Brian Downing, Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) Marketing Advisory Committee, is to retire after nine years during which the promotion and marketing of the game has been transformed.

Along with Terry Blake, the ECB's Marketing Director, Downing undertook four separate television negotiations which helped bring more than UKP 186 million into cricket.

Said Downing, who will retire after the Cricket World Cup in June: ``It's time for me to step down and for someone to come in and take a fresh view. I have loved every minute of the job and will greatly miss it. I'm very positive about the future of the game and I think the ECB is in good hands but the time is right for a change.''

Apart from significantly increasing the revenue for cricket through the former Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB) and the new ECB established at the beginning of 1997 - Downing has overseen the introduction of better marketing and business practices, formalised training and research and reduced the size of the marketing committee, encouraging the recruitment of specialists.

With Terry Blake he has also re-negotiated agreements with sponsors and secured new ones. He helped in the creation of the Cricket Foundation, which facilitates the investment of funds into grass roots cricket and, through the enhancement of the overall business of cricket, helped to generate better salaries for players.

Tim Lamb, Chief Executive of the ECB said: ``Brian's wisdom and expertise has been utilised not only by our Marketing department and others at the centre but also by the Counties, who have benefited considerably from his experience. He has given outstanding service to cricket and I know he will continue to maintain an interest in the sport and its progress.''

Said Lord MacLaurin, Chairman of the ECB: `` Brian Downing has made an enormous contribution to the well being of cricket's economy in the last decade.

``He has brought a shrewdness and professionalism to the game which has enabled us to go fighting fit into the new millennium. Brian will be sadly missed but his legacy is a strong, capable Marketing department led by Terry Blake, who has shared in most of his successes.''

Before dedicating himself to cricket's cause, Downing spent 14 years at Mirror Group Newspapers becoming the Group's first Marketing Director. He was then transferred to IPC Magazines as Managing Director of Women's Magazines and became Deputy Chief Executive of the Group.

He went on to become a Board Director for Extel and finished his career running a range of companies as Chairman within United Newspapers.