David Warner vice-captain decision was one Rod Marsh, Cricket Australia never should have made
AS Mark Taylor spoke out on Sunday for tougher penalties for bad behaviour you wondered what happened behind closed doors when it really mattered on August 13, 2015.
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AS Mark Taylor spoke out on Sunday for tougher penalties for bad behaviour you wondered what happened behind closed doors when it really mattered on August 13, 2015.
That was the day when the Cricket Australia board Taylor is a member of signed off on one of its most unfortunate decisions, making David Warner vice-captain of the national cricket side.
Warner’s lengthy record of misbehaviour was well known by the selectors and the board yet they agreed, in the wake of Michael Clarke’s retirement, to make him Steve Smith’s vice-captain, privately telling scribes “there is no one else.’’
But there was someone else.
On the day of the appointment, News Corp papers went in to bat for Nathan Lyon to get the job feeling he would grow into the role and respect the traditions of the game.
“Lyon’s voice is not strong enough and there is concern if Warner does not get it – and he wants it, how he will behave,’’ said one board member at the time, revealing how flawed the logic of the Warner appointment truly was.
Warner’s elevation to the vice-captaincy and subsequent demise has cast a dim light on the capabilities of the CA board.
It came as no surprise Rod Marsh, the national selection chairman when Warner was made vice-captain, would endorse Warner for the role as they share several similar personality traits and got along well.
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Marsh and his selectors recommended Warner to the board as their preferred choice for the deputy’s role and no one at board level spoke up strongly enough for the recommendation to be overturned.
Sometimes it takes only one brave voice to turn the tide. There are precedents for such decisions to be overruled.
When Australia’s selectors recommended Shane Warne to be Test captain over Steve Waugh it could have got through had not board member Damien Mullins spoke up with “there is no way we can approve this because at some point Warne’s behaviour will let us down.’’
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Mullins’ strong view started a lengthy debate and the board overturned the selectors nomination and made Waugh captain.
Taylor spoke well on Channel 9 yesterday about how he would like to see bans replace fines because they are more effective and how he would like to see less personal sledging in the game.
Taylor is a fine man who always makes a lot of sense and he was only a small part of a big decision.
But the CA board has a reputation for huffing and puffing but generally taking minimal action against a team whose behaviour has been degenerating for the past five years.
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In handing down major bans to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, Cricket Australia is like that parent who lets their children run off the leash for years then blows up and brings out the big stick that would never have been needed if they had been strong enough in the first place.
Australia has promised to play a different more upright style of cricket which is all good and well and very admirable.
But it does not change the fact that had they not been caught fiddling with the ball they would probably still be fiddling with the ball.
That’s the sad truth of it.
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Originally published as David Warner vice-captain decision was one Rod Marsh, Cricket Australia never should have made