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[kban1]

John Howard nominated for ICC presidency

Cricinfo staff

March 2, 2010


John Howard, the former Australian prime minister, has finally been nominated by the boards of Australia and New Zealand as their candidate for the post of ICC president from 2012. Howard, who led the country from 1996 to 2007, will have the position rubber stamped in June and will succeed India's Sharad Pawar in two years.

The decision ends a long-running dispute over the preferred Australasian candidate. Cricket Australia searched outside their board of directors for a nomination and wanted Howard, who admits to being a cricket tragic, while New Zealand Cricket recommended its former chairman Sir John Anderson. Howard is a 70-year-old with no background in cricket administration but was pursued by Cricket Australia for his diplomatic skills.

Jack Clarke, Cricket Australia's chairman, and his New Zealand counterpart Alan Isaac issued a joint release saying they were pleased Howard had agreed to take on the role, which begins as vice-president in June. Howard said in the statement he was honoured and humbled to receive the recommendation for the appointment, but believed it would be inappropriate to comment until the post became official in June.

However, he was more expansive in a release from the ICC. "It is a great honour to be nominated by Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket for the vice-presidency of the International Cricket Council from June-July 2010," he said. "Cricket has been one of my lifelong passions and, if the ICC accepts my nomination, it will be a privilege to serve this great game."

The countries' boards set up a committee including an independent member in the businessman Sir Rod Eddington to decide who should be nominated. "It was an extremely difficult decision and ultimately relied on the input of Sir Rod Eddington, whom both cricket boards respect enormously," Clarke and Isaac said. "The ICC faces significant and complex internal and external challenges in its quest for cricket to become a genuinely global sport. Australia and New Zealand considered a number of distinguished candidates of global stature before deciding to invite John Howard to consider the role."

The ICC presidency is given to countries by rotation and the incumbent David Morgan, the ECB's representative, will hand the responsibility to Pawar in June. Howard will then act as vice-president and take over after Pawar's two-year tenure ends. His nomination will be approved at the ICC's executive board meeting in April and the position will be finalised at the annual conference in the middle of the year.

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/current/story/450524.html

[kban1]

The ultimate cricket tragic

John Howard was Australia's prime minister for 11 years. In June he will become the ICC's deputy president before assuming the top job in 2012

Peter English

March 2, 2010

 
Australian cricket likes to consider itself left field when it comes to innovation, but its top officials have gone a long way to the right with their recommendation of John Howard as the ICC's president from 2012. Howard, the country's Liberal prime minister for 11 years, is a conservative politician who fits with Cricket Australia's boardroom image. In its push for new blood it has supported a 70-year-old with boatloads of baggage.

Howard admits unashamedly to being a cricket tragic, but apart from "organising" the annual Prime Minister's XI match against touring teams and drooling over his cricketers in the dressing rooms after victories, he has no experience in sports administration. Of course he ran a country from 1996 to 2007, which qualifies a person for many things, but he now enters a complicated past-time on the basis of his diplomatic skills. In the meetings he will be a cricket fan in an executive chair made for people who have lived their lives deciding on matters at club, state and international level.

Traditionally the nomination for the ICC post comes from a country's board of directors, but Cricket Australia's chairman Jack Clarke is too earthy for such a sensitive role, Mark Taylor still has decades behind the microphone and the rest of the candidates were deemed unsuitable. After an elongated argument with New Zealand Cricket, which co-sanctioned the appointment but wanted its former chairman Sir John Anderson instead, Howard succeeded in another election and has been parachuted into the high-ranking role.

Cricket Australia did not want Anderson in charge - he was the one who said Darrell Hair embarrassed himself at The Oval - and eventually got their own man. In Howard it believes it has someone who is capable of arguing Australia's position without losing key votes on the global table. With none of the board's men capable or willing to accept that responsibility, it targeted a career politician for an increasingly political organisation.

To those outside Australia Howard is most famous for calling Muttiah Muralitharan a chucker in 2004 on the basis that "they proved it in Perth with that thing". "That thing" was testing Murali's action at a biomechanics lab. The result was Murali not touring Australia for the Top End Test series in 2004. "I thought of coming to Australia but now I will think three times before I come," Murali said before ending his travel ban for the tsunami fund-raising match early in 2005.

The ICC tries not to offend anyone - not even Zimbabwe - and episodes like that one cannot be repeated by Howard. On the local scene "Don't upset the subcontinent" has become the first rule for any Cricket Australia administrator.

