Iain Fletcher: Stumped Clarke should do right thing and walk

HAS GILES Clarke, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, any shame? It is a pertinent question. To most decent people, embroiling the governing body of a sport you love in a far-reaching criminal investigation would be grounds for dismissal. In Clarke's case a quiet press conference in which he admitted responsibility for embarrassing a venerable institution and a mea culpa ending in a dignified resignation would do.

It is not hard and yet still he stubbornly pronounces to all that he is 'going nowhere'. His defence? That the $100m five-year deal with the helicopter-landing, Test cricket-hating Sir Allen Stanford, he who spent two days on the run last week avoiding FBI agents desperate to serve him complainant papers, was done 'with the best of intentions'.

What? Who cares? The fact is a man in his position has to be judged on the consequences of his actions, not the intentions.

So the ECB has now cancelled all contracts and dealings with Stanford. The much-touted Quadrangular tournament that was scheduled for May in England has gone and with it the money that Clarke was so keen to accrue to bolster the ECB finances.

Every shred of dignity and good corporate governance that the ECB had garnered under the shrewd leadership of Lord MacLaurin a decade ago has vanished and what is left is a laughing stock.

It is incomprehensible that Clarke is still in office supported by a spineless selection of county chairmen desperate for the 50,000 that Clarke's deal with Stanford brought.

The chairmen who refused to listen to Lord Marland a fortnight ago when he campaigned against Clarke in the elections for ECB chairman should hang their heads in shame. They could have disagreed with him and still voted for Clarke. At the least that would have honoured good practice by the custodians of the county clubs.

Amazing what 50,000 can buy.

If English cricket wants to get serious about administration, the stranglehold that the self-serving first-class counties have on the structure has to be broken. But getting them to vote for it is the old turkeys voting for Christmas gag.

It was the counties that did for MacLaurin when he tried to drag them into the new century with good governance, good accounting and an appreciation that money in sport needed to be carefully husbanded.

Instead they veered towards the bling and glitter. Clarke is their man and therefore the counties have got exactly what they deserved, a reputation around the world as a shambles.

It is of great credit to the players that while Stanford was trying to flee they played superbly in the rearranged Test match. Indeed on the field the five days reminded all why cricket is such a loved game. The players were thoroughly tested in difficult circumstances and the match went to the last delivery with one wicket needed for victory. It was compelling, from Andrew Strauss's century on day one to Fidel Edwards' nervous stonewalling as the shadows lengthened on the final evening.

There was an evident change in dynamic among the team. Strauss, courtesy of his attacking century, dominated as the captain, Graeme Swann continues to improve as a teasing, chirpy spinner, Owais Shah seized his belated opportunity and Kevin Pietersen was somewhat diminished. It might do him good.

The cost for England was the injury to Flintoff. He hobbled and grimaced and yet showed admirable stoicism by continuing to bowl. England needed him on the field and he unselfishly put the needs of the team before his own. His hip injury will need some care and rehabilitation and it could force him out of a lucrative IPL stint in April.

The good thing about Freddie is he isn't obsessed with cash. Maybe he should be chairman of the ECB.

Flintoff out

ENGLAND all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will miss the fourth Test against West Indies in Barbados this week because of a right hip injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said yesterday.

A scan on Friday revealed Flintoff, who was troubled by the injury in the drawn third Test in Antigua this week, had strained a muscle.

"He will be reassessed over the coming days in the hope that he will be fit for the final Test in Trinidad and the one-day series which follows," the ECB said.

Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara could be in line for a call-up after flying in from the A team tour in New Zealand as cover. Seamer Amjad Khan has also been added to the squad. Both could play in a two-day warm-up match starting today.

The latest injury is worrying for 31-year-old Flintoff, who has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, mainly to his ankle.