Cricket Australia cultural review: Top brass declare James Sutherland safe despite ball-tampering furore
CRICKET Australia’s probe into the ball-tampering saga has turned into a half-baked farce with the organisation’s top brass — including CEO James Sutherland — exempt from the sack, writes PETER BADEL.
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CRICKET Australia’s probe into the ball-tampering saga has turned into a half-baked farce with the organisation’s top brass — including CEO James Sutherland — exempt from the sack.
In the latest twist to Australian cricket’s greatest scandal, Cricket Australia chairman David Peever declared he will not resign from his post and revealed that the besieged Sutherland is also safe.
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Peever’s sentiments come despite the CA chairman admitting today that the cheating scandal in South Africa, which cost Steve Smith the Australia captaincy, “happened on my watch and we (the CA board) clearly accept responsibility.”
Peever is also under fire for his embarrassing comment in a leaked email in which he lashes Channel 10, labelling the network “bottom feeders” amid robust TV rights negotiations.
Fronting the media today for the first time since the ball-tampering calamity in Cape Town, Peever pledged to launch an independent review that will have a “broad remit” and consider “whether any wider cultural, organisational and/or governance issues” need to be addressed.
But the wideranging investigation will not reach Cricket Australia’s corridors of power, with Peever confirming the review will not claim the scalps of himself or Sutherland.
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“James Sutherland’s position is not under review,” Peever said.
“He continues to retain the full support of the board.
“James is an outstanding executive who again in this crisis has done an outstanding job.
“When the time comes for James to make a decision about what he wants to do in regards to his role at Cricket Australia, he will be remembered as one of the best servants of cricket in this country.”
Asked about his own fate as CA chairman, Peever said: “In respect to my own position, no, I don’t to intend to step down.
“That hasn’t been suggested by the board. Our task is to work through this problem and make sure cricket comes out of it strongly.
“We’re all going to come under the microscope in terms of what is occurring in the organisation that might have contributed to this.
“Circumstances like this are not the time for witch-hunts.
“People in these circumstances call for everybody to be sacked. Clearly that isn’t going to solve any problems. What we must do now is work on the issues we have and we take responsibility for fixing it and making it better.
“The review will decide and make recommendations on these things, I’m not going to speculate at all what will come of it.”
Peever revealed former Test opener Rick McCosker will preside over a subcommittee, comprising current and former players, which will review the conduct of the national team, including its attitudes towards sledging.
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McCosker will work in tandem with a separate, independent review team which will place CA’s wider culture, procedures and administrative ethos under the microscope.
“There are two aspects to the review,” Peever said.
“The player review is around the conduct of the players.
“The independent review of the organisation will be a review into its culture, processes and governance.
“The important link will be between the events of Cape Town and what the review thinks and finds are the links between those events and the wider organisation.”
Peever said CA’s review into the ball-tampering saga revealed that only three players _ Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft _ intended to cheat.
“The investigation was satisfied that only three players were involved or had prior knowledge of the incident,” he said.
“Last Wednesday we proposed sanctions that were an appropriate response under the circumstances. All players have respected the sanctions without appeal. This event is a reminder that good people can sometimes make serious mistakes.
“Having owned their actions and expressed genuine remorse, I hope all players can successfully rebuild their careers. I hope they can win back the trust and respect of Australian cricket fans and the Australian public.”
Peever was also left red-faced after revelations he slammed Channel Ten as “bottom feeders”, conceding today he was forced to eat humble pie.
“I have apologised to the executive who received the email for the tone of my email and that apology has been accepted,” he said.
Asked if his tone was reflective of CA’s wider culture, Peever said: “It was sent in the context of a negotiation. But I have apologised and he has accepted that apology.
“If you look at the full context of the email it speaks for itself.
“When I reflect on it, if you understood the context, we were very unhappy with the way one of our partners, after discussions, conducted themselves and we responded accordingly.
“If some of the language was too strong, yes, I look at that and think maybe I shouldn’t have, but it is in the context of a negotiation.”
Originally published as Cricket Australia cultural review: Top brass declare James Sutherland safe despite ball-tampering furore
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