Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird has resigned from the role and stepped down as a board director, telling the board of his decision on Monday, 28 September, amid fallout over plans to privatise the Big Bash League. Baird will not seek re-election at the Cricket Australia annual general meeting in late October.
"After much consideration I have decided to stand down as CA chair and director," Baird said in a statement.
The resignation follows the loss of Baird's support in his home state. Cricket NSW, which had nominated him to the Cricket Australia board, withdrew its backing. NSW also told Baird it would not support him for one of the board's independent seats.
David Boon will take over as interim chair at the AGM while Cricket Australia runs a formal process to find a permanent successor. Boon joined the Cricket Australia board in 2025.
Boon played 107 Test matches for Australia during his playing career. He later worked as an ICC match referee and served on the national cricket selection panel from 2000 to 2011.
"I am delighted that David Boon has agreed to undertake the interim chair role while we complete the formal chair process, and I will undertake a transition process with David over coming weeks," Baird said.
Baird has been Cricket Australia chair since February 2023. He was Premier of New South Wales from 2014 to 2017.
He pointed to Cricket Australia's performance during his tenure. "This year CA will report record revenue, profit, attendance and viewership, and most importantly a 40 per cent increase in participation over the past four years," he said.
Baird said he believed the Big Bash League's future had been secured despite the privatisation dispute. "With recent decisions on the Big Bash I also believe the long-term sustainability is assured. I believe Australian cricket continues to be well lead by the CA board," he said.
The push that triggered the fallout centred on a "self-determination" model that Baird had developed with Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg. Under the model, private investment would be introduced into the Big Bash League state by state, with each jurisdiction choosing its own course.
NSW was the strongest opponent of that approach among the states.
Baird had praise for Greenberg as he departed. "I believe Todd is the best sports administrator in the country, and he will undoubtedly set cricket up for success for generations to come," he said.
Baird said he and Boon would work through a transition together over the coming weeks, before Cricket Australia's formal process to appoint a permanent chair concludes at the annual general meeting in late October.