A lesson in the politics of sport

Tim Lane, in the Age, casts his view on John Howard's rejection by members of the ICC, an indication of what he believes is a fractured organisation. He also writes of how Howard's career as a politician may have influenced his rejection, and the possible reasons for Cricket Australia to nominate him.

What is abundantly clear, though, is that international cricket is so rife with racial and cultural division that the future of its competitive framework is at risk. Soon after Howard's candidature for ICC office was announced, I suggested here that international cricket did not need Howard, it needed Nelson Mandela. Of course, there's only one Mandela, and that's the point. It will take an inordinately special human being to defuse the game's tensions.