Wally Edwards elected as Cricket Australia Chairman

Cricket Australia's Board today elected WA businessman and former Test cricketer Wally Edwards as Chairman to replace Jack Clarke, who retired from the role today after three years in the chair.

Edwards, who was Test cap number 271 and ODI cap number 25, has been a WACA Board member since 1987 and a CA Director since 1999.

In accepting the role today, he praised outgoing Chairman Jack Clarke for major strategic decisions made during his three-year term.

These included accelerated the launch of the new inter-city KFC Big Bash League, due to start in 49 days, as part of CA's strategy to engage more young people and females in cricket; nationalising the entry-level in2CRICKET program which encourages children aged 5-12 to play cricket; and commissioning and later adopting the major recommendations of the Australian Team Performance Review, Mr Edwards said.

"A new CA strategic plan that encourages all of Australian cricket to work together on ensuring cricket is Australia's favourite sport was finalised in Jack's term, and he has also put Australian cricket governance and financial model on the table as an important issue for all of us in cricket," he said.

Mr Edwards said his own vision as new Chairman is for cricket to be Australia's favourite sport, with regaining number one status in all formats of men's and women's cricket being an important objective behind achieving that vision.