ROD MARSH'S acceptance of the position as the inaugural director of the England and Wales Cricket Board's new National Cricket Academy will be his greatest cricket challenge.
The new Academy has been in the pipeline for a long time and they still haven't decided on just where it will be situated.
He is not really the first director to be appointed, for two or three years ago, former Australian leg-spinner Peter Philpott was announced as the new head of the ECB's much hyped new venture.
Unfortunately, he was dismissed before even taking up the position and successfully sued the ECB.
It was a mess then and even now there doesn't appear to be too much light at the end of the tunnel.
Just where the academy will be based and how it will operate is open to much conjecture.
In the meantime, the first group of English lads will go to Adelaide, the home of the Australian Cricket Academy (ACA), and use their facilities.
This will be gladly accepted by the Australians, for it will mean that the much-needed finance will flow into the Adelaide set-up during the period.
Surprisingly, intakes into the ACA are only for four or five months and then they spend some time overseas if they are good enough, touring.
In recent times, there has been concern over the quality of the youths going into the ACA and many graduates from earlier years have been included on these tours to boost the strength of the team.
Like Australia did when they launched their Academy, England look as though they will take older boys in the fold, who are already established under-19 or County players.
This is a ploy that was used successfully in Australia to boost the standing and reputation of the ACA as they claimed their lads as products of the Academy.
I have little problems with this, but I am concerned that England are concentrating on the 19 to 23 age group.
To me this is far too old, as these players have generally passed the formative years and are set in their ways.
Rod Marsh will face a completely different role in England to what he inherited in Australia.
When he took over in Australia, our cricket was emerging out of the doldrums and we were on the way to the top.
We had won the World Cup in 1987 and were undoubtedly the dominating force in one-day cricket.
In addition, we had reclaimed the Ashes and had beaten every one but the West Indies in Test cricket.
Cricket was going through an enormous growth and the well organised Australia cricketing structure and coaching programme was going from strength to strength.
The ACA is not the backbone of Aussie cricket, but rather a short- term finishing school.
Australia is a power in cricket because they have an organised administration and coaching systems that encompasses youngsters from the age of 10 or so, whether they are in the city or a one horse town on the edge of the desert and nurtures coaches and monitors their progress to Australian under age teams or first class cricket.
It is only then the ACA clicks in and hopefully polishes the rough diamonds. And in the last decade they have had many wonderful uncut stars to work with. It won't be that easy for Rod Marsh in England.
There will be no well-oiled structure, that reaches every corner of Australia's vast continent, in England.
Instead, he will encounter the jealously guarded County system which refuses to let go or even offer partial assistance to form a cohesive National programme to develop cricket in England, for the fear that it will lose its own little niche in the game.
The accepted role of every cricketing body in Australia is that they are there not only for self interest, but to develop players good enough for their club, state and Australia.
English cricket is much more insular than this and Rod Marsh and Co. will have to break down this barrier and reshape attitudes and values.
This is why I am concerned that the proposed ages for inductees to the academy is too old.
Marsh faces an enormous tasks in England and the English Academy cannot change the ills of English cricket overnight.
There will be no miracle cure for England for the problems and attitudes are far too ingrained.
The Academy won't function successfully unless a long term structure is set up that provides youngsters with the skills, technique, fitness and athleticism required.
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