Cricket Australia Chair Wally Edwards "has promised a complete review of the domestic schedule, a topic of angst for players," according to Chloe Saltau of THE AGE. Ahead of CA's annual meeting and regular board meeting in Melbourne this week, Edwards also revealed that Australia "would still owe matches to India under reciprocal touring arrangements after the seven-game ODI series in India." The unbalanced domestic program "is a major concern to players." Many "believe that the Big Bash League is too long while the Ryobi Cup, transformed into an early season carnival on suburban grounds in Sydney, is too short," marginalizing the 50-over format 18 months before Australia and New Zealand host the World Cup. Edwards said, "My perception of what we have done this year has been pretty good, but it will all be reviewed" (THE AGE, 10/23). In Sydney, Andrew Wu wrote CA "is putting a host of Australia's brightest young stars through a leadership program that has the potential to unearth the next two long-term Test captains." CA Performance Manager Pat Howard "did not reveal the names of those participating" but sources said that Test players Steve Smith, Matthew Wade and Phillip Hughes headline a list of potential next-generation leaders involved. The program, which is aimed at improving and developing leadership skills in Australian cricket's male and female programs, "is also extended to players fresh out of CA's junior programs" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/23).
