CA Cultural Review

[Twizzle]

Cricket Australia cultural review: 41 recommendations handed down following ball tampering scandal
CRICKET

THE twin reviews into Cricket Australia following the ball tampering scandal have come up with 42 recommendations to fix the game in Australia.

At present all but eight of the recommendations were accepted, with seven currently under consideration and one not accepted at this stage.

The reviews were in direct response to the ball tampering scandal that saw Steve Smith and David Warner banned for 12 months and Cameron Bancroft for nine months.

Every ODI and T20I ad-break free during play only on FOX CRICKET this November. Get Sport HD + Entertainment with no lock in contract and no iQ4 set up costs. Get Foxtel Sport. T&C’s Apply

Scroll down for the full list of recommendations from the review.

NOT ACCEPTED

Recommendation 16 Members of Australian Test and One Day teams be excused from playing International T20 cricket to the extent necessary for them to play Sheffield Shield and Grade cricket as per recommendation 15.

CA response: This recommendation if not accepted. CA will continue to select the best available team for International Cricket taking into account CA’s selection policy and the Players’ Pact, including T20 Internationals.

1:17
UNDER CONSIDERATION

R7 That the practice of umpires rating the sportsmanship of all Grade, State and National Teams be reinforced as mandatory best practice and that, at the end of each match, the umpires’ formal assessment of the sportsmanship show by each team:

7.1 Be published along with the name of any player whose conduct the umpires deem to have been exemplary.

CA response: This recommendation is under consideration and there are some challenges to implementation, such as CA not being responsible for, or in control of International Cricket.

CA will review the Spirit of Cricket awards in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations and the ACA. CA will discuss these processes further with the ICC.

R8 In Test, Sheffield Shield and Grade matches, following at least one informal warning. Umpires be empowered to exclude players from the field of play, for set periods of time and with immediate effort, as a penalty for:

8.1 Continuous abusive sledging (after one warning)

8.2 Deliberate breaches of the Laws of Cricket, or

8.3 Deliberate conduct inconsistent with the Spirit of Cricket (after one formal warning)

CA response: This recommendation is under consideration and there are some challenges to implementations, such as CA not being responsible for, or in control of International Cricket, and the potential impact on the official status of matches in Australia (eg: first class cricket)

R11 The current performance bonus (linked to match wins, series wins and world rankings) be converted into a payment, without loss of player’s current remuneration, in recognition of:

11.1 Contributions to the maintenance and development of grass-roots cricket

11.2 Positive relationships with fans, sponsors etc

CA response: CA will continue to work with the ACA and players to improve performance bonus structures. CA will consider and review remuneration structures of other sports to consider best practice in remuneration policies.

R15 Players of CA contracts be encouraged and enabled to maintain active involvement with Sheffield Shield and Grade cricket. Except when playing major series abroad, players on CA contracts should be made available to the relevant State and Territory Associations, if selected, to play a minimum of two entire Sheffield Shield matches and one Grade match per Australian summer.

CA response: This recommendation is under consideration and there are some challenges to implementation, such as ensuring CA selects the best available team for International Cricket taking into account CA’s selection policy and the Players’ Pact, as well as ensuring the players’ health and wellbeing. CA will actively look for additional opportunities for players to maintain connections with State and Premier cricket without committing to a minimum number of matches, in consultation with State & Territory Cricket Associations and the ACA.

R20 Subject to issues of confidentiality (commercial and otherwise) the Board of CA publish the minutes of its meetings (eg: as is done by the Board of Control of Cricket in India).

CA response: We note this recommendation and while CA will not be publishing minutes of board meetings, CA will review mechanisms to provide greater transparency. CA’s key priority is to communicate transparency with State & Territory Cricket Associations following board meetings. The CA Board will consider publishing media releases on key outcomes from Board meetings.

R35 CA commission a review of its HPU – and associated programs – to ensure that they are responsive to the need for highly skilled, ethical players – with the skill and maturity to exercise personal discretion and responsibility – who are not merely compliant.

CA response: CA’s high performance function operates as part of the broader high performance system across Australian cricket. When the future strategy for the high performance system is developed by CA in collaboration with State and Territory Cricket Associations, opportunities to improve the current approach to high performance will be considered. CA and State & Territory Cricket Associations will consult with the ACA when developing the future strategy.

R36 Employees overseeing or working within the HPU be banned from participating in industrial negotiations with players.

CA response: This recommendation is under consideration. CA will consider the appropriate team to be involved in MOU negotiations in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations.

