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ECB at England cricket crossroads in wake of Kevin Pietersen fallout ECB at England cricket crossroads in wake of Kevin Pietersen fallout
(about 1 hour later)
Amid the fallout from the gripping but mutually destructive open warfare of the past few days, it may have escaped the attention of most of the cricket-loving public that the England and Wales Cricket Board has a new chief executive.Amid the fallout from the gripping but mutually destructive open warfare of the past few days, it may have escaped the attention of most of the cricket-loving public that the England and Wales Cricket Board has a new chief executive.
The previous incumbent, David Collier, certainly got out at the right time. Given the slow-motion car crash played out in public across radio stations, television networks and on Twitter, neither Kevin Pietersen nor the ECB is likely to emerge from the wreckage undamaged.The previous incumbent, David Collier, certainly got out at the right time. Given the slow-motion car crash played out in public across radio stations, television networks and on Twitter, neither Kevin Pietersen nor the ECB is likely to emerge from the wreckage undamaged.
It is the governing body, however, that has most to lose. It is three years since an England side, including Pietersen, gathered in a delirious huddle in the middle at Edgbaston to celebrate beating India by an innings and 242 runs and becoming the No1 Test side in the world. It is the governing body, however, that has more to lose. It is three years since an England side, including Pietersen, gathered in a delirious huddle in the middle at Edgbaston to celebrate beating India by an innings and 242 runs and becoming the No1 Test side in the world.
A few months earlier they had performed Graeme Swann’s “sprinkler” dance in Sydney as the ECB pointed to the first overseas Ashes win in 24 years as justification for its strategy of selling exclusive TV rights to Sky and reinvesting the proceeds in the game.A few months earlier they had performed Graeme Swann’s “sprinkler” dance in Sydney as the ECB pointed to the first overseas Ashes win in 24 years as justification for its strategy of selling exclusive TV rights to Sky and reinvesting the proceeds in the game.
Michael Vaughan, the former England captain who has been among the most lucid and perceptive of those offering their opinion over recent days, said then that England could dominate the decade. “The mentality of the England side is very, very strong. England have the opportunity to become a side like that West Indies side [of the 1970s and 1980s] or that Australia side [of the 1990s].”Michael Vaughan, the former England captain who has been among the most lucid and perceptive of those offering their opinion over recent days, said then that England could dominate the decade. “The mentality of the England side is very, very strong. England have the opportunity to become a side like that West Indies side [of the 1970s and 1980s] or that Australia side [of the 1990s].”
The fact that did not happen, dissolving into the very public mudslinging of the past few months that reached a climax this week, is an indictment on all involved.The fact that did not happen, dissolving into the very public mudslinging of the past few months that reached a climax this week, is an indictment on all involved.
The confidence that flowed through that side ultimately hardened into an arrogance that, whatever your view on Pietersen’s characterisation of it as “bullying”, not only damaged togetherness on the pitch but made the majority of the squad an unappealing prospect to the public. Likewise, the ECB was perhaps guilty of thinking it had cracked it. There seemed to be a belief that the Andy Flower regime, backed up by central contracts and the cash flooding into the game, was a blueprint for ongoing success.The confidence that flowed through that side ultimately hardened into an arrogance that, whatever your view on Pietersen’s characterisation of it as “bullying”, not only damaged togetherness on the pitch but made the majority of the squad an unappealing prospect to the public. Likewise, the ECB was perhaps guilty of thinking it had cracked it. There seemed to be a belief that the Andy Flower regime, backed up by central contracts and the cash flooding into the game, was a blueprint for ongoing success.
Just as admiration for the attention to detail and steely focus of the side built by the pair mockingly dismissed by Pietersen as “the Andys” dissolved into mockery of the 82-page list of goji berry and quinoa nutritional requirements that accompanied them on the ill-fated Ashes tour in 2013-14, so the very things that had provided the blueprint for success at the ECB began to eat away at them. As the wheels fell off in Australia, perhaps faster than anyone expected, there was a feeling of an era coming to an end off the pitch as well as on it.Just as admiration for the attention to detail and steely focus of the side built by the pair mockingly dismissed by Pietersen as “the Andys” dissolved into mockery of the 82-page list of goji berry and quinoa nutritional requirements that accompanied them on the ill-fated Ashes tour in 2013-14, so the very things that had provided the blueprint for success at the ECB began to eat away at them. As the wheels fell off in Australia, perhaps faster than anyone expected, there was a feeling of an era coming to an end off the pitch as well as on it.
