Australia’s incoming boss sees a difficult transition for the aging squad

MELBOURNE: Incoming Cricket Australia (CA) boss Todd Greenberg said Australia will need tough conversations to revive an aging squad amid concerns about an impending exodus of older players.

Australia fielded just one under-30 opener starting Nathan McSweeney in the first Test against India in Perth, where Pat Cummins’ side were crushed by 295 runs.

Greenberg, who will take over from CEO Nick Hockley at the end of the summer, acknowledged the challenge facing Australia while noting that players are enjoying longer careers because of better management.

“We’ve got an older side, particularly in red-ball cricket, and that’s not going to be easy,” Greenberg told Australian media in Adelaide on Thursday.

“There have to be tough and honest conversations between the players and the staff, and I think those are happening, to be fair.

“Having said that, however, the professionalism of today’s athletes tends to hold them back longer in their careers; the way we take care of them, the way we rehabilitate them, the way they take care of themselves.

“I think it’s a very good balance.”

Australia have rested all their Test players from the entire T20 series they recently played against Pakistan and some of them from the one-day international series in a bid to keep the squad fresh for the five-Test series against India.

White-ball matches were poorly attended, leading to heavy criticism from the media and former players who accused cricket officials of failing to convert fans.

Greenberg said CA could improve its communications with the public even if selection decisions were often polarizing.

“We want to explain the reasons why we might do certain things,” he said.

“Again, that can polarize opinions. Sometimes people might not agree, and that’s fine, but I think it starts with the premise that we’re really strong communicators.”