Culture widespread

Cricket review taints administrators too

CRICKET Australia is refusing to budge on Steve Smith and David Warner’s suspensions, despite a review condemning the very basis for why the sanctions were so heavy-handed.

At a press conference in Melbourne yesterday, besieged chairman David Peever declared he would not stand down, or even admit any personal embarrassment for over- seeing a culture at Cricket Australia defined as “controlling”, “arrogant”, “dictatorial” and “bullying”.

The comprehensive cultural review handed down yesterday by Simon Longstaff emphasised that Warner’s role in influencing the more junior Cameron Bancroft into sandpapering a ball in Cape Town, while captain Smith turned a blind eye, was only the “reported facts”.

The full story is that a “web of influences” lay “below the surface” and that Cricket Australia administrators must also take responsibility for the national disgrace.

Aside from saying sorry to cricket fans, almost the only thing Peever did admit to yesterday was that Smith, Warner and Bancroft were handed unprecedented bans for balltampering on the specific rationale that they were deemed by Cricket Australia’s board to be the only three individuals responsible for bringing the game into disrepute.

“As we have said before, there was a full investigation and that was the outcome of the investigation,” Peever said.

But the Longstaff review has sensationally debunked that theory and the players’ union has launched a bid to have the penalties reduced on the basis that the trio have been penalised disproportionately to Cricket Australia administrators, who have walked away unscathed.

“This is extremely significant, as there is now independent verification that the system and culture were contributing factors,” Australian Cricketers’ Association president Greg Dyer said.

“Given this, there must be a reconsideration of the harshness of the penalties.”

Despite the review questioning the appropriateness of Smith, Warner and Bancroft being the only individuals held accountable, Peever said the board would not reconsider.