Little Johnny to become Top Dog in Cricket

Australia and New Zealand have nominated ex-Australian Prime Minister John Howard as their candidate for the post of ICC president. It is amazing how New Zealand will always remain a small brother. Long term and proven cricket administrator from New Zealand Sir John Anderson was hoping to be nominated but was left holding the wooden base while the trophy was “stolen” by self-proclaimed cricket tragic, John Howard. I reckon poor Anderson has been hit for a “sux” (“six” for those uninitiated in Kiwi accent). There are even accusations of bullying  tactics by Aussies. Read this interesting bleat from NZ Herald. I believe the kiwis need not try anything in future, just give in to the elder brother..after all, sheep-power, doesn’t account for much, does it?

John Howard was a Prime Minister of Australia for almost 12 years and his reign coincided with good economic reforms and sound fiscal condition. I am not sure though, how much was his contribution to that. He was a smart politician though. Please ask his deputy who was kept waiting for ages after having been promised the top position, just because little Johhny changed his mind. But all that is a part of politics; I have seen worse in India. My beef is, that is if I have one at all, how come John Howard suddenly came into the picture for Cricket Australia? What prompted CA to nominate a political heavy weight, who has neither played much club cricket nor administered ANY cricket club let alone represented a state organisation? In fact, he can hardly be called even a sportsman, at least in my book. All in Rubgy playing countries would remember his sour-puss face while handing out winner’s medals to English team who beat Aussies in the Rugby World Cup final of 2003 in Sydney..classic sour grapes stuff that. But the behavior from the Chief Guest at a prestigious event and that too from the reigning Prime Minister of the host country, my dear Sir, can hardly be called cricket! Anyways, we can all forget that. No one likes loosing; whether playing or following, especially a one-eyed Aussie. If anything, it confirmed little Johnny’s immense love for the game of winning. I can live with that, especially as the recipients of his sourness were Poms; better known as the Kings of the Whines. But Howard’s foray into cricket administration is a completely different kettle of “Bombay duck”. I will come to that soon.

What, apart from his self-proclaimed love for cricket and a great understanding of wheeling and dealing as a politician, can Howard bring to the table that can help the game of cricket? Honestly, very little. ICC is by and large a toothless tiger and its Presidency a mere ceremonial position. What can he do that will impact upon the game? When an organisation depends upon its component members for its existence, it can hardly command respect. To be brutally frank, ICC is hardly in charge of the game. It is run by individual boards. Even after having every game now conducted by independent officials appointed by the ICC, it is still dependent upon its members for the revenue. This is the legacy of the Lords of English and Australian cricket who ran their fiefdom for ages by disregarding the power of masses (they can go and play football!!), concentrating on more important things like their gin and tonic, tea and scones. To that effect, BCCI is perhaps, the new Zamindaar. It was perhaps lucky that Indians and other subcontinent population took to the game of the Gora Sahibs like duck to the water. However BCCI has to be credited for a significant effort in taking the game to the masses rather than keeping it as an exclusive past time for the royals, as was the case before India's independence. It is this power of masses that has changed the game for ever and given the subcontinent a force to loosen the stranglehold that England and Australia had over the game, in spite of doing precious little for the advancement of the game. I can not see any change to ICC’s ability in future to exercise similar clout without the contributions from the subcontinent.  Let us face it, for any game to prosper or indeed survive, participation is the key. English and Australian administrators were culprits in my opinion, of making the game exclusive for their elites. Probably Australian cricket administrators, definitely at local levels, can still be blamed for continuing that attitude. Much as Australian cricket team is thriving, one look at the junior rosters will indicate that the number of participants is hardly increasing. Compared to that, the scenario is completely different on the subcontinent. It is played, followed, seen and beamed live in subcontinent, more than any where else. With over 50% of world population as potential followers of the game (I am sure Chinese are coming!), and currently generating over 70% of revenue, how can ICC hope to equate its clout with the subcontinent boards, is frankly beyond me. One can be excused then, for thinking that ICC shall remain toothless and its Presidency a mere ceremonial position for a significant period of time.

