'A couple of our workshops in the past couple of years have focused on sustaining success- straying at the top after working hard to get there. We came to the conclusion that it is most unlikely that a sporting team would last long as one of the world's best unless the organisation in which it sits has an appropriate culture as well as being a world-leading sporting business. In 2011, when England rugby was in trouble on and off the field, England cricket seemed to be in a very good place. How the tables have turned. The ECB seems to have made the same mistakes that the RFU did a few years earlier.
Peter Moores attended our workshops and he must ruefully look back and bemoan what has happened to him. Leaking stories to the press is not the way good leaders work, but that is what senior people in the ECB have been doing. Peter's treatment and subsequent sacking was played out in the media and glory be, they are still at it. Whether the newly appointed Andrew Strauss should or should not give Kevin Pieterson another chance is one thing, but for the media to announce confidently that he will not, even before the two have had a meeting, is unacceptable.
The incoming ECB Chairman, Colin Groves, has already put his foot in it by publicly denouncing the West Indies as mediocre, thus motivating them to a fine victory on the 3rd test. Groves' quote was pinned to the West Indian changing room wall.
Sporting bodies have to work well with the media. How well they do it reflects on the quality of the organisation. One start for the ECB would be to stop contracted players tweeting and twittering and for any others in the organisation to say as little as possible. The RFU seem to have this right at the moment, but it only takes one indiscretion to send the pack of cards tumbling. At least the rugby folk have been made aware of this. Will English cricket learn. The signs are not good so far!'
Bob Reeves