Following the resignation of Kevin Roberts, Cricket Australia (CA) appointed Nick Hockley as the new CEO on an interim basis to help the board tide through this difficult period amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Board chairman Earl Eddings had said that the governing body will do an extensive search in Australia and overseas before appointing a full-time CEO.
Now, with the board keeping an open mind regarding an overseas personality, former England captain Sir Andrew Strauss has emerged as a surprise candidate for the role of the new full-time CEO.
According to a report in 'The Australian', influential figures within the CA regime are actually in favour of roping in Strauss for the job.
Strauss, who played 100 Tests and 127 ODIs for England, has the administrative experience that will be required. After his retirement in 2012, Strauss took over as director of English men's cricket in 2015 and was instrumental in helping the team's cultural transformation towards white-ball cricket.
In 2018, Strauss stepped down from the role of ECB director of cricket to spend more time with his wife, Ruth McDonald, who was battling cancer at the time. Unfortunately, McDonald couldn't survive the disease.
Interestingly, Strauss played for Sydney University in 1998-99, five years before making his England debut. The ex opening batsman also met his wife in Australia during that stint.
CA has been in the news a lot in these recent months, with the announcement of 80 per cent salary pay cuts for all its staff until the end of June.
Then the push from Roberts for further cost-cutting measures, including reductions in the state-team grants, foreseeing heavy losses during this phase of lockdown.
Both raised eyebrows, given the fact that Australia's international and domestic calendar last season went almost unscathed and with the lucrative India visit next summer looking safe to take place on time.
(Inputs from The Australian)
