Crisis in cricket culture goes all the way to the top

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This was published 5 years ago

Crisis in cricket culture goes all the way to the top

Illustration: Cathy Wilcox

Illustration: Cathy WilcoxCredit:

The independent review of Cricket Australia has concluded that CA must accept its share of responsibility for the ball-tampering incident in the Test against South Africa in Cape Town last March (‘‘Arrogant and controlling: Cultural reviews damn Cricket Australia’’, smh.com.au, October 29). The players involved have shown real contrition and been severely financially penalised (in Cameron Bancroft’s case too severely).

Will the CA leadership show a similar level of contrition and suffer similar financial penalties? If they share the blame, should they not also share the penalties? - David Collins, Mona Vale

There is nothing new in the report that Blind Freddie could have given since Bill Lawry’s days as captain. Cricket fans around the world know about Aussie behaviour of ‘‘winning at any cost’’. This contagious strategy is followed by subcontinent teams, making them aggressive and unruly. Unfortunately they have learnt from Aussie cricket all the bad ways to counteract Australia’s tactics on-field. A more appropriate choice as coach than Justin Langer would be former captain Mark Taylor, whose approach to the game was always gentlemanly. He treated his opponents with respect. - Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

The thing that struck me most when then captain Steve Smith and Bancroft fronted the media immediately after Australia was caught cheating was Smith’s lack of recognition of the enormity of what he, David Warner and Bancroft had done. Smith said he wouldn’t consider resigning as team captain and ‘‘we’ll move on from this’’.

The Ethics Centre’s finding of a ‘‘win at all costs’’ culture promulgated by Cricket Australia puts Smith’s response into context. He and the team were in a dysfunctional bubble of detachment from reality created by Cricket Australia. A seriously huge overhaul is needed to eradicate this shameful ‘‘win at all costs’’ culture.  - Gerardine Grace, Leura

A comment by a current Test player following the long-awaited review indicates to me that the players still haven’t a clue about real sportsmanship and respect for other players.

He was still going on about the famous ‘line’ – ‘‘We are not going to cross that line’’ – thus clearly indicating that they will go as close to the line as possible. Similar comments even by the captain totally miss the point. I hope they watched the Invictus Games to learn what respect for opponents really means. - Michael Walsh, Ashfield

Previously Cricket Australia has stated that it will introduce all 42 recommendations of the report following the review of the organisation. The report has just been released, with parts redacted and CA are already only considering some recommendations re Sheffield Shield availability and rejected outright recommendations concerning T20 internationals availability. It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. - Stephen Manns, Woollahra

So rubbing one side of the ball with sandpaper is tampering but applying saliva and vigorously polishing the other side against your clothing is not. Please explain? - Brad Sutcliffe, Cobbitty

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Are these blokes equipped for adult life or only for cricket? - Garrett Naumann, Cammeray

Koala protection before profit

What a tragedy that the koala colony at Wedderburn is to be sacrificed to housing (‘‘Koala habitat destruction offset with existing park’’, October 29). The colony is irreplaceable and having so-called ‘corridors’ won’t protect them, nor is there much hope of successfully moving them.

We need to save our iconic and endangered koala. Is the relocation of the last surviving koala colony in the Sydney basin the best our government can do? If so, time is up for you, Ms Berejiklian and Ms Upton. - Lee Andrews, Faulconbridge

In light of the Lendlease 216-hectare Gilead development and the comments by the secretary of the Georges River Environmental Alliance, the retention of all the woodland habitat in Sydney’s south-west would be the optimum solution for the protection of our endangered koala species. Corporate profit and housing developments must make way for the protection of this unique animal.

While overseas, watching BBC World News, it was a great shock to see that five koalas had been flown to Britain’s Longleat Safari Park to start an emergency colony away from the threats of habitat loss through overdevelopment, disease and bushfires.

With possibly only 43,000 koalas left in Australia, there is no time to wait for developers’ greening plans to take effect. We mustn’t allow a future where the only koala colonies sit in a wildlife park in Blighty. - Jacqueline Tuck, Mosman

Familiar, sad tale

I was sickened to read about the way residents in Randwick have been treated during the NSW government’s compulsory acquisition of their homes (‘‘Crows move in as avenue is wiped off map’’, October 29). Their stories were depressingly familiar. My family and I were among the hundreds of people in Sydney’s inner west whose homes were forcibly acquired for WestConnex.

Like the residents of Randwick, our homes were systematically undervalued by the government. We were charged rent to remain in our homes as we battled for fair compensation. Every step of this brutal process made the already horrific experience of losing our homes even more traumatic.

Since that time, the NSW government introduced reforms that should have made compulsory acquisitions fairer and more compassionate. The experiences of residents in Randwick prove that this has not happened, and Gladys Berejiklian and her government should be ashamed. - Pauline Lockie, Newtown (Councillor, Inner West Council)

Whose money?

