Cricket Australia is "on the verge" of appointing long-serving Dir Earl Eddings as its next permanent chair as the "embattled governing body begins the healing process after a week of bloodshed," according to Andrew Wu of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. An announcement is "unlikely to come this week" with the board "keen to demonstrate a consultative approach to the states," but "could happen next week." Eddings "loomed as the heir apparent" after being named deputy chair at the annual general meeting two weeks ago, and has "filled in on an interim basis" since former CA Chair David Peever's resignation last week. Eddings is "not considered to be weighed down by any baggage from last year's pay war or the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa." Eddings could also continue serving as interim chair, though "titles matter" when it comes to int'l cricket diplomacy and that could "get in the way of doing business" (SMH, 11/8).
NEXT ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK? Wu also reported national selectors may have "only a matter of months to reverse the fortunes of Australian cricket or risk following" former CA High Performance Manager Pat Howard "out the door." While Howard's exit has "eased some of the pressure, the spotlight now turns" to Greg Chappell and, to a lesser extent, Trevor Hohns, who is contracted until '20. Some former internationals "privately feel Chappell should be the next key figure to step down after Howard's removal." Chappell has been a "polarising figure in the national system," but his methods were "dealt a blow" by Simon Longstaff's "warts-and-all report into the game which slammed Cricket Australia's pathways system" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 11/8).