My suspicion is that CA’s sudden love for John Howard emanates from the stand BCCI has taken by promoting Sharad Pawar to the position. Another politician of immense and one of the longest surviving “Ya va chandra Diwakar” (till moon and sun shine) clout in India whose name is synonymous with “Power”. Pawar like Howard has very little to offer to International cricket; in fact his only contribution to Indian cricket, if it can be called that, is to displace Jaggu (Jagmohan Dalmiya). That is of course as far as I know, and I stand corrected.

For those who may be unaware of the Machiavellian nature of International cricket administration, may not know how this typically English game suddenly became the Goddess of the subcontinent. It was BCCI run by Jaggu who wrested this prized possession from the grasp of blissfully unaware and sleeping Lords; blissfully unaware of the potential explosion, if it could be taken to the commoners. Much-maligned Jaggu the Marwari, who can squeeze a dollar out of every cent in anyone’s pocket, sometimes even before it is earned,  is to be credited for supreme financial position BCCI has reached as one of THE richest sporting bodies in the world.  And by default ICC and ALL other cricket boards in the world are enjoying the fruits. ICC has been living a life of default for ages..that is the nature of the beast. Due to Jaggu crashing the Lord’s party in the Long Room, ICC had no choice but to set up a rotation policy where cricket board of EVERY full member country playing the game, would nominate President for a period of 2 years. Before this, every decision was taken at the behest of the England and Australian boards, who even had the veto power. Jaggu was the first “democratically elected” ICC President. For those interested in reading further, please read Graham Halbish’s biography “Run Out”, where he mentions about “Project Snow” to counter the alleged threat in 1997, from BCCI and other subcontinent boards to split the game on the basis of colour, if Dalmiya, who had more votes than Malcolm Gray of Australia, was not elected to the Presidency of ICC. Due to that rotation policy, better known in my book as “agree or loose our chaddis” democracy from the Lords, Sharad Pawar will be the ICC President from 2010 to 2012 and now, little Johnny will do the honour from 2012 to 2014. Sorry for the detour folks.

There is though, one corollary to the above presumption that ICC will remain toothless for a long time. It can change, if BCCI itself decides to make ICC stronger! It will be effectively same as before with India being possibly a bigger partner at the table shared by England, Australia and perhaps SA. It will be interesting to see what Sharad Pawar does when he takes over. That can change the complexion of ICC and then Howard’s appointment can become meaningful. To my mind, that seems to be the only way forward for the English and Australian boards. Even if that happens, I can not see BCCI loosing its stranglehold on the money purse and power reins within the ICC; unless of course new members like China and USA tilt the balance away from BCCI. A distant possibility.

That brings me to the Bombay duck and curry pies. Any one who takes up the top job of running cricket (heck, that is not correct, ICC ruins more than runs, but I will let that go to the keeper), will need to become extremely aware of the sensitivities of the subcontinent. No doubt little Johnny has the wherewithal to wheel and deal; it has been his life. But it will be an interesting challenge for him to adjust to the colour of cricket these days. Based on his performance as the Australian PM, one may be excused to doubt his ability to sit through a Bollywood show without cringing. Having said that, I have a feeling that he can adept to it because that was his only positive point. The only point of interest is, whether he will be a meek ICC President or try to impose as is his nature. As a part of previous British Commonwealth, sub-continent countries especially India, have developed a very sensitive skin to perceived racism. Earlier the population accepted that as norm and moved on. The current generation, having exorcised their demons have become very expressive and often, rightly or wrongly, tilt to the other extreme. In this climate, an obstinate personality like John Howard will face some very stiff challenges to convince the significant half of the ICC that he represents every one. I fully agree with Murlidharan, who once decided not to tour Australia after copping sledging from the then PM, John Howard, about his bowling action! People have long memories. Little Johnny may fancy himself as a bit of a spinner, but he may find himself eating a humble curry pie. I am not sure if he would like that..

May be John Howard can bring something to the table; may be he can achieve as ICC chief what he could not do as a PM. A possibility, but can he, a staunch monarchist with strong conservative mindset (why is he called liberal?) rise above his prejudices? You know what, politics HAS bred stranger bed fellows than Pawar and Howard...