The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today received the independent external review into “actions taken and processes followed in relation to payments of £2.5 million to Glamorgan County Cricket Club between December 2017 and June 2018”.

Publication of the report – which was commissioned by ECB and prepared by an independent team from the Good Governance Institute (GGI) – follows presentations to the Chairmen of the First-Class Counties and MCC today and the ECB Board last week.

The external review confirms that there was no evidence that “the decision and the payment lacked legitimacy or legal compliance” or “that the conduct of the ECB is in contravention of its Articles of Association.”

Within their conclusions, GGI state that:

• “Whilst there are a number of important issues which require reflection and action by the new Board of the ECB, in the light of this review, there are no issues of breach of formal policy or procedure which require action against individuals.”
• “The review finds no evidence of failure to fulfil fiduciary requirements, no decisions which reflect conflicts of interest or failure to provide appropriate levels of leadership.”
• There has been “overuse of informal process, lack of effective stakeholder engagement processes, and the historic absence of appropriate levels of trust which should be expected between Board members as the collective leadership.”
• “The type of good governance approach needed to change the underlying culture and place the ECB Board on a sound, longer-term footing, has been instituted by the leadership of the organisation and important corrective action already started to be taken.”
• “The introduction of a more appropriately rigorous approach, driven by a newly-constituted and appointed Board, is the right response.”

Within their Report, and in each of their formal presentations, GGI also set out 11 clear recommendations for the newly-independent Board of the ECB.

Responding to the review, Lord Patel of Bradford, Senior Independent Director of the ECB Board, said: “This has been a valuable look at the way we have handled a significant matter for cricket and has given us important guidance for the way we should work within the game. We thank GGI for their rigorous approach and clear recommendations.

“Their experts have recognised the purpose of the payment, the precedent in place, the process followed and the necessary confidentiality, and that this was documented. 

“Our governance has continued to develop over the last 12 months, with a fully independent Board and improved processes. This has been acknowledged in the report and it is clear that we have the right platform for balanced decision-making. 

“Whilst actions have already been taken on each of the 11 recommendations, we also have plans in place to follow all the guidance and implement the external advice. There are ways in which we can and must continue to improve.”