Don Argus’ recommendations may take 18 months to yield
Former BHP Billiton chief Don Argus-led panel consisted former captains Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh and former ICC chief Malcolm Speed © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
Sydney: Aug 19, 2011
Former BHP Billiton chief Don Argus, whose panel’s review has led to the dismissal of Australian chief selector Andrew Hilditch, panel member Greg Chappell and coach Tim Nielsen, has said that his far-reaching and scathing review will take up to 18 months to yield significant progress.
Argus said after submitting his review, “There’s no silver bullets in any transitions or reform programs … it’s an orderly process. It’s all in the execution now and that’s going to be the test. It will take the best part of 18 months before you see the seeds of anything really changing.”
“People will feel a lot better when the side starts to perform on the field, but hopefully this will take a lot of the side-pressures and other distractions away from the team.”
Argus-led panel consisted former captains Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh and former ICC chief Malcolm Speed.
The review began in April, which was initiated by Australia’s disastrous Ashes campaign, where they lost 3-1 at home last summer.
The immediate changes apply that skipper Michael Clarke and coach Nielsen will join the national selection panel.
The Cricket Australia will soon begin a global search to find a national performance manager, a newly-created role, but there is no time frame on the appointment. The appointed person will oversee revamped selection panel and coaching among other duties, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The selectors from now onwards will not report to the CA, they will be answerable to this new manager.
The selection panel will feature two part-time members, as well as the full-time chairman, the captain and the coach.
Meanwhile, Hilditch, Chappell and Nielsen will remain in their jobs until the performance manager and full-time national selector are appointed.
“What we’ve done is to try and get adult conversations going around the panel of selectors and the players. Normally communication solves most insecurity – if we achieve that, it will be a huge step forward,” Argus said.
Australia aim to regain its No.1 Test ranking within four years and win back the Ashes in next two years.