Q&A with Paul Marsh

29 January, 2018

Former ACA CEO Paul Marsh looks back the ACA's role in cricket over its 20 year history

What role has the ACA played in Australian cricket?

The ACA has played a significant role in representing the interests of the players, but has always balanced that role with ensuring the interests of the game have been protected.

Since the first MOU, the players have been partners with the game and this has led to spectacular commercial growth, ongoing innovation, safer working conditions, programs that support players away from the game and a world-leading past player program.

What fundamental principles have made the ACA successful?

The playing group has always been unified and has understood that they must stand together to achieve their collective goals. This has only been possible because they have believed in the positions adopted by the ACA, which have always been fair, well thought out and have balanced the interests of the players and the game.

How important has player unity been throughout the 20-year period?

Player unity has been the ACA's biggest strength since the start. The unity of the playing group has come to the fore at every difficult time in the ACA's history.

What opportunities exist for a player now, compared to 20 years ago?

Clearly players receive many more opportunities today than they did 20 years ago, and so they should. The advent of the various T20 leagues has seen financial opportunities skyrocket in cricket and the current players have bene ted greatly from this.

Players have never been better supported off the field and I think this has been one of the major changes in the last 20 years.

There is so much cricket these days that it's critical this support continues to grow, to not only the players but their families.

How proud are you of the legacy that you left for Australian cricket from your tenure as ACA Chief Executive?

I loved my time at the ACA and still follow everything with interest. I was lucky to take over an organisation that was in good shape from Tim May and was able to build on his good work.

As I look back, the things I'm proudest of are the principled positions we took on issues affecting players such as security and the health of the game, the decision to represent our female players and the genuine commitment we showed to this, the investment of large amounts of player money into past player programs that will support these players and the game for years to come, the introduction of a world class personal development program, and the negotiation of four good MOU's with CA.

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