Eddings appointed Cricket Australia chair

Earl Eddings will replace former Cricket Australia chairman David Peever on a full-time basis, with his appointment now confirmed.

cricket

Cricket Australia has confirmed its new chairman as Earl Eddings. (AAP)

Earl Eddings has become Cricket Australia's chairman on a full-time basis, a move that has disappointed Cricket Victoria.

Eddings became CA's interim chairman following the inglorious departure of David Peever, who was forced to resign following The Ethics Centre's scathing assessment of the governing body.

Eddings, a former first-grade batsman and president of club North Melbourne, always loomed as Peever's full-time successor.

The Victorian had accompanied Peever at International Cricket Council (ICC) meetings, while he formally become CA's heir apparent when appointed deputy chairman at this year's annual general meeting.

The board, earlier this month, settled on Eddings as their choice to oversee one of CA's most challenging chapters.

The sporting organisation has since been consulting with the six state associations, keen to avoid a repeat of the farcical scenes that resulted in Peever being unanimously re-elected then rolled within a week.

Cricket Victoria (CV) wanted two directors to be added to CA's board, replacing Peever and Mark Taylor, before a call was made on the new chairman. That request was denied.

"Cricket Victoria has made its view clear and our preference remains that the interim chairman arrangements were maintained while Australian cricket undertakes a thorough process to fill the recent board vacancies," CV chairman Paul Barker said in a statement.

"We have actively encouraged Cricket Australia to pursue this opportunity through an established nominations committee - a process that Cricket Victoria firmly believes would deliver the best outcome for Australian cricket."

Eddings' initial tenure will only last for less than a year, with the long-time director up for re-election at the 2019 AGM.

It's understood the other states were on board with Eddings' appointment.

They either expressed full support or qualified support. The overriding view is that the best time for more change at the top, should it be required, would be next year's AGM.

Several state bigwigs feel snubbing Eddings would create further infighting at a time when CA urgently needs to get its affairs in order, with the first Test against India to start next week.

The dynamic between CA and its shareholders, the states, was one of many issues highlighted in the cultural review.

"Earl's involvement over the past decade provides continuity in a time of change and enables the board to maintain strong relations with the ICC, other member countries and our valued partners," CA independent director Jacquie Hey said in a statement.

"Earl is a well-regarded member of the team with a solid understanding of our history and the need for better working relationships across the cricket community."

Eddings, who runs a risk-management firm, has impressed the players' union in recent dealings.

Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) counterpart Greg Dyer, who rowed with Peever during last year's bitter pay dispute, was among those to congratulate Eddings on Wednesday.


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Source: AAP



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