Improvement in conduct will have lasting impact on Australian cricket, says CA chairman

Australia have been one of the most feared teams in international cricket over the last couple of decades or so. However, post their 2015 ICC ODI World Cup triumph on home soil, there have been a few incidents which have hurt their morale and weakened their stock amongst other international opponents. The ball-tampering saga during the South Africa Test series in 2018 which involved captain Steven Smith and vice-captain David Warner was the breaking point for the national team which paved the way for a mass exodus with regards to the cricketing culture in Australia.

Newly-elected Cricket Australia chairman, Earl Eddings, is happy with how the national team has progressed since the Cape Town incident and is positive that despite the tainted past, the future of Australian cricket looks extremely bright.

“Everyone in Australian cricket is well aware that it’s not just winning that counts, but how we play the game, and the players have certainly embraced that spirit.

“While there is always room for improvement, these are very good signs which demonstrate meaningful change and will have a positive and lasting impact on Australian cricket at all levels,” Eddings told AFP sources.

The senior men’s team had no conduct citings during 2018-19 season, which is the first clean sheet in seven years, and code of conduct charges at all levels dropped 74 percent. The chairman added that lessons had been learned and change was being implemented by the players.

Meanwhile, The Australian Cricketers’ Association also praised the way players had worked for cultural change.

“At all levels, the players understand their role as ambassadors in growing the game and are to be congratulated for the way they are conducting themselves both on and off the field,” ACA president Greg Dyer told AFP.