For those protected inside his country, Howard was the sports fan draped in a green and gold scarf at the rugby and with baggy green stars in his eyes at the cricket. The photo opportunities were certainly manufactured but the joy from the sycophantic snuggling of high-profile players was real. "I am, as nominated by Mark Taylor, the ultimate cricket tragic," Howard told a cricket dinner in 2000. "I plead guilty to that. I regard it as a great term of endearment."

The love of the game did not translate to being able to play. Kerry O'Keeffe, the former Test spinner and commentator, is usually an expert judge but his description of Howard's offspin action as "biomechanically faultless" was as flawed as the prime minister's unapologetic tendencies. By taking a job in cricket Howard will have to endure more replays of his three failed attempts to deliver a ball while on official duty in Pakistan. Being able to bowl doesn't qualify you as an administrator or journalist, but it does help your street cred.

Like Sir Robert Menzies, the long-serving conservative leader who left office in 1966, Howard was much better at arranging days at the cricket and was an expert at being in England around the Ashes. He spoke to Taylor the morning before his declaration on 334 in Pakistan in 1998 and a few weeks later rescheduled a cabinet meeting in Sydney so he could welcome the captain home. The following January he presented Taylor with the Australian of the Year award.

Howard remains a regular at the SCG Test, a tradition he has apparently passed on to Kevin Rudd, the current Labor prime minister. As a nine year old Howard went to the ground to see Don Bradman's final first-class innings and back then his favourites were Arthur Morris, Keith Miller and Ray Lindwall. In 2000 he delivered the inaugural Bradman Oration and he has been a director of the Bradman Foundation. It's a rich personal cricket history but none of this helps his resume for his new wide-ranging job.

Australian prime ministers are not totally out of place outside cricket dressing rooms. Menzies started the Prime Minister's XI game and wrote articles for Wisden while Edmund Barton, Australia's first leader, was umpiring during a New South Wales match against Lord Harris' England XI in 1879 when a riot occurred because of a decision from the other official. In Howard's new role he will be responsible for preventing the boardroom equivalent in the ICC's meetings over issues of race, power, money and Twenty20.

Howard's political career ended in 2007 when he became only the second Australian prime minister to lose his own seat. Despite being told by colleagues he needed to walk, he didn't know when to leave. He won't have that problem this time. After two years as Sharad Pawer's deputy he will have the top job for the same term.

Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/450553.html

[kban1]

Given the nod, Howard must use his clout

PETER ROEBUCK

March 3, 2010
 
John Howard's nomination as the next vice-president and eventual president of the ICC provokes a curious mixture of regret and hope. Regret stems from the overlooking of the admirable candidate put forward by New Zealand. Sir John Anderson's praises were widely sung and a more gracious neighbour might have acknowledged his obvious merits.

Of the insiders he was clearly the best qualified. Cricket Australia chose no such course. Nor did it hesitate to reach outside the game in search of a plausible alternative. As far as CA was concerned, Anderson was not the problem, the ICC was the problem. And Howard was the only possible solution.

Unsurprisingly, the Kiwis pushed hard for their man. Popes have been more easily elected then the regional candidate for high cricketing office. The boards remained deadlocked for months, even to the last hours, and Sir Rod Eddington, the appointed arbiter, could not find any middle ground. Eventually he made the call. Finally the smoke cleared and Howard emerged, beaming and indestructible as ever. Unless they have gone gaga, long-serving prime ministers are not easily denied.

Although political enemies will disagree, the appointment is hardly a calamity. Only the most churlish will deny Howard his experience and acumen. This was a contest between heavyweights. Howard may be captivated by the bright lights of cricket but he is also familiar with the dark arts of manipulation. Better him than a hundred sweet talkers. Apart from anything else, he has nothing to lose. For the next four years he's going to be immersed in cricketing affairs and after that comes the paddock. He'll have earned it.

Convinced that the ICC is a basket case, CA believes Howard alone has the clout required to make it relevant. At present, the ICC is the weakest of the bodies running major sports and the game suffers the consequences. In no small part it is the fault of a complacent old guard that failed to give sufficient executive power to their creation. Lacking independent strength, ICC officers are forced to accept the verdicts of a small group of nations. It is ruled by money. All too often decisions are taken not on principle or with the game's interests in mind but on a squalid quid-pro-quo basis. In that regard, it resembles the NSW Labor Party.

