Now Soper considers U-turn

Mike Soper, the man who was poised to defeat Lord MacLaurin and move to the summit of English cricket, may now reconsider his decision to stand in September's election.

MacLaurin today confirmed that he will not seek a fourth term as chairman of the England Cricket Board.

But Surrey chief Soper, who looked set to win a two-horse race after steadily picking up promises of votes around the country, faces a dilemma if popular vice-chairman David Morgan, from Glamorgan, now steps forward.

"If I had to vote for anyone, apart from myself, it would be for David Morgan," Soper told Standard Sport today. "If he does now put his hat in the ring, and I'm 95 per cent sure he will, then I'll need to reconsider my position."

Morgan refused to stand against MacLaurin for reasons of loyalty. Now he, and other potential candidates like former England captain and ex-MCC president Tony Lewis, have until 27 August to file nomination papers.

"I know how good David is," added Soper. "He's very straight and I rate him very highly. But, at the same time, several county chairmen have told me that as I've gone this far I should carry on." Soper, who has terminal cancer and does not expect "to be on this planet for more than another five years", only decided to stand when MacLaurin told him in March he would not seek reelection.

"Then he changed his mind," added the Surrey boss.

"I think for the first three or four years he did a superb job. But I don't think today's news is any great surprise. The indications I've been getting from other chairmen are that some of his proposed reforms are considered too far and too quick."

MacLaurin may have sensed he was losing ground to Soper. Today, though, the former boss of Tesco who now sits on the board of Vodafone, said business pressures were behind his decision to step down at the end of this summer after six years in the top job at Lord's.

"I no longer have the necessary time to devote to this very important role," said MacLaurin, whose reign will be remembered for the introduction of central contracts, a two-divisional county championship, the England Academy and the de-listing of cricket on terrestrial TV.

The Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy semifinal between Yorkshire and Surrey has been put back 24 hours after rain washed out play at Headingley today.