Former Australian cricketer, Shane Watson will now be serving Cricket Australia as the president of the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA). The appointment was made at the ACA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday night.
The story
Watson is a part of an extended ten-member board now which is part of a revised governance structure approved at the AGM held on November 11 in Sydney. The ACA will now take care of the Australian Cricketers’ Retirement Account, which benefits Australia’s professional cricketers once their careers are over.
Last week, Cricket Australia had appointed former player Melanie Jones as their director. The revised structure in the board also splits the role of President and Chair, the latter held by Greg Dyer. The ACA has three new faces now- Pat Cummins, Kristen Beams, and former Australian cricketer Lisa Sthalekar. Aaron Finch, Alyssa Healy, Moises Henriques, Neil Maxwell, Janet Torney and Greg Dyer are the other notable members on the board.
The man speaks
“I am truly honoured to be elected as the President of the ACA as it evolves into the future. I have big shoes to fill with the people who have gone before me and I am super excited about this opportunity to continue to give back to the game that has given me so much,” Watson tweeted after his official appointment.
Watson in his official statement released by Cricket Australia explained, “Through a period of immense change, the players have been, and will continue to be, a strong voice in protecting what’s made our game of cricket great, while embracing opportunities that change inevitably brings,” Watson added in a statement.”
He also went on to praise Cricket Australia’s policy for women cricketers. “This policy, amid a host of other changes, assures Australian women that cricket is a sport which can now support you and your family. And for girls coming through who love sport, like my daughter, it says that cricket is a sport where you’ll be able to have a career,” the star all-rounder said.
