I'm as devastated as the next man about Johnny missing out on the big seat with the ICC and I thought it was about time to set the record straight re: his knowledge of the game and his capability to carry out the post.
So here are some stats from the Prime Minister's XI matches he not only picked from 1997-2007, but also coached and mentored (it's rumoured Nathan Hauritz re-modelled his action after watching Johnny send down a few deliveries during a Parliament House doorstop where he announced himself as a cricket tragic before smashing his own glasses with a short ball and making Alexander Downer blush when he asked him how he'd handle a couple of bouncers).
Of the 14 games played in this period J. Howard's teams won 8. This includes thrashing the ATSIC Chairman's XI twice and refusing to say sorry on either occasion. He was way ahead when it came to recognising young and upcoming talent: Andrew Symonds, Mike Hussey, Brett Lee, Brad Haddin and Stuart Clark were utilised by Johnny years before they were even entertained as prospects by Australian selectors. And, most notably, Dougeh Bollinger was selected for the Prime Minister's XI a full 8 years before he became a regular cause of a few loose seeds appearing in the Burge household laundry basket whenever there was a test match on.
Of course, there are were less successful selections during this period too - players like Lea Hansen, Anthony McQuire and Barry Firebrace disappeared largely without a trace after appearing for J.Howard's teams. Their parents did occasionally receive letters though from faraway places like Port Hedland, Christmas Island or Nauru.
In a strange twist of fate, the Howard-controlled Prime Minister's XI never won the match immediately preceding any of his successful election campaigns. They did win the match before his ultimate demise in 2007 however, possibly indicative of his changing priorities as he moved towards an (ultimately fruitless) attempt at a career in cricket administration.
Johnny left in '07 and, not surprisingly, the Sri Lankans waited until Rudd's election to arrive on our shores and were treated (too well according to some) to a 4 wicket win. Some say the loss via Duckworth Lewis method to the WI in Feb 2010 was the final nail in the Rudd coffin and he was discarded soon after.