Adam Gilchrist being headhunted to replace Mark Taylor on CA board

STRONG cricket IQ is now the prerequisite as Cricket Australia begins the search to fill several high-profile positions, and one former superstar is firmly in the governing body’s crosshairs.

Adam Gilchrist’s name has been thrown in the hat as a potential replacement for Mark Taylor. Picture: AP

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ADAM Gilchrist has been identified as a potential board room saviour for Australian cricket but is unlikely to accept the role.

The search for high-ranking personnel with cricket IQ is now spread in all different directions, with former Australian fast bowlers Michael Kasprowicz and Stuart Clark early frontrunners in the race to replace sacked high performance boss Pat Howard, after it emerged interim replacement Belinda Clark was understood to not be keen on assuming the role long-term.

A Cricket Australia board meeting this week resolved to sound out Gilchrist about joining the CA board in place of Mark Taylor in what would have been a blue chip signing.

Adam Gilchrist’s name has been thrown in the hat as a potential replacement for Mark Taylor. Picture: AP

But the combined responsibilities of a young family and his new role spearheading Fox Sports’ cricket broadcast are likely to mean Gilchrist cannot fill the position.

Gilchrist has fielded two previous approaches from CA but is known to have felt family duties plus the awkward conflict of interests of being a commentator and senior official make the two roles incompatible.

His feelings could only have strengthened after seeing Taylor have several awkward moments as he discussed Australia’s board ructions on Channel 9 in recent weeks.

If, as seems likely, Gilchrist turns down the invitation to join the board CA officials will widen their search to find another player but the options are limited.

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CA appear poised to announce Earl Eddings as its new Chairman within the next 48 hours but the board desperately need to regain the public credibility lost by the resignation of Taylor.

Simon Katich, who was nominated by Taylor at his departure press conference as an ideal target, has also indicated he wouldn’t be interested due to family pressures.

Katich also has support for Howard’s high performance job, but the same burdens might apply.

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The Daily Telegraph understands that former Australian women’s captain Clark is at this stage only interested in filling Howard’s boots in the short-term until a permanent replacement is found in the New Year.

That opens the door for a wide field of candidates to fill perhaps the most all-encompassing high performance roles in Australian sport.

Kasprowicz and Stuart Clark both have significant support due to their administration experience and fast bowling pedigree.

Stuart Clark has strong administration experience.

Chief executive Kevin Roberts indicated polarising former Wallaby Howard’s replacement would be a cricket person, and in cricket high performance focuses more on fast bowlers than any other playing role.

Kasprowicz is a respected member of the CA board and Clark is highly regarded as a boss at the NSW rugby league, following his tenure as GM at the Sydney Sixers.

Western Australia chief executive Christina Matthews was an early nomination for the position if Howard was to leave and she shares a strong relationship with men’s coach Justin Langer, and is herself, a former Australian women’s international.

Tom Moody has run cricket departments all over the world and would be another strong candidate for Howard’s high performance position.

There is a growing feeling that Howard’s responsibilities were too great, and that CA should look at splitting the position up in some way.

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Originally published as Adam Gilchrist being headhunted to replace Mark Taylor on CA board