CRICKET Australia has been accused of 'sweeping issues under the rug' in a brutal response to the reviews into the culture of the organisation which branded it 'arrogant and dictatorial'.
DESPITE taking on board all bar one of the 42 recommendations from its own independent report, Cricket Australia has been accused of ‘sweeping issues under the rug’ in its highly anticipated review.
Deakin University sport management expert Dr Michael Naraine has slammed the review as offering “little substance” and saying the Cricket Australia remains “a fractured organization with a conservative, elitist view of its governance of the game”.
Cricket Australia was branded “arrogant and dictatorial” by stakeholders in the 145-page report, which paints a grim picture of CA’s culture.
And Dr Naraine doubled down, saying the recent appointment of Kevin Roberts as the new chief executive – replacing James Sutherland – was indicative of the problems within the organisation.
Roberts played a major role in the breakdown of the pay dispute between CA and the players.
“Roberts has an impressive resume, but this action by the board is akin to asking the Wolf to oversee repairs to Hen House,” Dr Naraine said.
“Cricket Australia continues to remain a fractured organisation with a conservative, elitist view of its governance of the game.
“There's not much substance in the review.
“This is Cricket Australia trying to sweep the issues under a rug and pretend they didn't happen going forward.
“Cricket Australia needs a jolt to their board and executive; if they want to be a global sport leader, they need to act like a global sport enterprise when cultural disintegration occurs.”
CA chairman David Peever insisted he wasn’t embarrassed by the findings in the report.
"(I'm) not (embarrassed) at all, because I'm part of an association that is so important to Australia," he said.
"I'm not embarrassed at all. There are certainly elements of the report we need to work on and there are 42 recommendations we have committed to.
"One we have said we won't do. The rest are works in progress and in the case of several, it's not what but how."
Dr Naraine agreed that today was a significant and important step for rebuilding the reputation of Cricket Australia, but said it was simply the first step.
“There are a lot of great people and significant shifts within Cricket Australia, including the rise of women’s cricket and the growth of the Big Bash League,” he said.
“For the culture of the organisation to truly reset, we need to see more women and visible minorities in pertinent, executive leadership roles, and continuing to bring in global sport leaders from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom to bring new perspectives and philosophies to Cricket Australia.”
Originally published as Cricket Australia accused of 'sweeping issues under the rug' in scathing response to culture review
Well, after 45 minutes, the interrogation is over.
Australia's win at all costs mentality has been laid bare, with the review finding bullying at all levels – both on and off the field.
Recommendations have been handed down and, bar one, they seem set to be taken up by Cricket Australia.
There was definitely an element of contrition from the senior players – captain Tim Paine and deputy Josh Hazlewood – who have vowed to win back the respect of the Australian public.
Hay denies the report was altered to make it look better – saying the redacted elements were essential as a result of potential defamation cases.
"It was a pure requirement to the external lawyers about whether there were defamation concerns."
Jacquie Hay says it was time to 'take stock' and review how cricket is placed right now, and she's optimistic about what the future holds.
"I'm very hopeful about where this will lead us. What we heard from Tim and Josh is what we've got to look forward and how hopeful we can be."
"The sanctions were carried out by the board, imposed by the board, after a very full and thoughtful process. So the sanctions stand."
"The first thing that needs to be said is Australia has a very long history in cricket of competing hard and winning games.
"That's not going to change. What is important is we also are able to win in a way that makes Australians proud.
"I know Tim (Paine) and Justin (Langer) and Aaron (Finch) are very committed to that."
David Peever takes exception to a suggestion that he should be embarrassed to be in charge of an organisation that has been hit with such a damning report.
"(I'm) not (embarrassed) at all, because I'm part of an association that is so important to Australia," he said.
"I'm not embarrassed at all. There are certainly elements of the report we need to work on and there are 42 recommendations we have committed to.
"One we have said we won't do. The rest are works in progress and in the case of several, it's not what but how."
PEEVER: Whether it is reality or perception, what's important is we take the elements and make the game better.
Here's an interesting one, from the recommendations for Cricket Australia to undertake relating to both its internal practices and the behaviour of Australian players.
One of those recommendations is more stringent regulations relating to sledging – at all levels of the game – as well as affording umpires the power to send players off.
Such a move would have been considered unthinkable, but such is the shift in mindset the report argues Australia needs.
But, under the recommendation, players could be penalised for
Continuous abusive sledging, deliberate breaches of the Laws of Cricket, or
deliberate conduct inconsistent with the Spirit of Cricket.
Of the 41 recommendations in this report, only one has been rejected by Cricket Australia.
It was a recommendation that the members of Australia's Test and One Day teams be excused from playing T20 internationals – allowing them to play Sheffield Shield and grade cricket.
In response, Cricket Australia said "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. "
Of the 41 recommendations in this report, only one has been rejected by Cricket Australia.
It was a recommendation that the members of Australia's Test and One Day teams be excused from playing T20 internationals – allowing them to play Sheffield Shield and grade cricket.
In response, Cricket Australia said "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. "