Cricket Australia chair Earl Eddings loses support of Queensland

Two of Australia’s most successful cricket states have stated concern over Cricket Australia boss Earl Eddings’ bid for a second term.

Cricket Australia's chair Earl Eddings is seeking a second term in the role

Should Earl Eddings be successful in his extraordinary bid to serve a second term as chair of Cricket Australia it will be without the support of two of the biggest states with Queensland officially signalling its concerns last night.

The powerful Cricket NSW board had already written to Cricket Australia and the other states informing them they have told the chair that he did not have their backing for the bid.

Eddings is understood to have the numbers to serve another term ahead of the AGM later in the year, although Western Australia has not shown its hand.

Queensland cricket chiefs flagged their intention ahead of Tuesday night’s ordinary general meeting which was followed by a board meeting.

The Queensland board intends to write to the board of Cricket Australia to express what are understood to be concerns about the direction of the organisation and the need for new leadership.

Sources told The Australian that the state believes cricket is too top heavy and more investment needs to be made at the grassroots level.

There are concerns too much funding is directed to the elite level. Queensland believe only a change of leadership will drive change.

The Australian revealed NSW’s concerns which were relayed to the board of Cricket Australia and the other states in March.

Cricket NSW chair John Knox and his board made it clear that Eddings does not enjoy their support and was unhappy that he was asking for another term when he should have groomed a successor.

“The Cricket NSW board has agreed unanimously that we do not consider it to be in the best interests of cricket in Australia for Mr Earl Eddings to continue as a Director of Cricket Australia,” Knox’s letter said.

“Accordingly, Cricket NSW will not support the re-election of Mr Eddings as a Director of Cricket Australia at the 2021 Annual General Meeting, should it be proposed.

“Given the importance of the role of Chair of Cricket Australia, we are notifying you of this decision now in order to allow time for a full and thorough process to identify and choose the best possible successor to Mr Eddings. We believe this process should commence immediately and could consider candidates from both inside and outside the current leadership of the game.

“For reference, attached is a letter that I sent to Mr Eddings in November 2019 on the topic of succession planning for the role of Chair of Cricket Australia.

“We are happy to discuss with any of you at your convenience.”

Eddings argues that the pandemic has not allowed him time to prepare a succession plan.

The chair of cricket earns $250,000 a year making it the highest paid of any sporting organisation in the country.

Cricket Australia has been in a holding pattern on a number of levels and is yet to appoint a permanent chief executive.

Eddings removed Kevin Roberts from that job last June and Nick Hockley was appointed as an interim CEO.

While Hockley has indicated a strong desire to get the job and impressed with his ability to pull off a summer of cricket under extraordinary duress, the board resolved to look further afield when the season was done.

The Australian understands the board was presented with a list of around 20 candidates last week.

Coach Justin Langer’s is off contract after the Ashes and the two captains of the men’s teams, Tim Paine and Aaron Finch, are coming towards the end of their careers.

The instability at the top of the organisation would appear to favour Eddings’ push for a second term in the job.

He assumed the position on an interim and then permanent basis after David Peever stood down in 2018.

Peever’s resignation came after Knox told him that he no longer had the backing of Cricket NSW in the wake of his handling of the sandpaper scandal cultural review.

Eddings assumed the role but had to move from his role as a Victorian candidate to an independent position after he lost the support of that state.

Victoria is, however, one of the state’s understood to back his push for a second term.