Andrew Strauss, the Interim Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, believes the ECB should not be afraid of being “ambitious, bold and radical”.
To that end, the former Ashes-winning captain has set the wheels in motion for a “full independent review into the role and structure of the domestic game”.
Strauss stepped down from his role as Managing Director of Cricket in 2018 to focus on his family life as his late wife Ruth suffered from a rare form of lung cancer. But he is now back in the role on an interim basis having replaced his successor Ashley Giles.
Strauss sat on the ECB Board in a non-voting capacity and headed up the cricket committee, which meant he picked through Giles’ report into England’s 4-0 Ashes drubbing.
He said that one of the recommendations from the cricket committee was a full review into the structure of county cricket, which was bemoaned by captain Joe Root, former coach Chris Silverwood, and Giles.
This would appear to be the first step in the “red-ball reset” that Tom Harrison, the Chief Executive of the ECB, said was required ahead of the final Ashes defeat in Hobart last month.
“One of the recommendations that came out of the cricket committee review was for a full independent review into the role and structure of the domestic game, with particular focus on its suitability to produce international cricketers,” said Strauss.
“That has gone to the board. We are reaching the next steps on that, which are, if it takes place, what are the terms of reference for that group, and the makeup of the group.”
Strauss does not believe that domestic cricket is entirely responsible for England’s misfiring Test team, but believes change is required because it’s a “contributing factor”.
"I think it’s very fair to say that you cannot lump the Ashes defeat on the domestic game’s door, it’s a contributing factor,” he said.
“I would say that I have spoken to a lot of people in and around the game over the last 18 months. I don’t think there are very many at all who believe the domestic structure is best suited to International cricketers.
“A lot of the analysis when you look at the international and domestic game backs that up as well. We need to be ambitious, we need to be bold and be prepared to be radical in the solution to those issues.
“What we need to do is best replicate the challenges of international cricket in our domestic game. That is very clear and I don’t think anyone would disagree with that.”
