Cricket Victoria releases Hussey Report

Read the review summary here.

The purpose of the review is to ensure that Cricket Victoria’s selection and contracting processes are in line with best practice to provide the best opportunity for elite talent to be identified, nurtured and progress to state and international level.

The Hussey Review puts forward recommendations in the following areas: People and Capability, Junior Player Development, Coach Development, Communication and Relationship Building between Cricket Victoria and Premier Clubs, List Management, Selection and Contracting Processes and the Women’s Cricket Pathway.

The review involved interviews with more than 50 people representing Victorian cricket, Cricket Australia, and interstate associations. Mr Hussey’s review identified five key themes which inform his eight recommendations to Cricket Victoria.

In summary, the recommendations to Cricket Victoria are:

1. People: employing the best available people for fulfill specific roles
2. Junior Player Development: deliver a renewed focus on the quality of coaching, expertise, and skill development on offer
3. Coach Development: building opportunities for club coaches to be involved in the Youth Pathway and Cricket Performance program
4. Premier Cricket communication: continuing to enhance relationships and visibility with Premier Cricket and its role in the pathway
5. Premier Cricket’s role in producing First Class players: clearly identify the purpose and role of Premier Cricket
6. List Management: develop a consistent vision and strategy on list management and talent identification
7. Selection, contracting processes and accountability: develop a robust structure for assessing talent, performance management and communication on selection decisions
8. Women’s cricket: improving pathway structures and building stronger foundations through metropolitan regional Victoria

Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins welcomed the report and said the recommendations would be considered by the Board and executive.

“This review gives Victorian cricket a strong platform to think critically about why and the way we do things in cricket performance and where we can evolve our programs and relationships to support better outcomes,” Cummins said.

“Victoria has always prided itself on the quality of the players we produce and it’s important we continue give players the best opportunity to succeed at whatever level they might play at.”

“It’s clear in this report that we have a collective opportunity to build more structure and rigour around our programs but it’s also a combined effort with Premier Clubs. The Board and I look forward to working with all our stakeholders on the recommendations in this report to deliver a cricket performance ecosystem that develops Victorian and Australian players for years to come.”

The CV Board will continue to review the recommendations of the independent review and, along with the CEO, take responsibility for the progression and implementation of appropriate actions.

The CV Board will treat action on the recommendations as a matter of priority.