John Carr, cricket operations manager at the ECB responsible for handling scorers and umpires, said yesterday: ``We hope very much that the matter will be resolved amicably. But if the worst happened we would bring in other scorers.''

Carr added: ``We are disappointed the scorers are contemplating this action. We understand their feelings but we must reserve the right to appoint the man best fitted for the job. It has to be understood that we do not operate a closed shop.''

The Association of County Cricket Scorers have accused the ECB of ``duplicity'' over the appointment of Malcolm Ashton, scorer for BBC television, for the England winter tour of the Caribbean. They are to meet later this month to vote on strike action, complaining that because the job is so poorly rewarded and regarded, the England tour should be a compensatory 'perk'.

Ashton, the man at the centre of the storm, said: ``I can understand the scorers feelings but I have my own ambitions and career to pursue.''

Although 10 of 18 first-class scorers signed the strike proposal, Ted Lester, chairman of the scorers' association, stressed that militancy was a last resort. ``We are not naturally like that,'' he said.