Can it be revealed how many of these underpaid workers are employed in our sacred small businesses that are to be granted tax cuts by our government (‘‘Unclaimed wages likely to top $1b’’, October 29)? - Cecilia McNeil, North Sydney

‘‘Average punter $400,000 better off with ‘top’ super funds’’ (October 27-28). All of our super balances would all be better off if bonuses (our money) were not handed out to super fund managers. Restaurants might suffer but, hey, something has to give. - Chris Blight, Warrawee

Real winners

The thing I most liked about the Invictus Games was that there was no daily medal tally by country (Letters, October 29). It was all about the participants, as it should be. - Brian Collins, Cronulla

A fitting farewell

Illustration: John Shakespeare

Illustration: John ShakespeareCredit:

What a wonderful farewell to Richard Gill (‘‘Perfect musical tribute to conductor and teacher’’, October 29). Can you think of a greater way to leave this earth than to have friends and musicians play your favourite piece of music for you? Well done, Paul Goodchild, associate principal trumpet, Sydney Symphony Orchestra: a good friend. - June Dibbs, Mona Vale

In a land that lauds sportspeople with columns of press coverage, the passing of this conductor and music educator extraordinaire could not have been more fittingly marked by the NSW Police Band. Anyone who experienced the enthusiasm and dedication Richard imparted to enabling people to gain the skills to appreciate music, a task about which he was passionate, feels a deep sadness at his passing.
The spontaneous assembly of musicians and the Police Band’s wonderful playing did more to cement the relationship between the police and the NSW community than thousands of words spoken from pedestals over the years. Music indeed transcends politics and is the international language.  Vale, Richard – what an incredible legacy you leave behind for future generations, and congratulations to the NSW Police for recognising a great man and musician in such a spontaneous and fitting manner. - Helen Cameron, Wollstonecraft

My 21-year-old daughter’s social media feed was full of young people sharing their memories of Richard Gill. No greater testament to someone so committed to inspiring young people. - Fiona Crawford, Oatley

Stanmore and Sydney have lost a force of nature. He was a fearless teacher who inspired students (I was one) to aim for the stars while enjoying the ride, thanks to his spontaneity and a wickedly earthy sense of humour. Eddie Woo may come close but Gill was unique. He was music.  - Peter Farmer, Northbridge

Holiday in hell

I had always intended to take my next holiday in the Greek Islands, but now that Tony Abbott has assured us that Nauru is a ‘‘very nice island’’, I might change my plans and spend my vacation in Nauru (‘‘It’s a very pleasant island’: Conservatives push back against bid to take children off Nauru’’, smh.com.au, October 29). - Jerry Stiel, Lilyfield

As if refugees allowed to settle in New Zealand would immediately turn around and come to Australia, the country that was so cruel to them. Once there they will never want to leave. With the possible exception of accepting a Nobel prize, taking part in an Olympics or touring the world, acting singing dancing or playing music. - Jill McKay, Elizabeth Bay

Thousands of Aboriginal children live in conditions far worse than the children on Nauru, and have been for decades. Where’s the outcry about that? - Kel Dummett, Clovelly

Going to war must be a decision of Parliament

Douglas Newton’s article (‘‘War powers should not be solely in the PM’s hands’’, October 29) is welcome. He makes the point that the PM can send Australians into battle without consulting Parliament. Politicians counter this terrifying prospect by claiming that the National Security Committee makes the decision. The government claims the NSC consults parliamentarians. That is surely a sop to the people, a vacuous claim. It was essentially the PM who got Australia into the Iraq War in 2003, a war now widely regarded as a mistake, if not a disaster.

The Australians for War Powers Reform (warpowersreform.org.au) is a good place to start to find details of the many efforts that have been made over the years to limit the powers that send us into battle. There are world wars, cold wars, proxy wars, wars of attrition, cyber wars and wars without end. Each type may require a different decision process but the current process is too risky to keep in place.

Mr Newton rightly asks what is the real lesson of the Invictus Games. The answer surely must be that we should not go into battle without the people’s approval. The Parliament is the people’s representative. Let the people speak through their MPs. - Carol Dance, Walsh Bay

I have long been thinking, like many others, that politics is just no way to run a country. Newton recommends that decisions for going to war should be made by Parliament, not party elites. Yes, and that’s just a start. Parliament is the non-partisan instrument of democracy that politics has been hijacking for too long.

Abbott stole our state-of-the-art national broadband and our emissions trading scheme for political advantage, the Turnbull government forced a marriage equality plebiscite upon us already knowing majority views and Kevin Rudd sentenced asylum seekers to detention eternity for the same reason: short-term politics.

How much taxpayer money is spent on parliamentary reviews only to have politicians spout contrary views and ignore the findings? We paid for the advice of experts in the fields, the scientist, the doctors, the lawyers, etc and what did we get for our money? The reason politicians don’t choose to follow the experts and the people is politics, not governing for democracy. That’s what makes us angry. - Charmain Brinks, Newcastle

Newton is right in his contention that a decision to mobilise our armed forces must cease to rest in the hands of the PM. History will look back unkindly upon John Howard for his zeal in committing Australia to the Iraq War. Any declaration of war must surely be a bipartisan parliamentary decision. - Peter Craig, Alexandria

Trump’s victim blaming

So now I am expected to pray with a gun over my head (‘‘‘Pure evil’ attack heightens gun issue’’, October 29). How uplifting that would be for welcoming in Shabbat, the Sabbath day of peace. Donald Trump’s criticism that there were no armed guards inside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh when an anti-Semite murdered 11 Jews on Shabbat is just another version of blaming the victim. - Dawn Cohen, Balmain

There are a host of reasons why people become so hateful. One of them, I believe, is Trump’s America, which gives succour to dormant anti-Semites. His dyspeptic, vile, short-tempered and peevish rhetoric of conservatism, isolationism, racism, misogyny, terrorism and even proudly claiming to be a ‘‘nationalist’’ expertly inflames all expressions of bigotry. As a Jew in Australia, I have to be extremely vigilant. One day it is ‘‘OK to be white’’ and the next ‘‘it’s OK to be a bigot’’.
- Tracey Schreier, Vaucluse

Mr President, it isn’t hard to believe, nor is it unimaginable, that such a thing as mass shootings should take place in your nation. These incidents happen with such sickening regularity that the question has to be ‘‘when will the next one take place’’? - Victoria Harrington, Thirroul

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