Conn joins Australian cricket

One of Australia's most respected cricket journalists has joined Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW in a newly-created communications role.

Malcolm Conn, the chief cricket writer for News Limited, is to leave the sports journalism industry after more than 30 years to take the role of Senior Manager – External Communications, NSW.

Conn will lead the Cricket NSW communications department and as well as handling the day-to-day communications function for CA in New South Wales.

He will sit on the leadership team at CNSW and report to Cricket NSW CEO Andrew Jones as well as CA's Senior Manager Communications, Jonathan Rose.

Conn jumped at the chance to join with the ICC Cricket World Cup coming next summer.

"My passion for cricket was cemented as a school boy when I was among 85,000 roaring fans who watched Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson demolish the West Indians at the MCG on Boxing Day 1975," said Conn.

"Over the past 30 years I have had great privilege of covering the Australian cricket team in action at home and away against every Test-playing nation.

"I now look forward to bringing that passion and experience to my new role enhancing Australia's favourite national sport."

A Walkley Award winner, Conn was the chief cricket writer at The Australian between 1992 and 2011, having previously been the paper's chief Australian Rules football writer.

His Walkley came in 1999 following an investigation that revealed Mark Waugh and Shane Warne had taken money from illegal bookmakers to provide pitch and weather information.

A leading campaigner against corruption in cricket, Conn covered match-fixing hearings in Pakistan's Lahore High Court and the Hansie Cronje match-fixing investigation in Cape Town.

CA's Executive General Manager – Media, Communications & Marketing, Ben Amarfio, said he was "thrilled" to have Conn join the organisation.

"We are obviously thrilled to have someone of Mal's experience working in Australian cricket," said Amarfio.

"We know he will make a significant contribution to our aim of continually growing media coverage of our sport in New South Wales and across the country.

"The creation of this joint role between CA and CNSW is a clear demonstration of how collaborative Australian cricket now is.

CNSW CEO Jones added: "He is widely respected and will bring to the role an intimate understanding of the media combined with extensive knowledge of and a deep passion for the game."