Sutherland came a long way as boss
CA CEO was tried, tested and toughened up in job
THE first time I can remember having a real conversation about outgoing Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland was in 2007 – and it got ugly.
After watching Sutherland stumble through a series of press conferences in relation to the highly emotive “Monkeygate” saga involving Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh, I commented to my boss at the time that he needed some media training.
“He looks silly,” I think I recall saying with a chuckle.
Unbeknownst to me, the boss was a good mate of Sutherland’s and they had even played grade cricket together. Suffice to say, he was not happy with my blunt appraisal.
But the office water cooler chat still seemed to centre on the vitriolic India-Australia series that summer which boiled over on multiple occasions, with Sutherland a key protagonist.
In spite of the fact that he had already been in the top job for six years, the Monkeygate scandal always felt to me like the making of him.
He emerged from it hardened to the unforgiving and relentless nature of his job.
His work with the media became more polished, his answers more refined. He was tested and passed.
It served him in good stead, particularly of late, as the bitter and protracted pay stoush with Australia’s cricketers rolled on last year and even threatened the Ashes.
He’s also overseen the latest TV rights deal which will see cricket coverage leave Channel 9 for a pretty sum to Seven and Foxtel. The negotiations were feisty, with free-to-air stations low-balling initially as broadcasters questioned the value of the product.
The public backhanders were harsh but Sutherland somehow managed to keep a diplomatic tone.
Finally, the ball-tampering saga that cost Australia its two best players, coach and Cameron Bancroft forced Sutherland to make some heartbreaking decisions that would have exacted an emotional toll.
Looking at him on TV recently I couldn’t help but note how much older he looks these days.
Seventeen years as boss is a long time and certainly much longer than any of his NRL, AFL or Football Australia contemporaries have served.
At his press conference, Sutherland said business worked in cycles and CA was entering a new one. After a long ride, perhaps he just realised it was time to hop off.