Mel Jones steps down from Cricket Australia, shaking up Cricket Victoria board
Mel Jones has stepped down from the Cricket Australia board and Cricket Victoria chair David Maddocks has been nominated for the vacant position, writes PAUL AMY.
The Cricket Victoria board is set for a new look, with chair David Maddocks poised to move to Cricket Australia and three candidates jostling for two director vacancies ahead of the AGM.
The CV delegates last month endorsed a board recommendation for Maddocks to continue as chair despite his nine-year tenure due to end.
They accepted the need for stability and the “extenuating circumstances’’ around Covid.
But Maddocks – a partner of Perry Maddocks Trollope Lawyers – is now Cricket Victoria’s nominee for the Cricket Australia board, replacing commentator and former star player Mel Jones.
Jones is stepping aside, apparently citing her increased media commitments and family demands.
She had joined the CA board in December, 2019.
Maddocks is a past president of North Melbourne Cricket Club and was instrumental in its relocation to Greenvale to become the Greenvale Kangaroos.
He has led the Cricket Victoria board since September, 2020.
Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins told delegates the CV board “reached a unanimous view’’ that Maddocks was the best CV candidate for the national board.
“Moving forward, we understand the CA nominations committee will consider the application and, if endorsed, the CA members then have the opportunity to elect the director,’’ he said.
Cummins thanked Jones for her “very significant contribution’’ as a Victorian voice at national level.
“It has involved considerable time and commitment and Mel has served us well. We wish Mel all the best in her future endeavours,’’ he said.
With Maddocks expected to join CA and Peter Williams retiring, two positions are available on the Cricket Victoria board.
Nominations closed on August 1 and there are three candidates: Paul Sealy, an investment advisor and former Prahran and Frankston Peninsula medium-pacer; Chris Bulford, a Geelong Cricket Club member who is president of the Geelong Lords Taverners; and David Talalla, the MCC competitions convener and a former Commonwealth Games athlete.
Talalla ran for a board position last year.
The AGM will be held on August 29 and a chair appointed a week later.
There is increasing speculation Ross Hepburn will put his hand up to take over from Maddocks.
Hepburn joined the board two years ago but is an experienced cricket administrator, having served as president of Dandenong Cricket Club for 10 years.
He was also president of the Dandenong District Cricket Association and was on the board of RMIT council.
Hepburn and Box Hill Cricket Club stalwart Penelope Cleghorn were elected to the CV board in 2020.
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