The ECB has outlined a timetable for the re-run of the election for a new ECB chairman. The first ballot ended in a tie between Mike Soper and Giles Clarke, who polled nine votes each with one abstention, and now the process starts again on August 20 with a call to nominations.

New candidates could appear in the race and nominations close at 5pm on September 3. Ballot papers will then be issued by the Electoral Reform Society on September 10 with that stage closing two weeks later on September 24.

The results of the ballot will be announced September 25 and the new chairman will begin his role in October 2007.

After the initial result Soper, who had been favourite, admitted that he had failed to make a strong enough case for his election. "I have to take responsibility for this result and acknowledge that I didn't work hard enough to convince the counties that I was the right man," he said. "I've got to go out and do that now and I am determined to win the second round."