THE situation Cricket Tasmania finds itself in resembles that of AFL Tasmania just 12 months ago when former Western Bulldogs chief executive Simon Garlick was called in to turn the place upside down.
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The fact the great Tigers of the Tim Coyle era could have fallen so dramatically within four seasons is inconceivable to most faithful on the outside.
Since Coyle’s three Shield and two 50-over titles in eight years, Tasmania has finished in the bottom two of the Shield in the past three seasons and have missed the one-day finals on four consecutive occasions.
The number of national representatives have dried up.
The rot must stop and former Australian Test batsman Michael Hussey must be candid in his assessment for Cricket Tasmania during his independent review – that is the only way change will happen.
Strong recommendations that lay bare the future and that finally turn “Cricket Hobart” into exactly what it is meant to be is required.
But like AFL Tasmania’s perceived change for the better post-Garlick, leading heads at Cricket Tasmania may also have to roll.
The nepotistic and poor decision making must be overturned.
After 19 years chief executive David Johnston will pull up stumps next month and be replaced by former Sydney Thunder boss Nick Cummins.
Coach Dan Marsh – who led the Tigers to eight Sheffield Shield wins of a possible 37 – and Hobart Hurricanes mentor Damien Wright have been shown the door.
Not that their failures were entirely their fault. The support structures around them meant they entered a bat-infested cave without a torch.
But a majority of the decision-makers left within the cricket governing body are bark on an aging Southern tree and may have to be brushed off.
People can outstay their welcome and change can lead to greater things.
The Hussey Report, to be presented to the board in May, can’t come quick enough.
Hussey must venture North and to the North-West – Tasmania’s forgotten breeding grounds – and recommend programs that don’t exclude talent because of their geographical status.
As Cummins said in January: “Firstly, this is not Cricket Hobart, it is Cricket Tasmania, the thinking needs to reflect that as well.”
Perhaps investing in practice wickets for Launceston’s UTas Stadium to encourage greater development of players and return state games to the North will go a long way to appeasing some angst?
The Hussey Report, unlike the Garlick executive summary, must be released in full and not hidden away for vested-interest eyes to see.
