CRICKET Australia will break with tradition and employ its first full-time national selector who will also double as a national talent manager in an initiative designed to appease states and disgruntled players. The need for a full-time selector has long been debated at board level, with CA’s general manager of cricket Michael Brown confirming the time was right to further professionalise the four-man selection panel.
The position will also involve liaising with state talent managers and being a media spokesman when the chairman is unavailable.
“The creation of the position is a wonderful step for the professionalism of Australian cricket,” Brown said.
“The national talent manager will lead the national talent management system and ensure efficient and effective talent identification systems that also embrace national selection philosophies.
“History shows the tremendous job all states have done in identifying cricket talent. This position allows a strengthening of these relationships while at the same time helps player progression plans in conjunction with national and state high performance staff.
“We expect this person to play a key role in managing senior Australian teams and being available to communicate with current players and those who have been identified as potential Australian players.”
Brown will present a paper at CA’s next board meeting outlining the details of how the new system will work.
The role has been advertised nationally but it’s unclear if selection chairman Andrew Hilditch or fellow panellists David Boon, Merv Hughes or Jamie Cox will apply. If it is given to a fresh face, one of the four will have to make way.
It’s hoped the new role will mean there will be a selector in attendance at all state matches, an issue that has concerned players in the past.
Meanwhile, CA is awaiting a response from the Board of Control for Cricket in India about plans to convert the seven-match one-day series in India in October into two Tests and three one-day internationals.
Australia have just two Tests against Pakistan in England next month as preparation for next summer’s home Ashes campaign, with officials hoping the extra Tests would provide a more rounded build-up. (Eurosport)