New chairman keen to ensure fair deal for all
THE introduction of a franchisebased T20 competition is an inevitability, according to Daryl Mitchell, but the new chairman of the Professional Cricketers’ Association has vowed to get all players a fair deal.
Worcestershire opening batsman Mitchell was announced as PCA chairman on Thursday, replacing former Glamorgan wicketkeeper Mark Wallace, who served the maximum two terms and has subsequently retired from cricket.
The 33-year-old Mitchell – who was replaced as Worcestershire captain in favour of Joe Leach at the end of last season – came out on top in a ballot of all current county cricketers in England and will serve an initial two-year term once ratified at the PCA AGM next week.
One of the main issues for Mitchell to address will be the polarising, franchise-based, eight-team T20 competition set to be introduced in the next few years – but that’s a challenge he is relishing.
“It’s an exciting time for cricket, there is going to be change and from a PCA point of view it’s about making sure that we get our views across about how that change happens,” explained Mitchell.
“With the new T20, which is inevitable, we need to make sure that it’s a fair deal for the players – not only the 90-96 who are going to be involved in the competition but also the other 300-plus pros out there around the counties.
“It’s important that the questions of our 400-strong members about how it will all work are answered and that was the crux of my manifesto.
“I think most players are excited more than worried. There’s a lot more money coming into the game and that can only be good for the counties.
“It should also have a knockon effect to the players in the form of salaries.
“The devil will be in the detail. We need to know how the competition is going to be run, how many players are going to be involved, what’s going to run alongside and how it’s going to affect other competitions.”
Mitchell narrowly beat Graham Onions, Paul Horton, James Hildreth and Steven Crook to the PCA chairmanship.
His dismissal as Worcestershire skipper will presumably give the Badseyborn opener more time to focus on the PCA, but he’s adamant he could have combined both roles.
“I wanted to continue as captain but I would have done this as well,” added Mitchell. “It was very tough losing the captaincy but as soon as I signed a new contract I drew a line under that and have moved on.“It should give me more time to score runs and concentrate on being chairman of the PCA, so it might be a blessing in disguise.”