LONDON, July 24: Six years after being told he had six months to live Michael Soper is in line to land the top job in English cricket. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Tuesday that the 61-year-old Soper, along with Somerset chairman Giles Clarke, were the two nominations to replace chairman David Morgan who will become International Cricket Council (ICC) president next year.

A ballot of first-class county chairmen and the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) chairman will decide who succeeds Morgan. The ballot will close on Aug 13 with the result to be announced two weeks later.

Soper, the former chairman of Surrey, was diagnosed with bone and prostate cancer six-and-a-half years ago and was given just months to live.

He was put in touch with specialists in the United States by former Prime Minister and cricket enthusiast John Major and has since defied the gloomy prognosis.—Reuters