Lord MacLaurin, who is standing down as the chairman of the ECB after a five-year stint, has urged the English game to continue with his programme of reforms. MacLaurin, who has overseen the introduction of central contracts, as well as the creation of a two-division county structure, insists that the game cannot rest on its laurels: "There has been radical change but we cannot stop that," he told BBC Radio Five Live. "We are not a rich sport. A number of counties are reporting losses and we have got a two-year window to get our house in order before we need to re-negotiate broadcasting contracts.

"We have to look at the structure of the game and make it more efficient," added MacLaurin. "You only have to look at other sports. Revenue is down, broadcasting revenue is down and sponsorship is hard to get. You need to be firm and ready for any eventualities. We have got to have a functional committee structure and a more streamlined management."

MacLaurin accepted that the success of English cricket depended largely on the success of the national side. Tests and one-day internationals provide the vast majority of the game's income, both from gate receipts and as a result of the £150million television contracts with Channel 4 and Sky.

"You need a successful England side," said MacLaurin. "Everything starts there and filters its way down to the grass roots."

"But I think the England side over the last couple of years, since the miserable showing in the World Cup, has gone from strength to strength," he added. "Since the appointment of Duncan Fletcher the team has got stronger and a huge credit has to go to the captain, Nasser Hussain."

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd