Mark Taylor in Line for Cricket Australia's Top Post

Former captain Mark Taylor, who is highly regarded in cricketing circles, is expected to take over as the chairman of Cricket Australia (CA) in three years time, the media in Melbourne reported on Sunday.

According to a report in The Age, Taylor appears to be positioning himself to take over as CA chairman amid concern that chairman-elect Jack Clarke might struggle for his brash and arrogant attitude.

The appointment of Clarke, an extrovert Adelaide lawyer, to Australian cricket's top job in place of Creagh O'Connor is causing jitters over how his brash style will be received by India's power-charged cricket administrators.

Some observers worry that Clarke's straight-shooting style might erode years of quiet lobbying and headway made by O'Connor and chief executive James Sutherland.

"Behind the scenes, Australia has been working very hard to build a good relationship with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)," The Age quoted a source in the CA.

"They've used a quiet, thoughtful and courteous approach, which the Indians have responded to. There's a feeling that Jack might just be a disaster in India, with his loud, outgoing ways. It's going to become a very serious issue."

According to the report, it is believed that Taylor, a current CA board director, is lining up for the top post when Clarke's tenure ends in 2011.

Source: HindustanTimes