Howard to exit in 2019

Polarising cricket figure out

PAT Howard, one of the most powerful and polarising figures at Cricket Australia, will depart his post after the 2019 Ashes.

Howard was appointed manager of team performance in 2011.

The creation of his senior role, which involves a diverse range of responsibilities that has included the hiring and firing of senior coaches, was one of the key recommendations of the Argus review.

Howard, who has played a leading role in many Australian cricket highs and lows during a turbulent period, will not seek a new contract when his current deal expires next year.

Howard was dispatched to South Africa earlier this year to conduct a formal investiga- tion into the ball-tampering saga alongside head of integrity Ian Roy.

Many pundits have questioned the role Howard played in fostering a win-at-all-costs mentality, one of many subjects set to be covered in the independent cultural review that will be released on Monday.

“The decision is his own and is no way connected to the reviews to be released on Monday,” a CA spokesperson said. “A recruitment process will be decided and announced in due course, but there is plenty of time for this to be considered.”

That Howard has been entrusted to manage Steve Smith and David Warner’s likely return, plus Australia’s World Cup and Ashes defence in England, suggests he has not been pushed by CA.

Many former cricketers were outraged by Howard’s appointment, which came after 20 rugby Tests for the Wallabies and a stint as highperformance manager at Australian Rugby Union (ARU).

Howard has continued to cop plenty of criticism during a turbulent period for Australian cricket, most recently for flagging 30-plus scores as a selection metric.

But Howard has also won plenty of supporters at CA, having served as somewhat of a conduit between the board and team while spearheading several reforms at first-class and junior level.

“We see his ongoing contribution as integral to our future plans,” CA chief executive James Sutherland said after Howard’s previous contract renewal in 2017.