Since the ICC has little power it's hardly to be expected that the president and his deputy might have any significant sway. Hitherto the positions have been largely ceremonial, consisting mostly of shaking hands, patting backs and appearing at press conferences to answer questions about issues ranging from Zimbabwe to the no-ball rule. If Howard is to make his mark he will need to establish the authority of the governing body and exert influence in its upper echelons. And he will not be playing with amateurs.

Certainly the former PM will need every ounce of his energy and debating skills in his new position. At the lower levels, the game is served by numerous fine people eager to widen its appeal and prepared to work in all corners of the world. Cricket is growing apace as T20 catches the imagination. Around the board table, though, can be found a less distinguished mixture of wheelers and dealers.

But, then, cricket is among the most fraught and fractured of games. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are listed in the six most dangerous countries for journalists. Zimbabwe is a racket run by gangsters posing as liberators. England and Australia are fighting a war in Afghanistan, suddenly the game's 12th strongest nation. India is trying to deal with numerous threats. South Africa is endeavouring to build a new nation from the debris of a bloodless revolution. The West Indies seems to be going backwards and, anyhow, does not exist. Cricket is held together by love of the game and not much else.

Howard will start with various handicaps and advantages. His background bestows authority but his lack of cricketing expertise needs to be addressed. His failure to back the sporting boycott of apartheid South Africa will be held against him as will his attitude towards India during the nuclear episode. On the other hand, he is sound and well informed on Zimbabwe and will not tolerate the eyewash advanced by the incumbents. And he's been around long enough to appreciate the importance of governance, the greatest issue in the game.

Howard is many things, but not naive. Doubtless he will spend his two years as Sharad Pawar's second in command familiarising himself with the terrain. He will locate the levers of power, find the skeletons in the cupboards, work out the liaisons and so forth. In that regard his years in the Liberal Party were perfect preparation. If he thought Peter Costello could be a handful, he won't enjoy meeting Peter Chingoka.

At any rate the decision has been made. Now is up to the new man to make it work. Howard needs to arrive at the ICC with his full powers. Otherwise the game will soon regret that Anderson was not given the chance his record indicates he deserved.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/given-the-nod-howard-must-use-his-clout-20100302-pgdz.html

[kban1]

Howard can't bowl or throw

Ron Reed

March 03, 2010

WHOEVER came up with the observation that sport and politics should not mix might have had in mind John Howard's attempts to play cricket.

He can't. Trust me. I've seen him try.

But the former Prime Minister won't wield the willow when he becomes the game's most powerful administrator, which he is on the way to doing.

His footwork will need to be nimble, though.

Howard's nomination yesterday as Australia and New Zealand's choice to become president of the International Cricket Council in 2012 - he will serve two years as vice-president first - is controversial.

The trans-Tasman rivals who installed him did so after a long argument over the merits of Howard and Kiwi businessman Sir John Anderson.

Anderson has a strong background in cricket administration, including 13 years on the ICC board.

Howard doesn't.

And it is not as if the role is largely ceremonial, as might have been the case in days gone by.

Cricket has issues that will demand strong and knowledgeable leadership from India's Sharad Pawar - who is about to take over from the incumbent Sir David Morgan of England - and Howard after him.

They include managing the Twenty20 explosion and its financial effects, the 50-over game's future, Zimbabwe's wish to re-enter Test cricket, terrorism threats and - if recent confusing reports out of Pakistan are to be taken seriously - match-fixing's refusal to go away.

Despite his reputation as a "cricket tragic", Howard will, inevitably, be seen as a political figure from outside the tent rather than a family member from inside it.

Does that matter?

Not necessarily, according to the other Australian to have held the post, Melbourne's Malcolm Gray.

"What's needed is somebody independent and strong who will stand up to all the nations, all the boards," Gray said.

"It is a difficult job. Like every international forum or organisation, it is riven with politics.

"Black, white, rich, poor - all those undertones are always there and the alliances really do shift around.

"But he's had enormous experience as head of the biggest organisation in this country and he's strong. He'll be good."

Gray is not a fan of the selection process.

"It's been a ridiculous process," he said. "Two countries have to decide and they both put up a candidate - (that's why) you never have even numbers on a selection committee."

Gray is a mate of Australian businessman Sir Rod Eddington, who headed a committee to facilitate the decision.

"I met him in the street and gave him a 50 cent coin and said, 'Use that'," he said.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/howard-cant-bowl-or-throw/story-e6frf9if-1225836277588

[kban1]

Cricket: 'Fan' with no cricket experience gets top job
 
John Howard's only credentials are that he is a cricket fan.