The ECB has been deservedly mocked over its mishandling of the both the vaguely ludicrous “reintegration” Pietersen reintegration process post “Textgate” and his subsequent sacking this February. The picture painted in his book is of a governing body bent out of shape, more concerned with petty politics and power struggles than the performance of the team on the pitch or the health of its sport. The Pietersen version has it that the ECB has a finely honed Ministry of Truth, ready to leap into action to smear the enemy within (him) at any given opportunity. The ECB has been deservedly mocked over its mishandling of the both the vaguely ludicrous Pietersen reintegration process post-“Textgate” and his subsequent sacking this February. The picture painted in his book is of a governing body bent out of shape, more concerned with petty politics and power struggles than the performance of the team on the pitch or the health of its sport. The Pietersen version has it that the ECB has a finely honed Ministry of Truth, ready to leap into action to smear the enemy within (him) at any given opportunity.
The truth, as evidenced by the shambolic leak from the ECB’s external law firm of an apparently doctored document that constituted a comical list of misdemeanours, is more complex. As ever, cock-up should be considered more likely than conspiracy.The truth, as evidenced by the shambolic leak from the ECB’s external law firm of an apparently doctored document that constituted a comical list of misdemeanours, is more complex. As ever, cock-up should be considered more likely than conspiracy.
Yet, unusually for a governing body convulsed by crisis, and in stark contrast to the Allen Stanford affair in 2009, there are no executives directly in the firing line.Yet, unusually for a governing body convulsed by crisis, and in stark contrast to the Allen Stanford affair in 2009, there are no executives directly in the firing line.
The chairman, Giles Clarke, is determined to ignore the storm raging outside his window and hope that it blows itself out. The new chief executive, Tom Harrison, a former cricketer turned senior executive with the sports marketing giant IMG, who has extensive knowledge of the global rights market, does not start until January.The chairman, Giles Clarke, is determined to ignore the storm raging outside his window and hope that it blows itself out. The new chief executive, Tom Harrison, a former cricketer turned senior executive with the sports marketing giant IMG, who has extensive knowledge of the global rights market, does not start until January.
The ECB is determined to stand behind Flower, now in a role overseeing the academy, and Peter Moores, the man who is now coach and is described by Pietersen as a “human triple espresso”.The ECB is determined to stand behind Flower, now in a role overseeing the academy, and Peter Moores, the man who is now coach and is described by Pietersen as a “human triple espresso”.
At some point, though, someone will have to stick their head above the parapet. The charges of a bullying culture are so serious that to leave them unanswered is dangerous. To blithely assume that the ECB has nothing to learn from the affair would confirm many of Pietersen’s allegations.At some point, though, someone will have to stick their head above the parapet. The charges of a bullying culture are so serious that to leave them unanswered is dangerous. To blithely assume that the ECB has nothing to learn from the affair would confirm many of Pietersen’s allegations.
Those close to the team are saying that many of those accused by Pietersen have retired and that last summer a new, youthful England team was emerging with a different mentality.Those close to the team are saying that many of those accused by Pietersen have retired and that last summer a new, youthful England team was emerging with a different mentality.
Alastair Cook, damaged but not fatally so by Pietersen’s characterisation of him as a weak captain and stronger for having walked through the fire of his summer travails, has much work to do to forge a new team identity and reconnect with the public. Pietersen on Wednesday told BT Sport that Harrison’s priority should be to “bring the England cricket team closer to the British public.” On that, at least, all sides can agree. Alastair Cook, damaged but not fatally so by Pietersen’s characterisation of him as a weak captain and stronger for having walked through the fire of his summer travails, has much work to do to forge a new team identity and reconnect with the public. Pietersen on Wednesday told BT Sport that Harrison’s priority should be to “bring the England cricket team closer to the British public”. On that, at least, all sides can agree.
Sir Dave Brailsford, the Team Sky principal who knows a thing or two about accommodating driven mavericks, given his experience with the cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins, said on Wednesday that he had much sympathy for Flower.Sir Dave Brailsford, the Team Sky principal who knows a thing or two about accommodating driven mavericks, given his experience with the cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins, said on Wednesday that he had much sympathy for Flower.
He added, however: “On a national team front, you have the association or federation and that cascades down to the individual. The relationship shifts over time and you’re always going to have a degree of conflict when you’re managing very driven individuals.”He added, however: “On a national team front, you have the association or federation and that cascades down to the individual. The relationship shifts over time and you’re always going to have a degree of conflict when you’re managing very driven individuals.”
Whether it was the natural consequence of a dressing room falling apart as the England team came to the end of its natural life or a clash of highly driven personalities, the environment on and off the pitch became even more toxic than most realised at the time.Whether it was the natural consequence of a dressing room falling apart as the England team came to the end of its natural life or a clash of highly driven personalities, the environment on and off the pitch became even more toxic than most realised at the time.
Whereas Pietersen’s England career has definitively reached the end of the road, the ECB is at a crossroads. The looming World Cup is unlikely to offer too much comfort on the pitch. There is also much work to do off it.Whereas Pietersen’s England career has definitively reached the end of the road, the ECB is at a crossroads. The looming World Cup is unlikely to offer too much comfort on the pitch. There is also much work to do off it.