Smith’s role has put cricket to shame: MCC
NEWDELHI: A day after ICC handed out a one-match ban and a fine of 100 percent match fee for tainted skipper Steve Smith and 75 percent for opener Cameron Bancroft, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodian of the cricket laws, released a statement calling for a “major shift in attitude and culture of all those with responsibility for leadership within the game.”
“We welcome the swift action by the match officials, ICC and Cricket Australia in response to the admission of ball tampering by senior Australia players,” MCC Assistant Secretary, (Cricket) John Stephenson was quoted as saying on lords.org.
“The time has come for a major shift in attitude and culture of all those with responsibility for leadership within the game, to give young players the kind of role models who will uphold standards, preserve cricket and, vitally, the Spirit of Cricket for future generations.”
The MCC welcomed the swift action taken by the match officials, the ICC and Cricket Australia, highlighting that changing the condition of the ball is prohibited under Law 41, concerning unfair play. “Law 41 also places upon the captains of both sides the responsibility for ensuring that play is carried out in accordance with the spirit of the game as well as within the laws,” said MCC assistant secretary John Stephenson.
The MCC also stated that it had taken a strong note of the untoward turn of events that have taken place during the ongoing series between Australia and South Africa.
While the ball tampering saga has grabbed the limelight, tensions remained with Kagiso Rabada escaping a ban, David Warner getting involved in a heated altercation with a fan, and so on. “The behaviour of some of the players in the current South Africa/australia series, and other incidents in recent times in the game we all cherish, has fallen well below the standard required to inspire future generations of cricket-loving families.”
Meanwhile, CA’S head of integrity Iain Roy and high-performance manager Pat Howard are in Cape Town and Roy “will immediately conduct his inquiries around the specifics of the ball tampering incident” the Australian cricket body said.
CA chief executive James Sutherland was also travelling to South Africa and said he expected to provide some answers to an outraged Australian public by Tuesday evening.