ACCEPTED

R1 - Australian Cricket establish, as a standing body, an Ethics Commission

1.1 To be comprised of three persons – with at least one male and one female member.

1.2 Nominated by the Board of CA.

1.3 Appointed only with the unanimous agreement of:

1.3.1 Each State and Territory Association

1.3.2 The Australian Cricketers’ Association

1.3.3 Cricket Umpires Australia.

1.4 The purpose of Australian Cricket Ethics Commission would be to hold all participants in Australian Cricket accountable to the ethical foundations for the game as played in Australia in accordance with How We Play, the Spirit of Cricket, the Laws of Cricket – and any successor documents that establish ethics standards for the game.

1.5 The Australian Cricket Ethics Commission would have no formal powers. Its influence would lie solely in its capacity, in private and/or in public, to approve or disapprove of:

1.5.1 Certain practices occurring on or off the field of play, or in the administration of the game

1.5.2 The conduct of organisations involved in the governance, management or advancement of cricket in Australia

R2 - Australian Cricket establish the Australian Cricket Council – a consultative body that will bring together cricket’s major stakeholders, twice per year, to consider issues or strategic significance to the game. The Council would:

2.1 Meet twice per year

2.2 Be comprised of the Chairs of CA, State and Territory Associations, ACA and Cricket Umpires Association

2.3 Be chaired by CA

2.4 Be a forum for consultation, deliberation and voluntary agreement where consensus can be found

2.5 Require CA to consider establishing a mechanism for consulting with cricket’s fan base – with the intention of developing a mechanism by which the views of fans can inform the deliberations of the Australian Cricket Council.

R3 - State and Territory Associations be engaged with the intention of ensuring a consistent ethical foundation for all of Australian cricket. State and Territory Associations should be asked to explain the reason for insisting on any divergence of material significance.

R4 - Honours – such as the Allan Border Medal – take into account a player’s character and behaviour as well as their performance in batting and bowling (akin to the Brownlow Medal for best and fairest in the AFL). In line with this, players who have been penalised for poor on-field behaviour should not be eligible for major awards. Additionally, the status of the Richie Benaud Spirit of Cricket Awards should be elevated

R5 - The How We Play Awards take into consideration alignment with those elements within the Spirit of Cricket not otherwise covered in How We Play

R6 - CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA), within a period of 30 days, commence a process by which they establish a constructive working relationships. This process may

6.1 Require the assistance of a mediator

6.2 Involve preliminary confidence-building measures

6.3 Require CA and ACA to respectively ensure that their representatives be committed to and capable of moving the relationship to a positive setting.

R9 - There be a conscious and sustained investment in a program to elevate the status of and respect for umpires across all forms of the game of cricket – and amongst all age groups

 

[Twizzle]

R10 - CA, State and Territory Associations use their best endeavours to ensure that cricket pitches and prepared in a manner that:

10.1 Allows batting and bowling sides a fair opportunity to complete effectively, and

10.2 Maintains regional variety and diversity of playing surfaces

R12 - There be a core consistence (a clear ‘family resemblance’) between How We Play, the Spirit of Cricket and any additional Ethical Framework applying to elite players (such as is being developed by McCosker and Collins).

R13 - The role of vice-captain be ‘de-coupled’ from that of ‘heir apparent’ for the captaincy. The captain should be able to rely on the loyal support of the vice-captain. Rivals for the role of captain should be given leadership development and opportunities to demonstrate leadership in other roles (eg: by captaining sides in different forms of the game)

R14 - Players with leadership aspirations or capacity should undertake formal leadership training – including processes to improve their capacity to display moral courage


R17 - In regard to Test, Shield, ODI and T20 players, and consistent with CA’s Duty of Care, there should be consultation between the player, medical specialist, team captain and chairman of selectors before any decision is made to “rest” that player on medical grounds.

R18 - The leadership of CA accepts its share of responsibility for the circumstances that gave rise to the ball-tampering incident at Newlands – not as a matter of direct, personal culpability but as a demonstration of responsible leadership and accountability.

R19 - The Board of CA appoint a standing committee for Ethics and Culture

R21 - All Board papers include a formal section evaluating the ethical implications of proposed policies, practices, agreements or delegations. The assessment of ethical implications should identify key stakeholders, how their interests are likely to be affected and demonstrate how the proposal (s) are consistent with CA’s declared purpose, values and principles

R22 - The Board of CA be subject to the organisation’s Code of Conduct

R23 - CA investigate and seek advice to determine if the management of players’ physical and emotional well-being has been consistent with the organisation’s legal and moral obligations, including its duty of care

R24 - CA’s review its risk assessment system in order to ensure that risks arising from poor player behaviours are correct gauged and managed

R25 - CA address issues of clarity in relation to How We Play

R26 - All of CA’s Code of Conduct make specific reference to How We Play

R27 - CA amend it’s Anti-Harassment Code for Players and Player Support Personnel so that the definition of ‘harassment’ is expanded to include abusive sledging.

