Robert Craddock: NRL foolish for thinking it could hide Sharks drama behind Ashes win

HERE's a message for the rugby league world - airing your dirty laundry on cricket's day of glory doesn't bury it.

Dave Smith speaks at a press conference about Cronulla's governance penalties.

HERE's a message for the rugby league world - get your dirty mitts off cricket's day of glory.

Rugby league officials may consider it a tactical master stroke airing its dirty laundry on the day Australia wins the Ashes.

Much like the rates increases sometimes announced on Melbourne Cup day, it's great to get your bad news out of the way on a day when other big news is brewing.

The public relations men love it but, seriously, did they really think Cronulla's plight would be smaller news just because of the Ashes win?News_Rich_Media: Australia has regained the Ashes, wrapping up the series 3-0 with a decisive 150-run victory over England in Perth.

It was much like putting a pair of dark glasses on an elephant and expecting people not to notice it.

Wouldn't it be nice if rugby league bosses occasionally looked a centimetre or so further than the end of their noses?

Maybe they didn't even know the Ashes were on.News_Rich_Media: Michael Clarke and Ryan Harris reflect on winning the Ashes after sweeping to victory at the WACA.

In their eyes, a zooter may be something you swallow with a can of Red Bull and it makes you run faster.

Imagine if they had the good grace to think "you know, we are all Australians and Australia is about to win the Ashes. Let's go a day early or a day late."

It is not as if there has been a breathless rush to announce the verdict.

The press conference announcing the scandal was way back in February. We've waited 10 months for a verdict.News_Rich_Media: Sports lawyer Darren Kane explains where the Cronulla Sharks must go from here and what steps remain in ASADA's investigations.

We could have waited another day. No-one was at customs trying to flee the country.

Ashes wins are significant moments for sport in this country.

What cricket has to learn from Tuesday is that it may still be king of the summer - but the battle to stay front and centre remains intense.

Television ratings have soared into the stratosphere for the Ashes and are certain to remain high for the last two Tests.News_Rich_Media: The Ashes can be a heated contest and it was on display late on Day 4 of the first test match as Australian captain Michael Clarke had some choice words for England's Jimmy Anderson.

The Big Bash will perform honourably but the 50 over series between Australia and a midstrength England, lacking stars such as Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann and Jimmy Anderson, will have to fight for crowds.

Cricket is under attack from football codes at both ends of the summer.

The AFL brashly put its player draft on the night of the first day of the first Test in Brisbane and were delighted when stories about teenage draft picks were the number one item on Melbourne websites the next day.

Cricket is being challenged from all directions and, for the moment, it is up for the challenge.