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While I’m no great fan of Steve Rixon as a coach, I think he’s spot on when it comes to his criticism of Cricket Australia’s Pat Howard and the atmosphere that has backed the players, coaches and selectors into a corner, fearful of what will be done next.
A system is required which is more professional and less sexy.
One that is by all means instituted by the board of CA, but with a professional cricket team environment – not a public service “let’s try this” mentality, such as was used with Mickey Arthur and Pat Howard.
Since early 2012, I have advocated the hiring of a General Manager of all CA’s on-field cricket matters. A person with cricket and business qualifications.
Not Pat Howard.
I also advocate that the team be managed on-field by a cricket and management skilled person such as Darren Lehmann, Justin Langer, Tom Moody, Darren Berry or an even better candidate if one exists.
The T20 and 50-over teams could be coached/managed by someone under the above two’s control – a system that the ECB uses.
The Australian Selectors might also be better served in other roles in cricket such as assisting in elite coaching, development and talent identification.
Someone like Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor or Adam Gilchrist could be GM, Lehmann could be manager, and all the coaches they appoint – be they part-timers like Shane Warne or full-timers like Michael Di Venuto – can select the team from game to game with the GM and the manager.
In the Big Bash League, that ‘system’ (still developing) is largely in place. Winning on the park is a huge business, best served by people willing to put their neck on the block, not guys with no actual skin in the game.
There has to be something at stake and management need to have to like the process of being in a dog-eat-dog environment, dealing with media and public criticism.
They have to be the face of Australian cricket on the park. No place to hide.
These guys are directly responsible for the atmosphere around the team. No outsiders allowed.
And CA will fire them if they feel there is impropriety or poor results and get someone better. That’s their job as a board.
And if they get it wrong, they can be fired from the board too. We need accountability at all levels.
Success on the park is the only criteria – and let’s face it, Australia only has two countries in South Africa and India to beat after thrashing the Poms – so it doesn’t have to be rocket science.
I feel for Pat Howard. Someone on the CA board had a bright idea and he was thrust into a world that is beyond his expertise in cricket.
Did Alex Ferguson appoint David Collier of the ECB to run Manchester United on the park?
Did John O’Neill appoint Steve Waugh to be GM of the ARU on the field?
I don’t think so. Specialist positions need specific sporting knowledge.
James Sutherland seems to have the ear of the board and the team in an admin role. Leave him there.
But get someone who understands how cricket, with all its politics, operates on the park and off.
Someone who is tough and visionary and empathetic to cricketers’ needs.
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