• Richard Thompson has been chosen as the new chairman of the ECB.
• The 55-year-old is the founder of the talent agency M&C Saatchi Merlin.
• Thompson will be in charge of the ECB’s response to racism scandals that have rocked the game.

Richard Thompson has been chosen as the new chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). This ends a nine-month search for the top administrator in the English game.

Since Ian Watmore quit in October after the controversial cancellation of England’s scheduled tour of Pakistan, the ECB has been without a permanent chairman.

Thompson, who is 55, was thought to be one of the best candidates to replace Watmore because he had done well financially and athletically at Surrey.

Thompson is the founder of the talent agency M&C Saatchi Merlin. He will be in charge of the ECB’s ongoing response to the racism scandals that have rocked the English game in the past year after former spinner Azeem Rafiq said he was abused while playing for Yorkshire.

“Cricket should be the most inclusive sport in the country, welcoming people from all backgrounds, helping bring communities together,” Thompson said in a statement.

“For those communities where we have fallen short, I will work tirelessly to restore their trust in the game.”

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