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ICC reform curbed chucking: CA chairman

30th October, 2014
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It was billed by some as the beginning of the end for cricket.

But Wally Edwards says the recent International Cricket Council shake up has already bettered the sport, citing the crackdown on illegal bowling actions.

Cricket Australia chairman Edwards was a key player in this year’s sweeping ICC changes, which gave more power to India, England and Australia.

Since ICC chief Narayanaswami Srinivasan’s appointment in June, Pakistan star Saeed Ajmal has headlined a series of spinners to be reported and reprimanded.

The timing is no coincidence.

“Unless you’ve got total support from the top down, it’s not going to happen,” Edwards told reporters after Thursday’s Cricket Australia annual general meeting.

“In the past … you could never resolve anything.

“You couldn’t have that debate.

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“There was no `let’s sit down and talk about doubtful actions and what are we going to do about it’.

“There were factions … it was `look we don’t want to talk about it. It’s not an issue that worries us’.”

Now it’s a case of the cliques clicking, at least on certain issues.

Even the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), robbed of arguably their greatest talent, five months out from the World Cup, are on board with the chucking clampdown.

The PCB last month suspended 16 domestic bowlers with suspect actions.

“The way some of the countries have accepted the situation has been very, very positive,” Edwards said.

“They haven’t been grizzling and grumbling. They’ve got on with putting someone else in the team and getting on with it.

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“I’m not guaranteeing every issue is going to be resolved with everyone on the same page. But this issue has been.”

Edwards suggested player behaviour and slow over rates were other issues the ICC could now improve, as the `Big Three’ flaunt the great responsibility that has accompanied their great power.

“The theme that’s run through all our (ICC) discussions over the last two years is that we want cricket to be better around the world,” he said.

“We want it played well, umpired well and some things have been annoying a lot of people for a long time.

“We want to try and address them.

“We might fail, but we’ll give it a go.”

The Decision Review System (DRS) remains a bugbear for many cricket fans, whether it be the system itself or India’s staunch opposition.

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Edwards noted he hadn’t “had that conversation” when asked if DRS could be used in India’s upcoming four-Test tour of Australia.

“I have positive feelings that over time, that (DRS) will become universal,” he added.

Edwards was reluctant to comment about the West Indies’ recent walkout of their Indian tour, saying he will know more after next week’s ICC meetings in Dubai.

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