Kevin Roberts steps down as Cricket Australia chief executive

Roberts, who was appointed as James Sutherland's successor in October 2018, had held a three-year contract with the governing body

Kevin Roberts has resigned as Cricket Australia's chief executive.

Roberts, who was appointed as James Sutherland's successor in October 2018, had held a three-year contract with the governing body.

However, his position became increasingly fragile as CA struggled with the fallout to the global coronavirus pandemic, while Roberts' communication strategy with players and state associations came under scrutiny.

On Monday, he offered his resignation to the CA board. Nick Hockley, the chief executive of the T20 World Cup, will assume interim responsibilities.

"Kevin and the board and I have been working hand-in-glove over the last three to four months around this. We thought it's time now and Kevin agreed with the board that it's time for a new leadership and he tendered his resignation accordingly for the good of the game," CA chairman Earl Eddings said.

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"Ultimately the board takes all responsibilities. Being the chair, I'm the one ultimately responsible for the organisation. Hence why we've made these changes today and what we are doing tomorrow. We have responded appropriately. We are living in very unprecedented times.

"Our response has been in line with all other sporting organisations in the past three months. It would be naïve to think that Australian cricket wouldn't be affected like all our other sporting codes and organisations around the world.

"At the time, we made prudent decisions about the welfare of Australian cricket and, yes, that means we had to make some hard decisions and we've done that. And I don't move away from that because it's been necessary to protect us through this crisis.

"However, if things emerge and change, we adapt our plans, but ultimately that's my responsibility and the board's responsibility."

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