R28 - CA make explicit (in documentation etc) a general prohibition against conduct that might reasonably be perceived as bullying

R29 - CA develop and disseminate practical guidance on how to identify and manage ethical dilemmas

R30 - The management of players joining and leaving elite teams to be improved so that the processes are respectful and compassionate

R31 - CA’s performance reviews and bonus scheme (s) be harmonised so that all versions take into account ethical and behavioural considerations as a basis for potential reward

R32 - Executive remuneration be linked to performance measures relating to the culture of CA and – to a lesser degree – to the culture of cricket in Australia

R33 - CA senior management receive additional training to develop their communication skills

R34 - CA set and publish a target for achieving greater diversity (including but not limited to gender diversity) within its executive ranks

R37 - The HPU be responsible for and resourced to develop, not just the physical, mental and emotional attributed of players – but also their characters in the line with an ethos of playing ‘hard but fair’

R38 - The Board of CA appoint the national selectors in consultation with the Australian team captain and coach

R39 - The General Manager, Team Performance Unit be an ad hoc adviser to the Australian team selectors

R40 - Selectors be required to take account of a player’s character as well as their skills as a cricketer when making a selection

R41 - CA actively engage with the ICC to adopt those of these recommendations relevant to developing, maintaining and enforcing high ethical standards across international cricket.

*The Ethics Commission handed down 41 recommendations, with Cricket Australia opting to split recommendation two into two points – therefore in resulting in 42 responses.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...l/news-story/b1546dbb3ccc306e2a3d4ac535b8d4b4

 

[Twizzle]

Gee Cricket Australia are very defensive atm. I saw an interview with Peeve last night and this guy should be a politician.

He was asked about 3 questions about CAs accountability in all this and he didn't answer any of them, he just talked about his so called achievements, I was waiting for him to say we've stopped the boats.

 

[Tommy Smith]

Lol I saw the interview and said the exact same thing - he should be a politician.

He couldn't have come across as more of a merkin. He oozed everything the report said about CA and you could see why they've fallen into this mess with people such as he in charge.

 

[Bazal]

Pretty disgraceful they've rejected the recommendation aimed at strengthening the shield and thus, in the long run, the test side.

Not surprising, but still pretty disgraceful. I'm a T20 fan to the extent that a lover of proper cricket can be, but it deadset barely changes the interest level based on who plays in the side anyway. Well, unless you've got an ABDV or someone. International T20 should be axed in general imo

 

[TheParraboy]

Mark Taylor is a fraud

On the Sunday sports show on 9, they quizzed him regarding his review which he had seen.

He said it will be hard hitting , non edited, and confronting

What a load of crock

That Peeve guy needs good clip across the ear and forehead.

 

[Bazal]

That Peeve guy needs good clip across the ear and forehead.

I've got an old V1000 that would be perfect for the job

 

[hineyrulz]

Mark Taylor is a fraud

On the Sunday sports show on 9, they quizzed him regarding his review which he had seen.

He said it will be hard hitting , non edited, and confronting

What a load of crock

That Peeve guy needs good clip across the ear and forehead.

Taylor has always been a board yes man.

 

[Iafeta]

They just don’t get it. I think they want to bury their heads in the sand, hope it all goes away, and that everyone ends up accepting their way.

Brad Haddin responded to a reporter saying he didn’t think the Australian teams have had a history of bullying and arrogance.

Stop being so defensive.

It’s like the amazing irony that Duddles Warner walked off mid match because Phil Hughes brother sledged him that he shouldn’t even be allowed to play cricket. Come on duddles, you’ve given out significantly worse. And I can’t in all honesty imagine that you will be able to stop yourself in the future.

 

[JJ]

I think it's lovely we're getting to see Davey's sensitive side - he's a delicate wee thing

 

[umina panther]

Seems Cricket Australia has set the lofty goal of becoming loveable losers like the Black Caps. How wonderful

 

[JJ]

Seems Cricket Australia has set the lofty goal of becoming loveable losers like the Black Caps. How wonderful

LOL - that's what I don't get though - the only reason we've become 'lovable' as you put it as putting on the angry tough guy charade just didn't fit when they did it - although Flem's team was one of our better ones - there were a few aggressive types there. The loser part is to do with numbers and talent... but Hadlee, Boult, Southee, Bond, etc - mouthing off like they're Lillee and Pascoe just doesn't sit well - nor does it with Hazelwood or Cummins TBH

But there's a line, and f**ktards like Warner are just an embarrassment - the hilarious thing is he was such an arsehole merkin for so long and supported by so many - then only gets his just desserts when there's a huge over-reaction to a ball tampering issue

Australian cricket has always had an in your face style - it's a matter of finding balance on the field, and apparently off it

And he's just a girly sook tbh - f**king cry baby

 

[The Charlatan]

The article in FoxSports a couple of weeks back about him chirping in the slips about a rival grade player being a cheat was hilarious, simply for the fact that Warner had the hide to accuse someone else of cheating, and the player who wrote the article was too gutless to call him out on it.

