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.
ChrisB
Guest
He was a bloody good wicket keeper
simmo green
Guest
Players get dropped, coaching staff are let go, it's a fact of life, that's the nature of the business. Simon Katich was a reactionary, a trait he demonstrated all too well in his departure speech and by all accounts, with his immature dressing room antics. There's a significant difference between 'free speech' and pre-pubescent dummy spit. Interesting attempt at forensics CP, but there is no nexus between Simmo and Simoc
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Of course one-eyed Jack, if one had at the very least, the intelligence of an amoeba, you would see that I have agreed with all you say. I'll try to type slower for you.
One-eyed Jack
Guest
I make no claims as to who fired Rixon or why. I could care less. What are you dribbling about? All it takes is eyes, ears and an intellect above that of an amoeba to see that he had a negative impact on the team. If he is so wonderful and has such a positive influence over the team, why isn't still calling the shots?
CoverPoint
Guest
Sure bigbaz, we are all entitled to our opinions. The criticism has occurred for a reason. If Howard had come in with good policies and guidance initially, then more fans and past players of the game (many of whom have been critical) might have given him more credit. Unfortunately, his contribution has not been perceived positively.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
As I said CoverPoint, he's there to blame for the bad things, now we going better he's not required except to blame for unfortunate occurances like Rixon. That he is performance manager and we are now performing better has nothing to do with him.Boof ofcourse employed himself. I think I'm actually pretty hard on Mr Howard, I want to sack and behead him.
CoverPoint
Guest
I think Simon Katich had every reason to be upset. He should never have been dropped, a point that was even acknowledged by the Chairman of CA, Edwards. I think debate and free speech are a good thing but according to Simmo Green and Simoc, there cannot be any debate about cricket administrators and all criticism must be stifled. BTW, are the similar names just a coincidence?
CoverPoint
Guest
Are you Pat Howard's spokesman or something? He has a title of "performance manager" and the the test team went through one of the worst periods of performance in history (in terms of consecutive losses) and his pet rotation policy was discredited and thrown out. Oh and under his "high performance" regime, there have been more injuries to bowlers than anyone can recall in a test a team. It's a good thing he has taken a back seat.
simmo green
Guest
I listened to the Rixon interview on the BSB and he really made a goose of himself. Stated clearly that he 'did not want to get into a slanging match' and then proceeded to tee off on Howard in a calculated and demeaning way. It reminded me of Simon Katich's exit, nothing but a petulant, unwanted outburst. Boo hoo, got the sack, why me? I don't know a lot about Steve Rixon, but I do know he's a) A poor communicator b) He's reactionary and c) He has no dignity
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Yeh one-eyed jack, he's only there to blame for the bad things, good things are not his bag. He was not a part of hiring Boof but he is responsible for firing Rixon. I agree with you, off with his head.
one-eyed jack
Guest
boof doesn't want Howard as part of the team either. what is he doing now? planning second Xi fixtures or some other equally non-influential role. he certainly isn't part of the brains trust as he was under tricky mickey where he had the final say on who would or would not be playing. a sort of super selector role through which he and tricky destroyed the dressing room culture of playing together as a team. it is no surprise that all the players now talk about how boof has simplifed things and brought back the enjoyment of playing cricket. the opposite of that was what howard and tricky implemented.
one-eyed jack
Guest
that has all happened since tricky mickey got the flick, howard was told to go away and sit in a corner and boof took over as coach. the indian fiasco and the rotation policy of dropping in form players based on predicted injuries are his majir contributions. don't credit him with boof's success. he had no real role around the oz team once boof arrived.
Simoc
Guest
Maybe smashing the Poms every time but one is a poor performance for Art. Poor pointless article. Darren Lehmann doesn't want Rixon in his team. That's what he said. Rixon is showing his class (or lack of).
bigbaz
Roar Guru
So we are winning at all forms ATM, ratings have never been better, crowds are way up and the ACB just signed there biggest $ deal.I agree, sack him.
CoverPoint
Guest
It's pretty obvious what Howard had done wrong: Rotation system which has been a disaster and actually more injuries than ever.
Brett McKay
Expert
I'm curious, Art. What exactly IS Rixon's point about Howard? Because every time he's been asked what his beef is with Howard or CA, he just says he doesn't want to get into a slanging match..
jameswm
Guest
HOward better have been a good rugby player because he's useless as a cricket administrator. That was the insinuation.
Bobo
Guest
What I love about this article is that it doesn't actually say what Howard has done wrong. Everyone from Steve Waugh to Adam Glchrist is sugested as the messiah, without any explanation of what it is that they would do, and how it would be better.
sportfreak
Guest
What exactly did Rixon mean when he said, 'Pat Howard better be a good Rugby player'? Is steve threatening to crash-ball him or something?