Batting great Greg Chappell, appointed Australia’s first full-time selector on Monday, said there was no rush “to push anyone out the door” with several stars in the twilight of their careers.
Cricket Australia (CA) announced that Chappell, 62, would leave his current position as head coach of the national centre of excellence to take up the official role of national talent manager within the next month.
Andrew Hilditch will continue to chair the national selection panel and Chappell will join as one of its four members.
Chappell’s appointment comes at a time of change in Australian cricket, left in a state of flux after the recent retirements of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer.
Former Test captain Chappell said he was ready to make big calls in the rebuilding of the Australian Test side.
“It comes with the territory,” said Chappell, who ended Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy during his tenure as Indian coach.
With skipper Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Simon Katich all aged 35, Chappell may have to make the big calls sooner rather than later.
But he said: “You have to earn the right to play for Australia, that’s something the whole selection panel is conscious of, and will bear in mind going forward.
“There’s no rush to push anyone out the door.”
Chappell’s new position means either Merv Hughes, Jamie Cox or David Boon will step down as a national selector.
It will be Chappell’s second stint as a selector.
CA general manager Michael Brown said the appointment also meant there was now a full-time communication outlet for players, coaches and the media.
“I am really excited by the challenge of this new role. From a talent management point of view, this will be an exciting period for Australian cricket,” Chappell said.
Brown said his organisation undertook a detailed review of its cricket structure more than four years ago and Chappell’s appointment was the final step in that process.
“Greg will work closely with the state cricket talent development managers and with the national selectors in a system that now gives us a tightly integrated, national talent identification and management system across all Australian cricket,” Brown said.
Chappell played 87 Tests for Australia, 48 as captain, and also played in 74 one-day internationals.
“I am really excited by the challenge of this new role. From a talent management point of view, this will be an exciting period for Australian cricket,” Chappell said.
“I have enjoyed the centre of excellence head coach role as I was able to work with a talented group of coaches and support staff to assist and develop the next generation of Australian cricketers.
“The new role dovetails beautifully for me as they will be the immediate future of Australian cricket.”
Chappell said he expects to take up the new role within the next month.
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