Lawry urges pay peace
TEST legend Bill Lawry has called on the players’ association to backflip on its plan to boycott the Australia A tour of South Africa.
Channel 9 heavies gathered in Sydney yesterday to launch an Ashes summer that inexplicably, at this stage, is far from being secure as the pay deal debacle drags on.
Former Test captain Michael Clarke fears the repu- tation Australia has built as the world benchmark for how cricket should be run is under threat and is adamant the best solution is for both parties to roll the MOU over for 12 months, take negotiations behind closed doors and allow events such as the women’s World Cup and the summer Ashes be given the attention they deserve.
Lawry said that along with fans the most immediate victims of the saga are the likes of Usman Khawaja, Glenn Max- well and Jackson Bird, who — despite training up in Brisbane this week — are set to be robbed of a chance to play for Australia A and put their name up in lights for an Ashes berth.
Khawaja wants to reclaim his position in Australia’s top four to face the old enemy, yet has not faced a ball since January 20. Maxwell will not have a chance to show his wares on Gabba-like pitches in South Africa and prove he is not a subcontinental specialist at No.6, and Bird cannot demand selection as the third quick for the tour of Bangladesh.
The ACA say that unless an MOU is struck by Friday it feels it has been left with little choice but to abandon the Australia A tour as it strives to send a message to Cricket Australia that negotiations must progress, or else.
However, Lawry, a life member of the ACA and a proud unionist, says boycotting is the wrong approach.
“If I was one of the young players on the Australia A tour I’d be very, very unhappy if it doesn’t happen. Because this is their opportunity to put their hand up and say, ‘I’m the next cab off the rank’,” he said.
“It’s something the ACA and the senior players who are saying, ‘we’re behind you’, should be really thinking (about). Are they going to deny a young 19-year-old an opportunity they’ve had to take the next step forward?
“That’s the most important thing. They really should go.
“You make three hundreds, you take 20 wickets, you’re the next cab off the rank. If they don’t play, who is next?
“The only people who suffer will be the best young players in Australia. It’s very unfair for them, whatever happens.”
Clarke was Australian captain when the last MOU negotiation back in 2011 was rolled over a year to be signed off on in 2012.
The former skipper wants the players’ focus to be on winning the Ashes after a run of outs in international cricket.