Cricket heads deny match-fixing

The head of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit says there is no evidence that the third Ashes test match between Australia and England has been corrupted, or any indication that players have had contact with alleged match fixers.

There was shock in Australian cricket at a report from UK newspaper The Sun of an alleged spotfixing attempt on the Perth test, which started on Thursday.

Responding to reports of match fixing, Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said there was no evidence the Perth test or the Ashes series had been compromised. The ICC has started an investigation after receiving a dossier from the paper but Alex Marshall, its anti-corruption chief, played down claims that the third test had been affected by fixers as Sutherland declared the body had ‘‘absolute confidence in our players’’.

‘‘We have now received all materials relating to The Sun investigation,’’ Marshall said. ‘‘We take the allegations extremely seriously and they will be investigated by the ICC anticorruption unit working with anti-corruption colleagues from member countries.

‘‘From my initial assessment of the material, there is no evidence, either from The Sun or via our own intelligence, to suggest the current test match has been corrupted. At this stage of the investigation, there is no indication that any players in this test have been in contact with the alleged fixers.

‘‘The allegations are wide ranging and relate to various forms cricket in several countries, including T20 tournaments. We will look closely at all the information as part of our investigation.’’

Sutherland was briefed by Marshall in a conference call that also included ICC chief executive David Richardson and England and Wales Cricket Board chief Tom Harrison.

The Sun published purported evidence of two bookmakers offering to sell details of rigged periods of play for betting.