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Argus Review gets it right and wrong with criticisms

Expert
19th August, 2011
37
8261 Reads
Injured Australian captain Ricky Ponting (right) and acting captain Michael Clarke (left)

Injured Australian captain Ricky Ponting (right) and acting captain Michael Clarke (left). AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Don Argus has managed the impossible. He’s nailed the problems within Australian cricket, yet got it horribly wrong, all in the one statement.

Cricket Australia released the long-awaited Argus Review yesterday that was charged with finding why the baggy greens were flogged 3-1 in the last Ashes series and why Australia is a lowly fifth in the world Test rankings.

In short, what’s wrong with Australian cricket?

The background:

With the former BHP Billiton chairman in charge, three former Test captains – Allan Border, Mark Taylor, and Steve Waugh – were on the investigation panel with Malcolm Speed, the former CEO of Cricket Australia and the ICC.

It was a formidable group that interviewed 61 cricket-orientated personnel ranging from players, coaches, and interested parties, to the media.

But how Cricket Australia could describe the Review as independent when Border, Taylor, Waugh, and Speed are all high-profile and deeply entrenched members of the establishment, made a mockery of the description.

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And the Review.

The result:

Three national selectors – Andrew Hilditch gone, Greg Chappell gone, and Jamie Cox gone, with coach Tim Nielsen about to go.

The Review didn’t have to be rocket scientists to come to the conclusion the selectors, and the coach, were solely responsible for the Ashes flogging.

Not only did the selection panel do a diabolical job throughout the series, but chairman Hilditch’s inane comments throughout the five Tests constantly made headlines for all the wrong reasons, culminating in the most incredible quote of all time.

“We did a pretty good job,” was Hilditch at his most unpredictable worst.

Jamie Cox has been way out of his league from day one, but I must admit I’m surprised Greg Chappell has been pilloried by the Review as being abrasive and unsettling to the team.

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That doesn’t compute.

Ricky Ponting apart, Chappell was 10 times the cricketer compared to the rest of the team, and he’s forgotten more about cricket than the entire team, including Ponting.

Could it be Chappell has been telling some home truths to the more “precious” members of the team, who have spat the dummy to the Review?

Whatever the reason, selection will be deleted from Chappell’s national talent manager’s brief, at a time when he was all set to be selection chairman.

This is where the Argus Review loses the plot completely.

It suggests a full-time chairman, two casual selectors, plus the captain, and coach: a panel of five, one more than before.

Unbelievable, no way.

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Selectors select, players play, and nair the twain shall meet.

Throw them all in together, and that could open a tin of worms capable of decimating a side.

How could any player with a problem go to his skipper or coach for resolution, knowing he could be dropped for being honest about what was worrying him.

Michael Slater went through that process in England in 2001 and was shown the door, ending a stellar career on an unfair sour note.

Besides, three selectors is perfect.

There are only three first-class games on in Australia at the one time. The panel needs minimising, not maximising.

A full-time chairman is warranted with Rod Marsh and former chairman Trevor Hohns the early front-runners.

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Need go no further than Marsh, who would be an outstanding selection, the proof resting in the fact he’s been an integral cog in England’s machinery to become the world’s number one Test side, just as Hohns would be a second time disaster.

Heaven forbid, he honed Hilditch.

But the other two selectors must be full-time, as well. Their additional brief would be to find tomorrow’s internationals, and not rely entirely on state selectors to produce new talent.

Selection potentials are exciting, with Darren Lehmann, Geoff Lawson, Steve Rixon, John Dyson, and Tom Moody all highly-qualified to fill those two spots. All of them have been successful coaches as well as selectors.

Dean Jones has also indicated he’s interested, but as he’s the Matt Giteau of cricket, he shouldn’t be considered.

Which leaves current coach Tim Nielsen, whose brief will be up-graded in lieu of the Review, and he must apply for the new position. Clearly, Nielsen won’t be qualified enough to cope with a more accountable role.

That leaves the five I’ve nominated as selectors for coaching potentials, and you can add former South African coach Mickey Arthur, now with Western Australia, as a contender.

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As if the Argus Review hasn’t made enough mistakes, it’s gone one further promoting a new general manager post to overseer all facets of team performance, selection, coaching, the Centre of Excellence, and dealing with state officials – answering only to CA boss James Sutherland.

A big brother, doubling up on responsibilities. If everyone did their job properly, CA doesn’t need a general manager.

There were many other issues covered by the Review such a player contracts, Sheffield Shield, wickets, and grade cricket, but we have covered what immediately impacts on the national team.

And it doesn’t make good, nor encouraging, reading.

Argus’ own words in summation – “Lack of accountability, and the objective of really performing was something that wasn’t in the jargon that was coming through”.

That being the case, how did CA chairman Jack Clarke, the entire CA Board, and chief exec James Sutherland, escape the Argus net?

Surely, the buck stops at the top.

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Clarke was honest enough to admitL “It is clear, with the benefit of hindsight, there are some issues that could have been addressed earlier”,

All of which makes the Argus Review just a bit better than a non-event, providing far more questions than answers.

And it took seven months to get there?

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