 

[Eelectrica]

I'd like to think we can win without sounding like raving lunatics though.

Surely there's a balance between saying 'jolly good show' every time one of our bowlers gets clobbered for 6 and the Matt Hayden to Graeme Smith tirade.

I don't think anyone has anything against, for example a fielder reminding a batsmen that the current bowler has his number. Or a batsmen suggesting the bowler is bowling pies.

 

[Tommy Smith]

Sledging is so overrated.

Cricket is a very simple game. If you want to win you need good players.

And no amount of sledging can overcome this basic fact.

If anything it's derailed Australia's thought process because all that energy should be going towards learning to bat long and countering diverse bowler friendly conditions - reverse swing, spin...

For all of Australia's bullying and abuse - which they hilariously think helps in winning??? - they still win at home with regularity and lose away from home with regularity.

Just. Like. Every. Other. Average. Test team.

The only time this has ever been different was when they had a battery of all time great players.

So success has NOTHING to do with sledging.

In fact the model cricketer going forward should be the least sledgy bloke you'll see - the humble, hard working Chris Rogers type.

If you want to overcome a lack of natural talent and win in England then model yourselves on that guy, not Dave freaking Warner.

 

[Timbo]

Peever surely has to go, this is shocking on his part.

The reaction today has been all head in the sand, we aint done nothin wrong stuff. And then they fall back on 'what, do you want us to win or what'. The fact that so many of them seem to think that to win a cricket match you have to be a complete and utter prick shows what's wrong with the culture of the organisation. Taking wickets, scoring runs and being a total wanker are not concepts that go hand in hand. It is possible to do the first two without the third.

I'd wager everyone posting here has played cricket at some level. The fact is, the Australian team as a 'club' side are that team that everyone hated playing - not because they were good, but because they were just a chore to spend a day standing under the hot sun with. They sucked the fun out of the game, and they're the reason that two of your best batsmen don't play anymore because their wives don't like bringing the kids to the ground anymore because she's offended by the word merkin and heard it 55 times coming from their captain.

This is Argus all over again. Next winter poor, misunderstood Davey will be making an arseclown of himself in front of a global audience as we lose the Ashes, but hey, at least we won't be doing things 'The New Zealand Way'.

Seriously - how hard is it to just not be a dickhead?

 

[Twizzle]

I hope sledging is never ruled and regulated out of the game and I haven't seen any one suggest that sledging helps you win, so not sure why anyone would suggest that.

I've always got plenty to say on the pitch even when I'm batting. If I get sledged by a bowler or slippers I like to remind them that I'm still at the crease bc as bad as I am, they are even worse if they cant remove an old fart like me.

I think its more of a personality trait than a "way to win" .If you're going to be an asshole or get personal, it says more about you as a person, on or off the pitch, than who you are as a sports person.

The thing is too, after every game no matter who we play I always go and have a beer with the opponents, that's one of the best things about cricket for me and you can yack about the game and how bad we all played. I've never got the the stage where its carried on off the pitch, although I've seen it happen.

 

[Bazal]

I hope sledging is never ruled and regulated out of the game and I haven't seen any one suggest that sledging helps you win, so not sure why anyone would suggest that.

I've always got plenty to say on the pitch even when I'm batting. If I get sledged by a bowler or slippers I like to remind them that I'm still at the crease bc as bad as I am, they are even worse if they cant remove an old fart like me.

I think its more of a personality trait than a "way to win" .If you're going to be an asshole or get personal, it says more about you as a person, on or off the pitch, than who you are as a sports person.

The thing is too, after every game no matter who we play I always go and have a beer with the opponents, that's one of the best things about cricket for me and you can yack about the game and how bad we all played. I've never got the the stage where its carried on off the pitch, although I've seen it happen.

The biggest misconception for me is that blokes like Warner and Hayden et al (and there are others from around the world too) are sledgers. They just aren't. Sledging is about putting someone off their game, mentally, and getting into some banter. It's not about abuse.

Warner is the uppity third grader who invited me into the car park post match before throwing a lazy headbutt at me last summer.

 

[JJ]

The biggest misconception for me is that blokes like Warner and Hayden et al (and there are others from around the world too) are sledgers. They just aren't. Sledging is about putting someone off their game, mentally, and getting into some banter. It's not about abuse.

Yep - I think sledging is a poor term - there has always been talk - that's fine. Someone like Hadlee said little, but his look was enough. Some, Warner, Hayden and seem to think it means mindless, puerile abuse - and that's the problem.

I'm still stunned that Davey takes such offence when people say stuff to him - which crosses his lines apparently

Seriously - how hard is it to just not be a dickhead?

It's really hard when you are a complete dickhead

 

[TheParraboy]

The cricket Association say they will be relentless in lifting the players bans

Id have zero problem if this happened