In 2005, while still prime minister, he sent down a couple of of balls of what was generously described as off-spin to children in Pakistan. One, like his prime ministership, did not get to the other end. In 2010, now retired, he was nominated by Australia for ICC chairman, but vetoed by India and sundries. You might say that he was run out without having faced up.

Perhaps now there is another chance. Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association are unmoved in their corners, like dogs in mangers. Eventually, they're going to have to meet, if not half-way, somewhere between. Everyone else can see this, but they either can't or won't. "Compromise" rings in both their ears as "defeat". Divorce lawyers would well recognise them.

CA refuses to go to mediation. The ACA refuses to negotiate on CA's terms, which they say start at the half-way point. In truth, elements within CA refuse to accept the ACA at all. Hence the sneering and snarling from corners.

In such an atmosphere, neither is likely to accept the other's nomination of a middle man. But a middle man could nominate himself. Federal sports minister Greg Hunt already has offered services, though not his. Whether it is the government's place to intervene is another matter.

Howard is passionate, experienced and has the time. He could knock heads together, helmets optional. In return, CA could help him with tips on how to pivot on his front foot.

If not Howard, why not James Packer, or a Murdoch scion? This is more obscure, but only a little. Television is Australian cricket's main source of funding, so has a major stake in this dispute. Channel 9 holds the rights until 2018, Channel Ten covets them. In their current circumstances, Channel Ten could not afford them, but the Murdochs reportedly are circling. Packer sold out of Channel Nine years ago, but cricket on Nine is his father's legacy, so he might be prepared to lend a hand, for old time's sake.

There is history. When CA and the fledgling ACA were at loggerheads 20 years ago, Kerry Packer stepped in, unofficially. Kerry Stokes was on his heels then, and the last thing he wanted was for the TV rights to be trashed. Suddenly, the dispute was over.

Then, the issue was whether the players ought to have a CBA at all. Now it is whether the CBA should be on the same terms as then. Then, the players had nowhere else to go. Now, they do. An intermediary, whoever it is, would have his work cut out.

CA and the ACA are at impasse, each waiting for the other to blink, each certain that they themselves won't. If insiders cannot bring rapprochement, an outsider might. Howard knows all about left field; it was where he had to go to retrieve the ball that day in Pakistan.