ROOT: AUSSIE BANS SEND A MESSAGE TO WORLD CRICKET
JOE ROOT believes Cricket Australia have sent a strong message to the cricket world about how the game should be played.
Root refused to sit in judgement on players he has had a long association with, not least David Warner who once punched him in a bar, but he was clear about the lessons to be learnt from the balltampering saga.
Year-long bans for Warner and opposite skipper Steve Smith have been seen as harsh, but Root has looked beyond missing matches and believes this could be a watershed moment for the game.
“Cricket Australia has made a decision which is a bit of a statement to world cricket really,” said the England captain as he prepared for the second Test in Christchurch. “You can see the amount of reaction it has got.
“It shows everyone watching, and anyone who supports cricket, supports how they want to see the game played.
“In terms of the bans, that’s a decision Cricket Australia had to make, but they’ve made a statement which sends a strong message to everyone.”
There was also a reference to the way the series against the Kiwis has been played with New Zealand held up as a country who play in the right spirit.
“Relationships between England and
New Zealand have been pretty good for years,” added Root. “It is a reminder of how important it is that we continue to do that.”
The Aussies did get a vote of thanks from another man under a cloud, Jamie Carragher. The Liverpool legend, suspended by Sky TV for spitting at a fan, tweeted a picture of himself with Smith and Lehmann, with the message: “I knew you’d save me boys!”