Game bowled by a wrong’un
Chappell questions why cricket’s warring parties took so long
IAN Chappell was left pondering the same questions on the minds of millions of Australian cricket fans yesterday: why wasn’t a pay deal signed a long time ago and who is accountable?
Chappell, a central figure 40 years ago in the World Series Cricket revolution, is happy to see the end of the saga but disappointed the sport has been dragged through so much mud for so little gain.
Cricket Australia (CA) and the players’ union signed a five-year deal on Thursday worth about $500 million. Most industry insiders sense a similar agreement could have been achieved much quicker and with far less spite.
James Sutherland, appointed CA’s chief executive in 2001, has overseen plenty of tense pay talks in his tenure but none anywhere near as unedifying as the recent spat.
CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) feel the other side is entirely to blame.
ACA president Greg Dyer noted “we can’t let this happen again”, while Sutherland indicated CA would soon review where it went wrong.
“I would have thought they’d have to. Because obviously, it hasn’t done the game any good,” former skipper Chappell told AAP.
“When it happens like this, surely someone has to be accountable.
“It’s good news to have it done but the first thought is why didn’t it happen before June 30?
“Why wasn’t it done long ago before it alienated a lot of people? You figure the reason is a lack of respect from both sides.”
The in-principle resolution was rubber-stamped yesterday, when cricketers around the country voted in favour of it. New contracts have already been signed by some players.
The Test squad will assemble next week in Darwin to train before flying out for a two-Test tour of Bangladesh.
Selectors will announce the 14th member of the party next week, with Jackson Bird considered the frontrunner.
“It’s obviously been a challenging process for everyone involved,” skipper Steve Smith told Fox Sports.
Chappell believed the relationship between administrators and players wasn’t great.
“It sounds to me like the players had suspicions before and they’ve probably only grown,” he said.
“Sutherland’s statement last week, ‘what would the players know about grassroots cricket?’, summed up the administrators’ feelings about players.
“It’s as if ‘other than being good cricketers, what would they know?
“We’re the boss and you do as you’re told’.”