Thin air behind Australia match fixing allegations, writes Robert Craddock

MAYBE one day Al Jazeera will make fools of us all and produce evidence that categorically proves that an Australian player was involved. But until then they should put up or simply put a sock in it.

Media outlet Al Jazeera levelled more match fixing claims at Australia. Picture: AFP

DID you notice the great match fixing sleuths from Al Jazeera have been at it again, alleging that five matches involving the Australian cricket side have been fixed?

No? Didn’t see the story?

That itself is very revealing.

There were times when the Arabian television channel would have created massive front page news with its breathless accusations that everyone bar Santa Claus is on the take.

Now it creates just ripples which disappear in a day or two.

The reason is because behind the headlines - so far at least - there is thin air. We crave for Al Jazeera to name names, to give us recorded conversations featuring cricketers, transaction details ... yet so far it’s just baseless rumours from some obscure bookmakers who seem to be talking themselves up in a bid to gain fresh clients.

Media outlet Al Jazeera levelled more match fixing claims at Australia. Picture: AFP

Al Jazeera claims there were 26 spot-fixing attempts from teams including Australia, England and Pakistan across 15 matches and all but one were successful.

Great. Fine. Top job.

Now could we have some evidence?

The test of these stories is how long they stay in the news.

The genuine match fixing stories - and don’t worry there were plenty out there - involving the likes of Pakistan’s Salim Malik ran for years.

The powderpuff accusations last a day or two.

I’m not making excuses for the Australian cricket team.

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I have been writing about match fixing for 23 years and have always said that if any piece of credible information linking an Australian to throwing a game is produced we will dutifully name and shame the culprits and demand they never step foot on a cricket field again.

But so far ... nothing.

Mark Waugh and Shane Warne may have been fined for providing weather and pitch information but as for match-fixing - not a jot.

No-one is above suspicion but any modern Australian player involved in match fixing would be a fool for all sorts of reasons.

Why would you bother risking everything for a five figure sum when you get paid a million dollars or more annually to play for your country?

Maybe one day Al Jazeera will make fools of us all and produce a tape or a piece of vision that categorically prove that an Australian player was involved.

But until then they should put up or simply put a sock in it.

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