Peever was mistake

Taylor: CA should have waited on review

MARK Taylor admits it was “ludicrous” for David Peever to be reappointed Cricket Australia chairman before damning review findings were released.

But the CA director and exnational skipper believes the Australian Cricket Association (ACA) has again divided players and the governing body by using the findings to renew calls for bans to be lifted on Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

Taylor said it had been a “horrific week” for Australian cricket and for him personally, with Peever resigning after four days of outcry over the review which followed the balltampering scandal.

He admitted it was not a good look that Peever was reappointed for another three years knowing the explosive review findings were about to be made public. Asked on Channel 9’s Sports Sunday whether it was “ludicrous” to reappoint Peever, Taylor said: “In hindsight, yes.

“I don’t think there is anything too scurrilous about the timing of the report, I’m on the subcommittee.

“(But) it would have been better pushing the AGM back a week to give the states and everyone a chance to have their say, get it out there and then say (to Peever) do you want to reapply?”

But Taylor took aim at the ACA, claiming it was driving a new wedge between the players and the CA hierarchy by renewing its call for an end to the player bans.

The ACA called for them to be lifted immediately after the independent review found CA’s “win at all costs” mentality was partly responsible for the sandpaper scandal in the Cape Town Test.

Captain Smith and his deputy Warner were banished for a year – until March – while batsman Bancroft was sidelined for nine months.

Taylor said the ACA’s demands had further strained relations between players and the governing body as they tried to rebuild from bitter pay negotiations.

“I’ve worked tirelessly over the past 12 months to try to get a better relationship with the cricketers and the board of Cricket Australia,” Taylor said.

“I was disappointed ... only 22 hours after the release of the findings ... the ACA wanted the bans reduced. I don’t even think they actually asked the players if they wanted that.”