Gregg Chappell is former Australia Test Captain who retired as Cricket Australia’s national talent Manager in 2019[/caption]
Rejigged Sheffield Shield schedule, beefed-up Australia A programme and draft system among ex-Test captain's proposals to help Australia catch up to India and England
Greg Chappell has proposed a radical overhaul of the Australian men’s domestic cricket programme, warning the country faces slipping further behind both India and England unless major structural changes are considered.
Chappell, the former Test captain who retired as Cricket Australia’s national talent manager in 2019, wants the Sheffield Shield to start as early as August or September each year to fit in a full 10-match season before the KFC BBL gets underway, cricket.com.au said on Wednesday (12).
The post-BBL period would then be reserved for a beefed-up Australia A schedule to provide another, perhaps even stronger, level of first-class cricket beyond the Sheffield Shield.
The Marsh One-Day Cup could be played in February-March or between Shield matches before Christmas.
Chappell also believes an Australian Football League-style draft system, as well the introduction of another team or two, could stop more populous states from “warehousing” the best young talent.
“Historically we’ve been one of the best at developing young players and keeping them in the system, but I think that's changed in the last couple of years,” the 72-year-old told cricket.com.au ahead of the Chappell Foundation's fourth annual dinner in Sydney on Wednesday.
“I’m seeing a bunch of young players with great potential who are in limbo.
“That’s unacceptable. We cannot afford to lose one player.
“India have got their act together and that’s largely because (India's academy chief and former Test captain) Rahul Dravid has picked our brains, seen what we’re doing and replicated it in India and with their much larger (population) base.
“I think we’ve already lost our position as the best at identifying talent and bringing it though. I think England are doing it better than us now and India are doing it better than us.”