Former captain Mark Taylor has resigned as a Cricket Australia board director.
Taylor’s resignation follows chairman David Peever and chief executive officer James Sutherland’s recent exits.
‘I said many months ago that I thought my next step as a Cricket Australia director was to step up or step off the board. I had an opportunity at this time to put my name forward as a chairman or to step off, and I think I’ve made the right move in the interests of Australian cricket to step off and give some other, hopefully, former player, the chance to add some fresh ideas to this role,’ he said.
‘Over the last 13 years, particularly the last 18 months, there has been a lot in this role and it has taken its toll. Over the last two weeks even more so, and I’ve got to the stage where I don’t think I can give anymore. I’ve lost the energy.
‘I was so disappointed with myself that I didn’t do more and with the world of Australian cricket, I said I’m going to try and fix this. I did say I’d do one more term, but year-by-year.’
Earlier this year, captain Steven Smith, vice-captain David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft were suspended for their involvement in the ball-tampering incident that marred the Test series against South Africa. Coach Darren Lehmann has since resigned, too, and been replaced by former opener Justin Langer.
‘Following on from the events in March this year that rocked the cricketing world, and the ongoing damage this created for our game, including vital employer-employee relationships, my principle brief has been to work hard at fostering and restoring a workable, meaningful and respectful understanding between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association, especially at a time when both parties were still recovering from the prolonged spirited, vigorous and, sometimes, toxic MoU negotiations dating back to mid-2017,’ Taylor added in his resignation letter.
‘As Australian cricket faces up to its latest challenge, the time therefore has arrived for me to step back and allow Cricket Australia and the ACA to work from a fresh page in restoring the important values that have enabled Australia, for many years, to be recognised as one of the world’s most admired and successful cricket nations.’
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