Former Wallaby Howard given key Cricket Australia role

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Cricket Australia (CA) have  named former rugby union international Patrick Howard as general  manager of team performance in a newly created role, recommended  by a review panel in August after the country’s Ashes defeat to  England.
The 37-year-old, who represented the Wallabies in 20 tests  during the 1990s, would start in his new role in mid-November,  the country’s cricket board said in a statement today.
The Australia team head coach, captain, chairman of  selectors, team manager and centre of excellence manager would  all report to Howard, the statement added.
CA chief executive James Sutherland pointed towards Howard’s  strong background in sports.
“He has a background of success as a player, selector and  coach, including 20 tests as an Australian player, as well as  playing and coaching success with the Leicester Tigers in  England and was a high performance GM with the ARU,” Sutherland  said in a statement.
“His priority will be ensuring that all of Australia’s high  performance cricket programs dovetail in a manner that helps us  produce the best men’s and women’s teams in the world.”
The disastrous Ashes campaign at the start of the year  prompted CA to order a review by a panel chaired by prominent  businessman Don Argus, who recommended a number of sweeping  reforms following the 3-1 series defeat.
Howard will now play an important role in the appointment of  a new head coach following Tim Nielsen’s resignation last month  after the tour of Sri Lanka.
“We’re very aware that the (Southern Hemisphere) summer is  approaching and we want to have someone on board as quickly as  possible,” Sutherland told reporters.
“We have a clear focus right now on appointing a new head  coach… and a selection panel with a full-time national  selector and supporting selectors with that.
“We will very quickly work into the pointy end of that  process.”
Howard admitted it would be a tough job and he would have to  get used to cricket and the people involved with the sport,  despite his strong background.
“I have a great interest in cricket. I love the game,” he  told reporters. “I’ve lived in England. I actually got to field  as 12th man for Leicestershire in county cricket.”
“I’ve got to get my head around the culture of cricket and  the personalities involved. Regardless of what your title is,  you’ve got to earn respect and that takes time.
“Am I nervous? Yes. It’s going to be tough.”
The expectations from the Australian people will be another  challenge he would have to deal with, Howard said.
“The Wallabies need to win… the Australian test team needs  to win. As an Australian public we don’t accept anything less,  so it’s a great challenge,” he said.