new non-executive directors to the board.
Both Baroness Manzoor, chair of the Financial Ombudsman Service, and Avis, who is now the senior independent director of the PGA European Tour, will hold the position of independent non-executive directors.
Williams, the current chair of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, and Adams, the current chair of Cricket Wales, will join as non-executive directors for the sport of cricket. In due course, it will be confirmed that two additional cricket non-executive directors have been appointed.
On the new appointments, Thompson said: “It gives me great pleasure in welcoming Zahida, Jennifer, Penny and Gareth onto our Board. They are all exceptional leaders with demonstrable strategic experience and expertise across a range of different fields, and are all passionate about our sport.”
“The ECB is privileged to be able to call upon their knowledge, communication skills, integrity, judgement, and independence. We look forward to having all four leading and supporting the growth of cricket in England and Wales at this vital time for our game, as we seek to make cricket the most inclusive sport in the UK.”