As the race to become Cricket Australia's next chief executive nears an end, competition to lead the sport's global governing body is only starting to heat up.
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CA is expected to announce James Sutherland's successor soon, possibly as early as next week and long before its October 25 annual general meeting.
The shortlist is down to Australian Grand Prix chairman John Harnden and former Cricket NSW chairman John Warn, according to an ESPNcricinfo report.
Sutherland is busy preparing the mother of all handover notes after 17 years in the hot seat but his next step has the potential to reshape the cricketing world.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is on the hunt for a new chief executive. South African Dave Richardson will step down when his contract expires after the 2019 World Cup.
The ICC has engaged Egon Zehnder, the same head-hunting firm enlisted by CA, to conduct its search.
Sutherland is yet to reveal his cards, publicly or privately, but looms as a leading contender for the Dubai-based gig if he is willing to relocate.
It is a big if. The 53-year-old has spent almost half of his life working for CA and is understandably keen to spend more time with his wife and three children.
However, the ICC and Sutherland could potentially negotiate an agreement that allows for some time in Melbourne.
The former first-class cricketer, who could go to any one of six CA chairmen for a glowing reference, would be a well-supported candidate.
Sutherland has copped criticism throughout his tenure over the national side's behaviour, especially this year's Cape Town cheating scandal that led to year-long bans for Steve Smith and David Warner.
But commercially he has delivered on several fronts, driving unprecedented growth in women's cricket, signing this year's $1.2 billion TV rights deal, and spearheading successful innovations like day-night Tests and the Big Bash League.
Sutherland has a good relationship with Rahul Johri, chief executive of India's all-powerful cricket board, and ICC chairman Shashank Manohar.
"This is a pivotal time for our game and we need to appoint a chief executive who can oversee the delivery of our new global strategy," Manohar said this week.
Sutherland, who has been part of an ICC strategic working group this year, was a leading figure in the creation of the global Test championship and ODI league.
He is well versed in the sport's challenges, including corruption and the proliferation of Twenty20 leagues.
Geoff Allardice headlines the other Australians who could be in the mix to head the ICC.
Allardice is currently the ICC's general manager of cricket, the same post that Richardson held prior to becoming CEO in 2012.
Sutherland, who started his professional career in the finance department of AFL club Carlton, has also been floated as Geelong Cats' next chief executive.
Cats CEO Brian Cook is contracted until 2020.
Australian Associated Press
