Nick Hockley, the Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive, has announced his resignation, effective March 2023, after five years at the helm. Hockley’s tenure has been marked by significant challenges and achievements, including navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and overseeing the game’s financial stability.
Hockley initially assumed the role on an interim basis in 2020 following the resignation of Kevin Roberts. He was appointed full-time in May 2021 after successfully guiding the game through the 2020-21 season amidst border closures and the successful hosting of the Test series against India.
During his tenure, Hockley faced challenges such as a standoff with broadcaster Channel Seven over a discount, which was eventually resolved. He also oversaw a smoother MoU agreement compared to 2017, resulting in significant pay increases in the women’s game.
Hockley had to deal with the controversial departure of Tim Paine as Test captain and the subsequent transition to Pat Cummins. He also attempted to overturn David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban, but the case fell apart in late 2022.
Despite these challenges, Hockley’s tenure has been marked by significant on-field success. The men’s and women’s teams have won T20 and ODI World Cups, while the men claimed the World Test Championship and the women won gold in the Commonwealth Games. The men’s team also toured Pakistan for the first time since 1998.
Hockley has also led the implementation of CA’s Multicultural Action Plan, aiming to improve participation and attendance among South Asian communities.
CA chair Mike Baird praised Hockley’s leadership, stating that he “navigated the sport through a period of unprecedented challenge during the pandemic and has delivered significant growth and stability.”
Prior to his elevation to the top CA role, Hockley had been involved in organizing major cricket events, including the 2020 T20 Women’s World Cup and the 2015 men’s World Cup.
