Cricket Australia finalises list of players for review panel

Cricket Australia (CA) has commissioned two reviews to examine issues of culture and governance in light of the ball-tampering incident during the team’s recent tour of South Africa.

One independent review will be conducted by the Sydney-based Ethics Centre, while the other will be a player review led by Rick McCosker, the former opening batsman, and facilitated by Peter Collins, Director of the Centre for Ethical Leadership. The two reviews will proceed simultaneously.

The second panel will be helped along by Tim Paine, the new Test captain, Pat Cummins, Rachael Haynes, Shane Watson, the Australian Cricketers’ Association nominee, George Bailey and the new Australian men's head coach, who is as yet to be appointed.

The independent review will “investigate whether any wider cultural, organisational and/or governance issues within CA, and more broadly within Australian cricket, should be addressed to ensure these events never occur again, either on tour or whilst playing in Australia”, CA said in a statement on Tuesday 1 May.

“This review will investigate links between player behaviour (particularly on this tour of South Africa) and the organisational, governance and culture within CA and Australian cricket.”

It will also seek inputs from various stakeholders, including Board members, management, staff, former and current players, commercial partners and media.

Meanwhile, the players’ review will “consider a behavioural charter for the Australian men’s cricket teams that balances the performance demands of elite cricket with expectations of all Australians in regard to on and off-field role modelling”.

CA committed to the reviews following Australia’s ill-tempered Test tour of South Africa. The ball-tampering affair in the Cape Town came after several incidents both on and off the field. Steve Smith and David Warner, the captain and vice-captain then, were handed 12-month bans for their role, while Cameron Bancroft got a nine-month punishment. Darren Lehmann, the coach, stepped down after the series, which Australia lost 2-1, amid widespread criticism of the ‘culture’ the team plays by.

“We understand and share the disappointment of fans and the broader Australian community about these events. The Board is determined to do all we can to prevent such events from ever happening again,” said David Peever, the CA Chairman.

“The reviews will commence immediately, and we fully anticipate being able to begin implementing findings before the start of the 2018-19 cricket season.”