Cricket Australia Chair Earl Eddings Resigns
Cricket Australia chair, Earl Eddings, has announced his resignation from the position ahead of the national sporting organisation’s annual general meeting (AGM).
The decision will see Cricket Australia director, Richard Freudenstein, replace Eddings in an interim role, and will mark the end of Eddings’ last 13 years as a director at the organisation, three of which were spent as chair.
The news comes after media reports emerged Eddings had lost support from several state bodies and he might not be successful in his quest for re-election at the AGM.
On his departure, Eddings said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to be able to serve the sport I love as a Cricket Australia director.”
“In that time, and particularly during my time as chair, we have navigated some of the sport’s greatest challenges, including rebuilding the trust and reputation of Australian cricket after the Newlands incident and, more recently, the enormous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic and international cricket.
“I am particularly proud of our collective efforts to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 to stage a hugely successful Indian tour last summer and ensure the Ashes can go ahead this summer.
“It has been terrific to be involved in the growth of the women’s game in recent years, from the success of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and Women’s Big Bash League to the continued increase in girls taking up our sport.
“I have also been pleased to strengthen relations with the players through the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA).
“It is my sincere hope that following my resignation the State and Territory associations can unite and work together in the best interests of cricket, allowing the focus to return to the sport ahead of the 2021-22 season,” Eddings said.
Following initial reports Edings would be reinstated as Cricket Australia chair at the AGM, Cricket Australia revealed the plans to “appoint a deputy chair and identified successor to the chair to ensure an orderly period of transition” following the 2021-22 season, with Eddings confirmed to resign during his second term.
Freudentsein, who will replace Eddings on the interim basis, was elected to the board in 2019 and has an extensive background including being the form Foxtel CEO, News Digital Media CEO, and currently as a director for REA Group Limited, Coles Group Limited and The University of Sydney.
