GREG Chappell is in danger of becoming the most high-profile casualty from Cricket Australia’s far-reaching review after a scathing report from the players.
Appointed national talent manager and the first full-time selector last August, Chappell’s relationship with the Australian players broke down so badly during the summer’s losing Ashes series, he was eventually banned from the dressing room while the team was batting. One of Australia’s greatest batsmen and captains, Chappell, 63, was described as a caustic influence around the team. “He drove us all mad,” one player said.
There were claims Chappell undermined the coaching staff by becoming involved when he should have been a passive observer.
At least one player complained Chappell told him he was in the team when he had been overlooked and Chappell was also accused by another player of giving mixed messages.
Chappell had an acrimonious two-year term as coach of India from 2005.
The criticism of Chappell was part of damning critiques about the four-man selection panel to the review chaired by former mining and bank boss Don Argus.
The review was tabled at a Cricket Australia board meeting yesterday.
Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch is expected to lose his job, as CA finally appoints a full-time chairman of selectors.
Hilditch was widely criticised for poor communication and he became a public relations disaster for CA after refusing to take any responsibility for the Ashes debacle.
There was also criticism of part-time selectors Jamie Cox and David Boon because of their conflicts of interest with full-time jobs at state level. Boon has since resigned to become an ICC match referee.
There is pressure on CA’s second most powerful administrator, general manager of cricket operations Michael Brown, who received poor reports from the players.
The seven-month review, commissioned after the Ashes failure, takes aim at all aspects of Australian cricket. It is expected to be released today.
CA’s antiquated board, failing development structures, a fading Sheffield Shield competition and the bloated contract system have all been scrutinised.
The 25-man contract system, with players earning between $160 000 and $2 million, was held up as a failure after Simon Katich lost his contract in June and the Test squad to Sri Lanka included three un-contracted players.
The well-performed Katich was denied a CA contract while bit-part one-day players were included.
A chief executive James Sutherland said the review was the most comprehensive examination of Australian cricket ever done.
A wide range of people with elite sports expertise inside and outside cricket had been asked to provide their views, he said, with more than 60 interviewed.
CA declined to comment until the report was made public. (Herald Sun)