Clarke’s Putsch On Ice?

The definition of ‘putsch’ is ‘ a violent attempt to overthrow’ a regime. Although Giles Clarke and N Shrinivasan’s stitch up the ICC in 2014 didn’t involve physical force, it did so much violence to international cricket that the term seems wholly appropriate.

Anyway, after the doom of 2014, highlighted so memorably in the film Death of a Gentleman, the storm clouds might actually be lifting. Cricinfo reported on Monday that Giles Clarke’s ambitious manoeuvring to achieve world domination – something which, like Stewie Griffin, he’s probably aspired to since birth – has rather gratifyingly hit the rocks. Please don’t all cry at once.

Now Cricinfo are reporting that BCCI chairman Shashank Manohar, who assumed the role after Clarke’s BFF was forced to step down, has started to dismantle the hideous legacy left behind by his predecessor. This is good news indeed. It basically means that cricket in South Africa, Pakistan, the West Indies, New Zealand and pretty much everywhere else, might have a new lease of life.

Rather than killing cricket outside India, England and Australia, the ICC now plans to “carry out a complete review of the 2014 resolutions and constitutional changes with a view to establishing governance, finance, corporate and cricketing structures that are appropriate and effective for the strategic role and function of the ICC and all of its members”.

There’s even talk of a World Test Championship – something which was scrapped in favour of another Champions Trophy under Shrinivasan’s watch – returning to the agenda. Personally, I think this is absolutely essential for test cricket’s revival. Test cricket needs a clear structure and meaning. Competing for the top spot in the ICC rankings isn’t quite tangible enough to capture the public’s imagination.

Although we’re yet to hear what specific reforms will be introduced the sentiment is clear: the ICC now realises that the Big Three stitch up was toxic, and that the game needs to be run in the interests of every country not just the wealthiest. Hallelujah! Cricket needs to grow to prosper. The Big Three coup would’ve achieved the opposite.

As for Clarke, he’s finally losing friends and alienating people. His connection to Shrinivasan and the unpalatable reforms of 2014 makes him an inappropriate candidate for ICC chairman. The ICC is trying to look forward; elevating Clarke would be a regressive step. It seems that both Cricket South Africa and Cricket Australia agree. They’ve already let it slip that they do not support Clarke’s candidacy.

However, even if the worst happens, and Clarke somehow manages to turn his campaign around and actually become ICC chairman, there would be a silver lining for English cricket supporters. Manohar is determined to make the position of chairman an independent position. This means that Clarke would have to give up his ECB presidency to fulfil his ambitions. Sometimes life just isn’t fair, is it Giles.

James Morgan