Boss stands behind team

BUT FANS STAY AWAY

CRICKET Australia chief executive Nick Hockley has defended the men’s Test team, its values and its decision to take a knee against its critics.

He said the team and former coach Justin Langer were moving on from past controversies.

Hockley also said captain Pat Cummins’ quotes were taken out of context in relation to the fossil fuel company sponsorship.

Asked on radio network SEN by host Gerard Whateley if the public still loved its team, the cricket chief said the players were “an exceptional group of young men and an exceptional group of young women representing Australia’s national sport”.

Just under 11,000 people showed up to the first day of the first Test played in Perth since home town hero Langer’s coaching tenure ended in acrimony.

Hockley dismissed notions there was a “protest vote” by the public over the treatment of the former coach and said the game faced many headwinds, including a Wednesday start.

“It is great to see JL out on the field before his commentary responsibilities saying hello to the players, I know they were really pleased to see him,” he told SEN.

“There was a lot of commentary last week but everyone has had an opportunity to say their piece. I think the fact the stand is named after Justin shows the position he is held in Australian cricket and Western Australian cricket so it is great to see JL in such good form.

“I haven’t spoken to him today but I am looking forward to chatting to him, by all accounts he really enjoyed his day on the mike yesterday.”

Hockley visited the Channel 7 commentary team, which Langer is a part of, before play.

The cricket boss dismissed criticism of the side taking the knee before the match with the West Indies players.

“That was very much led by the team but absolutely supported by myself and the rest of the team. It shows a great sign of respect towards this West Indies team,” he said.

Hockley did not concede that expanding the appeal of the game would send it broke as some critics suggest. “Our values are very, very clear and our purpose and our vision is clear. We want to be the most inclusive sport that we possibly can, we want to bring people together,” he said.