CA boss refuses to label ‘cheats’
CRICKET Australia CEO James Sutherland has denied any notion that the Test team has a systemic problem with ball-tampering in the wake of the South African disaster.
Scrutiny continues to be placed on who knew what when the decision was made in the Cape Town dressing room for Cameron Bancroft to tamper with the ball in the third Test.
The blame has been placed on the shoulders of captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Bancroft, who were all flying out of Johannesburg overnight after being banned from the fourth Test.
It’s understood legal issues with the process of banning the players for longer prevented Sutherland from revealing too many details found by CA investigators.
But as critics around the world tried to accuse the Australians of being serial balltamperers, Sutherland said immediate investigations in South Africa by officials suggested that was not the case.
“I think the feeling from (head of integrity Iain Roy) from his review is that it’s an isolated incident,” Sutherland said.
“But there are things I don’t want to go into too much detail around now. I … hope it’s an isolated incident, but it’s certainly one of significant concern.”
Sutherland refused to concede the players were cheats, again because of the stringent process being undertaken by CA to charge the players under the code of conduct.
The charged trio have been offered legal support by the Australian Cricketers Association.
“The players are remorseful for the mistakes they have made,” said ACA chief executive Alistair Nicholson, who has been counselling the players in South Africa.
“And they regret how their actions have represented themselves, teammates, cricket and their country.”
A wideranging review into the culture and behaviour of the national team is expected when the investigation into the scandal concludes.
“I agree completely with ICC and member countries, member boards, including Cricket Australia need to define more clearly what is expected of players and then enforce the standards in a consistent fashion,” Sutherland said. “And I agree all member countries including Cricket Australia need to show more accountability for their team’s conduct. Winning is important but not at the expense of the laws and spirit of the game.”
Even England coach Trevor Bayliss, who also coached NSW and was a mentor to Smith, said the rest of world cricket had seen the Australian team culture devolve over time.
“I don’t think you can say when any culture has changed … unfortunately on this occasion it’s gone too far,” he said.
I DON’T THINK YOU CAN SAY WHEN ANY CULTURE HAS CHANGED ... UNFORTUNATELY ON THIS OCCASION IT’S GONE TOO FAR
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