With a new chief executive, a new captain and no fewer than two new vice-captains, Australian cricket is conjuring a fine appearance of change at the top. And why not? After the last six months, and the second half of its annus horribilis still to unfold this summer, change was unavoidable.
Yet avoid it cricket has. All the deckchairs have been duly shuffled, but few are fooled. After 17 years of James Sutherland as chief executive, Cricket Australia has appointed Kevin Roberts from one door down. Roberts has been on the CA board and then in its management for almost half of Sutherland’s tenure. Roberts can be an agent of change, the board assures us, but not too much, thanks. If it weren’t for the pesky matter of proper governance, you get the sense that they would have liked to stick with good old James for a tad longer.
Similarly, the appointment of Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood as deputies to Tim Paine is not so much a succession plan as an insurance policy, sandbagging the status quo while Steve Smith serves out his suspension. None of Paine, Marsh or Hazlewood will be Australian captain in three years’ time; if CA wanted to groom a next Test captain, they would have placed him among this leadership group. If it weren’t for the pesky matter of ball tampering, you get the sense that they wish all this ‘integrity’ storm would just blow over.
Meet the new boss: Kevin Roberts took over from James Sutherland as Cricket Australia CEO.Credit:AAP
So instead of doing something decisive about the mess it has found itself in, Cricket Australia has instead projected an alternative reality in which there is no mess. CA is quite comfortable with where it is, not so much seizing the future as hedging against it. The attitude speaks of a deep conservatism, of course, but also a satisfaction that has many outside Jolimont scratching their heads and wondering what cricket has to be so smug about.
The case for continuity is based on numbers. That makes sense; this is cricket. The headline numbers are strong. Participation continues to hit new annual records, going past a million registered players. Income from broadcast rights will be $175 million per year over the next six years, up from $118 per year for the last five years, which was more than double the previous five-year deal. Together with increased non-broadcast commercial income, these healthy numbers comprise Sutherland’s legacy. Cricket is wealthy. It has given itself a big pat on the back, by appointing the continuity candidate. More of the same, please.
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