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Greg Dyer, the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) president, has demanded the "conduct and culture" review to be set up in the ugly aftermath of the ball tempering saga extend to holding Cricket Australia into account as the nasty fallout continues.
On Tuesday (March 27), James Sutherland, CA chief executive, confirmed disgraced leaders Steve Smith and David Warner faced lengthy bans, and that the duo - along with Cameron Bancroft who underwent the ball tampering - would be sent back to Australia on Wednesday.
However, controversially, coach Darren Lehmann has survived the axe even though he was reportedly set to step down. Despite being cleared by Sutherland of having any knowledge of the ball tampering plot, Lehmann's tenure is still shaky with CA committing to setting up an independent review into the "conduct and culture" of the men's team.
It is set to be undertaken by an expert panel that will report to the CA board. Lehmann's future looks cloudy with Australia's behaviour long being admonished and reports of deep fractures in the team.
Details of the review were sketchy and it is unknown if CA's chiefs will be examined but Dyer said the governing body should be scrutinised. "This assessment must include all contributing parties to this culture; players, coaches and administrators, programs and systems, behaviours and accountabilities," Dyer said in a statement on Wednesday. "Australia's core values of respect, integrity and fairness must be brought to bear on the game of cricket through such a process.
"The ACA offers its full endeavours to an independent cultural examination, diagnosis and ultimately remedy which must occur in the days, weeks, months and years ahead," he added. "Australian cricket must remind itself of its purpose that cricket is a teacher of an important Australian life lesson and that is to play with honour first and always."
Relations between CA and the ACA remain frosty after last year's bitter pay dispute, which seemed set to derail Australian cricket but this latest saga has proved far more damaging.
Alistair Nicholson, the ACA chief executive, said "very serious mistakes" have been made by the players. "The players are remorseful for the mistakes they have made," he said. "And they regret how their actions have represented themselves, teammates, cricket and their country.
"The ACA is providing legal and welfare support to all players," he added. "Welfare of all players is a highly relevant consideration."
(CRICBUZZ)
