ECB 'must revamp cricket' or risk losing funding

English cricket officials have been told to improve the way game is run or risk their funding being cut.

Sport England today said: "Future funding will need to be considered if the governance of English cricket does not embrace reform."

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have come under fire from Sport England following the publication of The Sports Nexus Report on English Cricket, released today.

Roger Draper, chief executive of Sport England, said: "We are concerned that the governance of the ECB may threaten the future growth and success of this sport. We may have to consider future funding if significant changes are not made before cricket's four-year business plan is submitted in November."

The Nexus survey also revealed that England's winning run has failed to lift the pervading sense of gloom around the national team.

Only six per cent of the 3,421 fans questioned felt that the current top form would last more than six years. That suggests that the public has little confidence in a a new crop of world-class players emerging who can match the 7-0 Test whitewash of New Zealand and the West Indies.