Sutherland takes aim at Clarke and HIlditch

Marsh believes Cricket Australia has shifted its focus to attracting fans, to the detriment of the national team.

"I think the priority for Australian cricket in the last five years or so has shifted from having the best elite team to customer engagement. Their focus is far more on getting fans participating in the game, going to the game and watching the game on television.

"Traditionally, that's been driven by the players and the team. If the team's going well, people want to watch it.

"Our view is that if the team is not performing, are the fans going to want to come and watch us?

"Right now our number-one priority should be getting the Australian cricket team back on top of the world."

...

"Things like announcing the first Ashes squad so far out from the first Test. That was public relations-related rather than team preparation-related and put the selectors in a position through no fault of their own of making them look indecisive.

"It also had players looking over their shoulders. Those types of decisions, you've got to put the performance and preparation of the team ahead of those PR considerations."

...

"Players around the country say we need to be working harder on our batting, bowling and fielding. That's not rocket science."

Zat wrote:link

OK, the horse has bolted, but Sutherland seems to be the first bloke at CA to realise admit mistakes were made.

Zat wrote:And not to be outdone, Paul Marsh (Chief exec of the Aus Cricketers Association) has fired up at CA. link

Selected highlights:

Marsh believes Cricket Australia has shifted its focus to attracting fans, to the detriment of the national team.

"I think the priority for Australian cricket in the last five years or so has shifted from having the best elite team to customer engagement. Their focus is far more on getting fans participating in the game, going to the game and watching the game on television.

"Traditionally, that's been driven by the players and the team. If the team's going well, people want to watch it.

"Our view is that if the team is not performing, are the fans going to want to come and watch us?

"Right now our number-one priority should be getting the Australian cricket team back on top of the world."

...

"Things like announcing the first Ashes squad so far out from the first Test. That was public relations-related rather than team preparation-related and put the selectors in a position through no fault of their own of making them look indecisive.

"It also had players looking over their shoulders. Those types of decisions, you've got to put the performance and preparation of the team ahead of those PR considerations."

...

"Players around the country say we need to be working harder on our batting, bowling and fielding. That's not rocket science."

Let the blood-letting commence.

Henry wrote:For [Hilditch] it's just a question of being man enough to admit his mistakes, or forever going down as one of the most hated figures ever in Australian cricket by continually refusing to admit he and his panel completely f*cked up.

Zat wrote:Good point Mick, but the stuff about the players choosing to attend functions on the mornings of matches says something too.

skully wrote:The solution to our problems is simple. Grow new Warnies, Pidgies, Dossies, Gnomies, Tuggies, Juniories, Dizzies and Gillies. That's not too much to ask, is it?