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Retired cricketer lifts lid on toxic Australia environment

Brett Geeves may not have played a Test match for Australia but the retired fast bowler remembers his call up to the national squad well – but for all the wrong reasons.

In an article for Fox Sports, the former Tasmania quick revealed how his test dream soon turned into a nightmare after being called up to replace the injured Doug Bollinger during Australia’s tour of South Africa in 2009.

“The call to inform me that I was on a plane to South Africa was one of the biggest thrills of my cricket career, Geeves said.

But that excitement quickly evaporated after a series of events that left Geeves feeling decidedly under-appreciated.

Geeves has horror memories of his experience with Cricket Australia. Pic: Getty
Geeves has horror memories of his experience with Cricket Australia. Pic: Getty

The first was his arrival at the airport in Johannesburg, where not one single official from the Australian team was waiting to escort him to the ground where Australia was playing.

Next was the taxi ride during which the driver told him that by carrying his laptop, suitcase and all his cricket gear, Geeves had made them a target for abduction or murder in the car-jacking capital of the world.

Then there was the reception from the Australian players when he did finally arrive at the ground, and made his way into the team’s changeroom.

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“What are you doing here,” Geeves recalls being asked.

But the fast bowler said the thing that hurt the most was how promptly he was sent home from South Africa after breaking a foot in the one ODI match he got a chance to play in, and the glaring lack of support given to him from Cricket Australia officials.

“The next morning, I hobbled my way down stairs with all my gear and waited in the foyer for the team physio to get me to the airport. As I waited, I watched the coach, the captain and a member of team management having breakfast with Brett Lee, who was not a playing member of the squad.

Geeves claims he was brushed by Clarke in South Africa. Pic: Getty
Geeves claims he was brushed by Clarke in South Africa. Pic: Getty

“I thought about going over to say goodbye, but by that stage, I had experienced enough to know that I wasn’t exactly a valued member of the squad and a quiet exit would be a fitting way of departing the HR nightmare that was my tour of South Africa,” Geeves said.

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In the wake of several damning reports about the leadership style during the Michael Clarke era, Geeves said his own experience and one particular encounter with the former skipper, summed up his own horrendous taste of Australian cricket.

After crossing paths with Clarke and then-girlfriend Lara Bingle at a pedestrian crossing in Cape Town, the paceman says he was left gobsmacked at being totally ignored by the pair as he attempted to greet them.

“Michael and Lara walked straight past me without any tip of the cap, no smile, zero acknowledgment.”