Selectors may be next in Australia
The national selectors may have only a matter of months to reverse the fortunes of Australian cricket or risk following their boss Pat Howard out the door.
While Howard’s exit following the scathing findings of The Ethics Centre’s review on top of the dismal performances of the national men’s team has eased some of the pressure, the spotlight now turns to Greg Chappell and, to a lesser extent, Trevor Hohns, who is contracted until 2020.
Some former internationals privately feel Chappell should be the next key figure to step down after Howard’s removal on Wednesday, well before his desired exit of after next year’s Ashes.
Chappell has been a polarising figure in the national system but his methods were dealt a blow by Dr Simon Longstaff’s warts-and-all report into the game which slammed Cricket Australia’s pathways system.
The board appoints the selectors, but Howard’s replacement as high performance boss may want his/her own people.
Former Australia captain Belinda Clark will serve as interim boss of team performance but is believed to be keen to return to her community cricket portfolio with little interest in being Howard’s long-term successor.
Australia’s prospects appear bleak this summer with the absence of senior batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner, who are serving bans for their role in the ball tampering crisis.
The side has won four of its past 20 games, three of which came in Twenty20s against Zimbabwe and the UAE, and will suffer another one-day international series defeat at home if they could not beat South Africa in Adelaide last night.
It then tackles India, who have a golden opportunity to join England and South Africa (twice) as the only nations to topple Australia in a test series on these shores in 30 years.
Chappell has been seen as the champion of the youth-driven focus in selection that has now been strongly critiqued by two reviews.
The former test great was part of the selection panel which controversially axed Simon Katich in 2011, which prompted the former opener to deliver a savage public rebuke of selectors.
The ‘‘potential over performance’’ mantra, however, has continued in Australian cricket to the dissatisfaction of many current and former players.
They are angry at changes made to the cricket system, which they feel have been too heavily geared towards promoting youth at the expense of experienced and betterperformed players.
The introduction of a Cricket Australia XI team to the domestic 50-over competition was one initiative roundly canned by state players who felt the fast-tracking of young talent had weakened the playing standard.
The Longstaff review identified cultural failings as a result of introducing prospective stars to a ‘‘world of privilege’’ at a young age.
‘‘People often spoke about elite male players operating in a ‘bubble’ that neither invests in nor values emotional maturity,’’ the review said.
‘‘One consequence of this is that elite male players lack what might be called a ‘worldly perspective’ – and are perceived to be arrogant, entitled and self-centred.’’
While the Argus review acknowledged ‘‘potential cannot be overlooked’’ it said it was ‘‘critical that superior performance is rewarded at all levels’’.
‘‘Players must earn their positions in the time-honoured way of making runs, taking wickets and showing that they are ready to play at the next level,’’ the review said.