The one review recommendation rejected by Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia declined just one of the Ethics Centre’s 42 recommendations stemming from its review into the game.
While seven are under consideration and the remainder accepted outright, the 17th recommendation was the lone advice to fall foul of CA.
The recommendation that “Test and one-day players be excused from playing international T20 cricket so they can play in (Sheffield) Shield and grade matches” was rejected by CA.
CA believes such a move would reduce the importance of Twenty20 cricket, promising instead to continue with the usual selection policies.
T20 internationals have occasionally already featured second-string sides as a result of scheduling clashes that have seen the white-ball team play in Australia while the Test side prepares for an overseas series.
Tim Paine unveils players’ pact
A simple set of words will guide the approach of the Australian cricketers this summer as they attempt win back fans.
Cricket Australia (CA) released the players’ pact, a document that was created as a product of the player-led review chaired by former Test opener Rick McCosker.
“We recognise how lucky we are to play this great game. We respect the game and its traditions. We want to make all Australians proud,” the pact declares.
“Compete with us. Smile with us. Fight on with us. Dream with us.”
Tim Paine, Rachael Haynes, Pat Cummins, Shane Watson, George Bailey and Justin Langer were on the panel that helped former Test opener Rick McCosker conduct a played-led review.
The final details of the pact were drawn up last month after an informal meeting of the nation’s most influential cricketers, male and female.
Banned cricketers feature in 145-page review
The only three current Australian cricketers mentioned by name in the Ethics Centre report are Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
In a 145-page review peppered with blocked-out sections to preserve privacy, the names of the three banned stars stand out.
Even when they are not named, it is also sometimes clear they are referenced.
The 14th review recommendation is that the role of vice-captain be “de-coupled” from him being the heir-apparent to the captaincy.
Warner was vice-captain in South Africa under Smith at the third Test in South Africa when Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to tamper with the ball.
All three are serving suspensions for their roles in the debacle.
Smith and Warner were named specifically in a section that looks at how the game is played.
“Over recent years, David Warner and Steve Smith have attracted the highest number of Code of Conduct breaches for international matches,” the review said.
“However, in the last two years, both men have been honoured – suggesting that poor behaviour is not considered to be linked to the concept of poor performance.
The review was released on Monday, two days after Warner briefly left the field while batting in a Sydney grade match.
Warner walked off because of a comment from Jason Hughes, the older brother of late Test player Phil Hughes.
The comment apparently was not related to Hughes, but Warner’s wife Candice Warner said it was “very hurtful”.
Warner is notorious as one of the biggest sledgers in international cricket.
An anonymous state association staff member was quoted in the report about the Cape Town scandal.
“That was a very small number of individuals (probably two) doing something immensely venal and stupid, for which they are paying a heavy but fair price,” the staffer said.
But a senior state administrator who took part in the survey had some sympathy for Bancroft.
“(Bancroft) should have said no (to the tampering), but he had no foundation on which to say no whatsoever,” the person said.
The Ethics Centre’s key cricket recommendations
* The Ethics Centre was commissioned to review Cricket Australia after the South Africa ball-tampering scandal
* The review has 42 recommendations – 10 for Australian cricket, seven for the national men’s team and the rest for CA
* While the review says Australian cricket “has lost its balance and has stumbled badly” it says the reputation of women’s cricket remains unaffected
* The review surveyed current and former players, CA staff and board members and State and territory officials. Fans were not included in the survey
Cricket
1. Australian cricket establish a three-person ethics commission, which would have no formal powers. Its purpose would be to hold everyone in Australian cricket “accountable to the ethical foundations for the game”
2. The establishment of the Australian Cricket Council, a consultative body to meet twice a year
3. Require CA to set up a mechanism for consulting with fans
5. Player honours, such as the Allan Border Medal, take into account character and behaviour as well as performance
7. CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association to start a process where they establish a constructive working relationship within 30 days
9. Umpires have the power, after one informal warning, to send off players in Test, Sheffield Shield and grade matches
National team
12. The current performance bonus is converted so it recognises contributions to the game such as positive relationships with fans and sponsors
14-15. The vice-captaincy is de-coupled from being the heir apparent to the captaincy. Players with leadership capacity have formal leadership training
16. Players on CA contracts encouraged and enabled to have active involvement with Shield and grade cricket
17. Test and one-day players be excused from playing international T20 cricket so they can play in Shield and grade matches (this was the only recommendation that CA rejected)
Cricket Australia
19. CA leadership accept its share of responsibility for the circumstances that gave rise to the ball-tampering scandal
28-29. CA amend its anti-harassment code so that the definition of harassment includes sledging. Also, CA makes explicit a general prohibition against bullying conduct
37. High Performance Unit staff are banned from industrial negotiations with players. CA says this recommendation is under consideration
41. Selectors be required to take into account a player’s character as well as their skills when picking teams.
with AAP