Think back to the rugby World Cup final of 2003 in Sydney.

England beat the hosts courtesy of Jonny Wilkinson's late dropped goal.

Remember the medal presentation and the churlish attitude of the bloke handing out the gongs?

Some of the English players at the finest moment of their careers had medallions tossed at them with a distinct lack of respect.

Nice job John Howard, former Prime Minister of Australia, and the man poised to take the highest seat in cricket having been nominated jointly by Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket.

Howard was nominated ahead of past NZC chairman and prominent businessman Sir John Anderson. He will - assuming his nomination is approved by the International Cricket Council in June - become deputy president for two years, and in 2012 will replace India's Sharad Pawar as president.

Under the ICC rotation policy, it was Australia and New Zealand's turn to find a president.

This is not a bleat that a New Zealander did not get the gig, more wonderment that someone with absolutely no cricket experience did.

How could CA not find someone more suited to the job than a politician?

The die was effectively cast when CA and NZC could not agree on a nomination, so formed a panel of two representatives apiece, chaired by Australian businessman Sir Rod Eddington. You do the maths.

The nomination was expected to have been made weeks ago but there was a significant gap between two viewpoints.

Yesterday's joint statement from CA chairman Jack Clarke and NZC counterpart Alan Isaac talked of "an exhaustive process ... an extremely difficult decision".

Howard's name came up because CA couldn't find a suitable candidate from within its cricket ranks. His only link with the game is as a fan, or a "cricket tragic" as he is wont to call himself.

But he likes watching cricket, which is nice, and he'll get plenty of opportunities for that.

What happened behind closed doors? Australian heavying? Sweeteners for NZC in whatever shape? Or was it simply that there was no way three Australians were going to allow someone from this side of the drink to ascend to the presidency ahead of one of their own, no matter his credentials.

What would the world game make of one of its powerhouses being unable to find anyone capable of doing the job? Try finding an Australian involved in the game who genuinely thinks Howard is best man for the job. It's not as easy as you might imagine.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/cricket/news/article.cfm?c_id=29&objectid=10629572

[justforkix]

wasn't he the guy who called Murali a chucker when Hair no-balled him in 90s....

[kban1]

Yes indeed. Actually he called Murali chucker later too -- just a few years ago.

He proclaimed Harbhajan was guilty in monkey gate as well.

Basically, a guy motor mouth with foot in the mouth disease and an amazingly antiquated colonial worldview coupled with displays of jingoistic nationalism.

[justforkix]

hmmm, so interesting contreversies ahead

[keep-it-cool]

I believe that he apologised, at some point, for calling Murali a chucker.

[Blwe_torch]

Wrong to see India in negative light in cricket: Howard
March 04, 2010 12:38 IST

Set to take over as ICC [ Images ] President from 2012, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard has rejected concerns about India's [ Images ] dominance in international cricket, saying the country's enormous stature should not be viewed in a "negative light".

"India is the second most populous country in the world, it's cricket-mad, they are pluses," Howard told ABC Radio.

"I think it's entirely wrong to look at the Indian involvement in cricket in a negative light. I think of those millions of people in India and the subcontinent who play cricket. They play it with a passion and love it," he added.

Howard, who has been jointly nominated for the post by Australia [ Images ] and New Zealand [ Images ], will take over once India's Sharad

Pawar finishes his two-year term starting this June.

The self-confessed "cricket-tragic" refuted suggestions that he was not qualified enough for the job.

"I think the fact I haven't been involved in cricket administration is explained by the fact I had a day job which made that rather difficult," he said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka [ Images ] has backed Howard's nomination despite his past comments on spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan's [ Images ] bowling action.

Howard had called Muralitharan a chucker in 2004 but the ace off-spinner says he has forgiven the Aussie for the jibe.

"We know that Howard as prime minister unruffled a few feathers calling Muttiah Muralitharan a chucker, but that is now a thing of the past," Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga told Cricinfo.

"We don't want to harp on it any more. We have to look to the future and try to work cordially with whoever is elected to the ICC post. We have no control over people elected to that position," he added.

Howard's nomination will be approved at the ICC's executive board meeting in April and will be finalised at the annual conference in June.
© Copyright 2010 PTI.
http://cricket.rediff.com/report/2010/mar/04/wrong-to-see-india-in-negative-light-in-cricket-howard.htm

[dhruvdeepak]

yes he better start fellating indians. all it takes is one tweet from lalit modi...