Dodemaide lands back home for new role

Tony Dodemaide will return home to Melbourne to accept the post of Cricket Victoria's chief executive after taking a globetrotting path to the job. Dodemaide, who played 10 Tests and 24 ODIs, was a swing-bowling allrounder for Victoria during his playing days before he spent five years as Marylebone Cricket Club's head of cricket at Lord's.

In 2004 he joined the Western Australian Cricket Association as chief executive and oversaw a period where the organisation tackled severe debt problems and experienced an executive takeover led by Dennis Lillee, who is now the president. Dodemaide is expected to start his role with Cricket Victoria by the end of the current season.

"I'm looking forward to returning to Victorian cricket immensely," Dodemaide said. "The challenge of leading Cricket Victoria into the future is one that is extremely exciting and I'm pleased to be returning to where my cricket first started."

Geoff Tamblyn, the Cricket Victoria chairman, said Dodemaide had outstanding administrative credentials. "He led a strong list of candidates and we're excited to have him at the helm," he said. "Tony was an exceptional contributor to Victoria as a player and we look forward to him providing similarly strong performances in his new role." Dodemaide will replace Ken Jacobs, who resigned in November after 26 years in the position.