ECB take on major critic

THE beleaguered ECB, who have lost two directors in the past month, have now started legal action against one of their foremost critics.

ESPN cricinfo’s respected, award-winning writer George Dobell is being sued for his attacks on chairman Colin Graves’ regime — with ECB lawyers Onside Law threatening a defamation case via an initial letter of claim.

Surrey’s Richard Thompson and Somerset’s Andy Nash both quit the board in protest at the way Graves was running the organisation.

Ironically, ESPN are owned by Disney, who could soon end up controlling Sky, who effectively bankroll the ECB through TV rights. The last highprofile ECB legal fight between former chairman Giles Clarke and sports management company IMG cost cricket’s ruling body a huge amount in legal fees before an out-of-court settlement.

Meanwhile, the ECB have announced an external review into Glamorgan being awarded £2.5million for not hosting Test cricket, which was one of the reasons Thompson quit the board.