SYDNEY: Former Australian cricket captain and renowned broadcaster Mark Taylor announced his resignation from the Board of Directors (BOD) of Cricket Australia (CA) on Monday, a week after the Longstaff cultural review was released by the governing body.
Taylor began his innings as director from September 2004, being re-elected for the post in June 2013. Recently, he had been considered as one of the hot favourites to replace David Peever as the chairman of CA, who had resigned last week. However, Taylor cited ‘conflict of interest’ as one of the reasons for not pursuing higher ambitions due to his media commitments.
With Taylor’s resignation, Australian cricket’s foundations have been rocked like never before, with the captain, vice-captain, coach, CEO and chairman positions changing hands as well within eight months following the Newlands ball tampering scandal.
It gives interim chairman Earl Eddings another headache, having also been thrusted with the responsibility of searching for a full-time chairman besides repairing CA’s relationships with the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) and state associations amongst stakeholders criticising the board for its administration.
Eddings said: “While we would like Mark to continue as a Director on the Board, we appreciate his reasons and have accepted his resignation. Mark has given an enormous amount to Australian cricket over three decades as a player, captain and Board member.
“A prolific opening batsman, and widely regarded as one of Australia’s best captains, Mark has been a statesman of the game, showing great leadership on and off the field.
“Mark was appointed to the Cricket NSW Board the year he finished playing in 1999.
“He spent 12 years as a state Board member, combining this with his national Board role for a time.
“Mark has played a significant role in helping build and shape relationships within the cricket community, specifically with players past and present, and in his role as Director has always worked collaboratively with key parties to put the interests of Australian cricket first.
“It’s been an honour to have an icon of Australian Cricket serving on the Board of Cricket Australia, and our best wishes go to Mark. We thank him for his ongoing commitment and valuable insights to the game.
“While it has been a difficult few weeks for Australian Cricket, The Board of Cricket Australia and the Executive team are committed to rebuilding and earning the trust of the cricket community.”
Taylor commented on his resignation: “With a total of 13 years Board service, and as Cricket Australia’s current longest-serving Director, I reached this decision following a high degree of soul searching and, importantly, having the game’s best interests clearly in mind.
“I have always appreciated serving cricket at this peak level, especially as it enabled me to repay my gratitude at being given the ultimate privilege and honour of representing my country, along with the added rare honour of being appointed its captain.
“Following on from the events in March this year that rocked the cricketing world, and the ongoing damage this created for our game, including vital employer-employee relationships, my principle brief has been to work hard at fostering and restoring a workable, meaningful and respectful understanding between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association, especially at a time when both parties were still recovering from the prolonged spirited, vigorous, and, sometimes, toxic MoU negotiations dating back to mid-2017.
“As Australian cricket faces up to its latest challenge, the time therefore has arrived for me to step back and allow Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association to work from a fresh page in restoring the important values that have enabled Australia, for many years, to be recognised as one of the world’s most admired and successful cricket nations.
“My decision also removes the conflicts that have lately emerged with me striving to achieve a better working relationship between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association whilst having to address my ongoing role of reporting on cricket for the Nine Network.”
