CEO outlines role requirements

The change to the high-performance unit that oversees the on-field efforts of top-level men's and women's team will require the appointment of a leader with "deep cricket experience", Cricket Australia Chief Executive Kevin Roberts has confirmed.

In a significant management restructure released today, it was revealed that Executive General Manager Team Performance Pat Howard will leave the role he has held since 2011 next week.

That is ahead of the planned departure date he had earlier foreshadowed, which coincided with the expiration of his contract in mid-2019.

Howard, who was the inaugural appointee in a role created following recommendations contained in the 2011 Argus Review into the poor results of Australia's men's team, came to the position from a background in business and was a former rugby international and coach.

Former Australia women's captain Belinda Clark will serve as interim EGM Team Performance until a permanent appointment is made in the new year, and while Roberts would not speculate on changes that might be made to the high-performance structure, he indicated a cricket background would be required to lead it.

Image Id: 0BB0A6DE2B144C758ABCCB6F223E3E2C Image Caption: Fomer Australia captain Belinda Clark // Getty

"I think it's imperative that we do have deep cricket experience in the role going forward," Roberts said today.

"Pat had a much deeper experience of cricket than he was given credit for, and had a lot of cricket experts around him.

"Pat has really brought high-performance in cricket into the 21st Century, and there's been some significant success.

"I've got a huge amount of respect for Pat, and his courage and what he brought to the game.

"But I'll be seeking the counsel of other cricket experts in terms of determining our future direction.

"It's too early to say what changes might be made.

"I think what's really important is that we at Cricket Australia need to embrace the players, and we need to make sure that the players feel a really valued part of Cricket Australia.

"There's no doubt that we need face up to the (recent Ethics Centre culture) review and acknowledge that the organisation hasn't been united enough across the playing and non-playing sides.

"We're really committed to driving that unification, and ensuring that the players feel they're a really valued part of Cricket Australia."

During his seven-year tenure, Howard oversaw World Cup wins and Ashes series triumphs for both the men's and women's outfits.

He also recently noted that since the men's team 0-3 drubbing in Sri Lanka in 2016, they had won as many Tests in Asia (including the UAE) as the combined victory tally for other 'non-Asian' Test nations England, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies playing in those conditions.

However, the independent culture review, conducted by the Ethics Centre in the wake of last March's ball-tampering scandal and released last week, found "the focus on winning and the success of the Australian men's team has pushed the rest of Australian cricket into a subservient role".

Roberts identified the mending of the relationship between CA and its players as a priority and confirmed that another of the Ethics Centre report's 42 recommendations – that  CA meet with their Australian Cricketers' Association counterparts within 30 days to address differences with the players' union – would "happen, absolutely".

He also revealed that the ACA's submission to lift the bans imposed on former captain Steve Smith and his ex-deputy David Warner (12 months) and opener Cameron Bancroft (nine months) for their roles in the ball-tampering episode had been sent to the CA Board as flagged by the union last week.

"It (the ACA submission) was addressed to the Board rather than to me, or management, so it's not for me to comment on a Board matter other than to say the Board will be respecting that submission and giving it due consideration," Roberts said.

"We've got a long way to go in our relationship with the ACA.

"I can't, and won't hide from that, but what I will say is we're very, very genuine in wanting to build that partnership into the future.

"It's a time for reflection and for learning, a time for us to deepen our relationships and it's important that we show leadership and show that we're not about words, but we're about actions."

In addition to Howard's earlier-than-expected departure, Roberts announced that CA's EGM of Broadcasting and Commercial, Ben Amarfio, had also left the organisation, effective immediately.

Amarfio had delivered this year's record $1.18 billion broadcast rights deal that covers the next six years, and his role will be filled by his lieutenant in those negotiations, Stephanie Beltrame, who will act as interim EGM Broadcasting and Commercial until a permanent appointment is made.

"Both Pat (Howard) and Ben have brought a lot, and given a lot to the game of cricket," Roberts said.

"Ben Amarfio has brought cricket into the 21st Century in terms of media as well."

Roberts said the accompanying management changes unveiled today will be the last wide-scale changes to CA's executive structure, apart from the confirmation of permanent appointments to some roles currently filled on a short-term basis.

"You won't be hearing significant change at the executive level in the months ahead, other than some interim appointments that have been made ultimately becoming permanent, in whatever form that looks like," he said.

"So from here-on, we're about growing and building and moving beyond these tough decisions and tough times for some people we really respect, to take the game forward.

"We're really sincere in our efforts to keep improving, and we'll be trying to do that every day as a more unified organisation that embraces our players and takes a long-term view to supporting out performance on the field.

"So we'll be respectful, but I wouldn't say that we're walking a tightrope."