Cricket Australia must prove beyond all doubt that only three players were involved in ball scandal
CRICKET Australia cannot expect the public to buy their assertion that Darren Lehmann and others knew nothing of the ball tampering plan if they’re not prepared to give a warts and all account of how and why that is the case, writes Ben Horne.
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Cricket Australia addresses media over ball tampering
Steve Smith, David Warner, Cameron Bancroft being sent home
Proper sanctions to be handed down after investigation completed
CA boss James Sutherland said only three players knew of plot
Tim Paine has been officially appointed captain of Test team
Matt Renshaw, Joe Burns, Glenn Maxwell to play in fourth Test
CRICKET Australia cannot expect the public to buy their assertion that Darren Lehmann and others knew nothing of the ball tampering plan if they’re not prepared to give a warts and all account of how and why that is the case.
James Sutherland’s dramatic press conference in Johannesburg earlier this morning raised more questions than it answered.
The cynicism on social media about how it could be that Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were the only three in the entire team set-up to know about the scheme was immediate and overwhelming.
At this stage there is no concrete evidence to contradict Cricket Australia’s findings, but in these extraordinary circumstances, the onus is on head office to prove this beyond any doubt to cricket fans.
“Too many reputations on the line for the full story not to come out,” tweeted Michael Clarke.
BALL TAMPERING SCANDAL: Six unanswered questions
LISTEN: DAVID DAVUTOVIC AND PETER LALOR DISSECT THE PRESSER
Already there is mutiny within the team and out.
At this point, Sutherland wasn’t even prepared to label the pre-meditated ball tampering as ‘cheating’.
It’s fanciful to expect anyone who witnessed the caught-on-candid-camera walkie-talkie conversation between Lehmann and 12th man Peter Handscomb, and the tape down the pants response of Bancroft that followed, to believe this plot could be so isolated without a thorough and detailed explanation to come with it.
Perhaps it’s still coming as CA work on finalising sanctions, but it needs to come soon otherwise the lingering distrust and broken culture will prevail no matter what personnel changes are made.
There is a chance it won’t though, with the investigation bound by confidentiality clauses designed to protect players.
Asked how the testimonies of players who have already lied to umpires and been at the centre of such an incident could be believed as truthful, chief executive Sutherland backed his integrity commissioner to have gathered a full and accurate picture of what took place.
“That’s up to Iain Roy to make those judgements and he’s experienced in regards to these investigations (as are) the people from the ICC that were there,” said Sutherland.
“It’s a matter of process that he works through in corroborating evidence and coming to a level of satisfaction about his findings and that’s exactly what he’s done.”
The other lingering question from the morning’s announcement is what the future holds for Lehmann overall.
Sutherland’s endorsement of Lehmann’s current position as coach was overshadowed by his concession that a full and wide-ranging review into team culture will commence.
Clearly the ball tampering incident and wider concerns about team culture needed to be separated – but at the same time there was an admission from Sutherland that the two issues were not mutually exclusive.
Essentially, there’s an acceptance that a poor culture has led Australia to this shameful point.
In this context, many are asking how can Lehmann coach this Test match in Johannesburg?
It’s impossible to see how he could survive a review into team performance, but there is no timeline on how long the review will take.
The chief executive refuted reports suggesting Lehmann was on the verge of resigning, but in the same breath couldn’t guarantee his future in the job.
“I haven’t gone into any detail to be honest. I’ve arrived in South Africa earlier this morning,” said Sutherland when asked if the culture could be reshaped under Lehmann.
“Iain Roy hasn’t even been in the country for 24 hours and has worked very hard on that.
“I think first things first, we’re trying to deal with reporting issues and then sanctions.
“We understand the urgency around that, the need for all of you and others to know where we’re up to. That’s the real focus right now.
“Later on, we’ll work through process around that review.”
The public will accept Cricket Australia’s need for due process, but only if they believe they’re going to get the truth in return.
Originally published as Cricket Australia must prove beyond all doubt that only three players were involved in ball scandal
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