The Australian cricket team didn’t have a curfew in place as their players prepared for the Champions Trophy last weekend.
Team management trusted the players to make good decisions and not create international headlines ahead of a tournament that is so important it is being scrapped from the calendar.
A trip to a Birmingham Bar, albeit undertaken by a small group, ended shortly after Aussie opener David Warner delivered a glancing blow to England batsman Joe Root.
He copped his Cricket Australia imposed fine, apologised both publicly and privately to Root and vowed to make better decisions in the future.
As a part of that process he also suggested that had a curfew been in place the whole situation might’ve been avoided.
“We don’t have curfews but looking back there should have been in that situation,” he said.
No, there shouldn’t have been.
in fact, the whole concept of the curfew is ridiculous.
It means grown men and women are effectively being told when to go to bed by other grown men and women.
Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland got to the heart of the real issue when addressing Warner’s punishment.
“Whatever the case is, he’s making some pretty ordinary decisions and bringing the game and his teammates down. That’s not going to be tolerated for any longer.”
The bedtime is part of the problem, but it isn’t the magic cure-all.
Sporting teams have been chasing the dawn light for decades and will continue to do so.
The decisions made during that process have de-railed the careers of some, but others have managed to escape the wrath of the monster we’re told descends on establishments after midnight – robbing patrons of their sense of right and wrong.
Good decisions, largely, render curfews useless.
A good decision maker will realise when is the right time to pull up stumps and head back to the hotel on the eve of a tournament.
A good decision maker will avoid situations that will obviously lead to trouble.
And do you know what happens to people who continue to make bad decisions?
They, eventually, will get replaced by people who have made more sensible choices.
As part of his punishment, Warner won’t play again before the first Test.
It now looks like Chris Rogers and Ed Cowan will open the batting at Trent Bridge on July 10.
It’s a similar story for North Queensland forward James Tamou.
He didn’t need to get behind the wheel of a car moments before being charged with high-range drink driving and unlicensed driving.
If he had have just caught a taxi home then no-one would’ve ever known he’d gone out.
The North Queensland forward has lost his place in the New South Wales side for State of Origin 2 and if Tim Grant, Aaron Woods, Tim Mannah or Aiden Tolman performs, then he might not be back for game three.
This isn’t just about Warner or Tamou either. They’re just the most recent to fall short of the expectations placed on them by their employers.
Officials need to trust that players will do the right thing.
If they don’t then they’ll simply find someone who will.
evlis
Guest
Big difference between the two incidents. The Tamou decision should be the start of Zero Tolerance. Driving a car when THAT drunk shows no respect and complete arrogance. It would be a safe bet that he would do this regularly - why? He doesn't even have a licence. People like this want to live by their own rules. What sponsor would want their name on his jersey? The only way to make an impact on this type of thinking is to let every player know that there Rep football days are over! Zero tolerance. I agree with the "no curfew" concept. I don't know why the trouble occurred - would be nice if the media could give us the facts. But again, bring in a zero tolerance rule and see how fast the problems stop.
Brett
Roar Rookie
Warner just has to look at Michael Clarke, he would not put himself in a position like that now, Everyone makes mistakes and Clarke has been under media pressure before but he learnt and worked hard,Warner is lucky he is not going home, it has been made clear he is on his last warning. There is still time for him to change his actions to give him the best chance of success in staying in the Australian side.
Bigjohn
Guest
That is precisely my point Jason, he can admit guilt to anyone, but legally speaking , he has done nothing unlawful until he is actually convicted by the Court. You will probably find that if he pleads guilty, his solicitor will ask for a penalty reduction due to the financial sanctions already imposed on him by the Cows and the NRL.
Jason
Guest
BigJohn, but Tamou has already admitted guilt to his employer and is not disputing the facts. This is different to Teo who is disputing his charge and the facts.
Cantab
Guest
I disagree, a curfew has its place. Sure not all (or most) teams should have one, but if the players can't make correct decisions then management need to make those decisions for them. So then you have grown men telling grown men when to go to bed? Yes you do, it's sad actually, but it is what needs to happen in some cases. That being said, 1 incident like this should not result in curfews ect, poor decision makers become better ones through experience. Unfortunately though, you are living on a different world if you think everyone learns from there mistakes.
Bigjohn
Guest
Yes Rabbitz . Been there, done that.... however in a truely legal sense, he has actually done nothing wrong until he is convicted by a Magistrate. Its the same with being dead, you are legally alive until a doctor pronounces life extinct.... I presume that the league used some good behaviour clause in his contract to suspend him, otherwise they would have been open to legal action themselves for restraint of trade. I am not worried about him missing Origin as he is a Kiwi , and should not be selected anyway.
Andrew
Guest
Johnno, I can see your point and many people agree with you on the double penalty J.Tamou received. However, I totally disagree and think the fine is suitable. If i get caught high range DUI, its the same criminal charges and my employer then would have their say. They are employing you prior to having a criminal record and their name as employer has been now been tarnished. Poor Tamou can't afford a lawyer now, please. These sporting professionals have been dodging laws for years manly because they CAN afford expensive lawyers that most people facing the same charges cannot. The bulldogs in Coffs Harbour incident is an example, so maybe Tamou can ask JT for advice on Lawyers.
Johnno
Guest
I don't object to a legal penalty, I object to a club fine of that level . Tamou like everyone, has a right to defend himself in court, and get a good lawyer, and if he is hit with 20 grand fine, that will effect perhaps his ability to pay his legal fees or find a good lawyer. Lawyer's are far from cheap, especially good ones. A large legal fee could, send Tamou into large debt or even bankrupt. So that $20 grand would be very handy to pay for his legal fees, and cement a good legal challenge, which he obviously has the right to do, which no one disputes.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Sorry Johhno, but having had to hose the results of drink drivers off the roads no legal penalty is too harsh for High Range PCA.
Shungmao
Guest
Kurtley Beales drinking got him rewarded with a new paddle board and Wallabies jersey.
Johnno
Guest
Disagree silver-soverign. They don't need strict rules, or a curfew, stuff time-wasting about there. There as you say men , not kids. Adults have to enforce there own curfew's on strict rules. It's called self-discipline. There so called professionals, are adults too. If they can't handle there drink, or stuff up badly with other discipline issues, just sack em. And give the job to someone who wants it. Plenty of talent on the food chain in pro sport ready and eager to take there spot if given half a chance, and opportunity. Tamou, I feel a bit sorry for, only with regards to the fine. Whatever happens regarding the drink driving incident, in my opinion the fine is harsh, $20,000. He with tax rates you add on, it becomes more than a $20,000 loss. I think there's a good chance, he will need some paid legal advice about the driving incident. So that may leave him further out of pocket, unless the club pays his legal fees. So that is one tough fine, alright, Tamou as far as I know is not rich. A big fine. Dugan , did he get off lightly, and should he of been stood down for 1 year, rather than get back on the horse. That's a tough one. in some ways you want the player's back on the horse , as soon as possible getting stuck in, but in other ways some time out is tough financial punishment , makes them maybe even hungrier. Kurtley Beale, I think got off fairly lightly too. But he has also like Dugan benighted from getting back on the horse fairly quickly. The problem with not letting Warner, get back on the horse straight away, is he's virtually not much chance to play int he 1st test, as no warm up games between now and the 1st test. It will maybe cost him his aussy test spot for a long time if Chris Roger's and Cowan cash in, with a lot of runs.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
If they show they cant be trusted to behave professionally, Yes they need strict rules and a curfew. These men are not kids. They are representing a country, which obviously they don't think much about. All those guys bar McKay are lucky to be in the team and have more important cricket matters to attend to instead of being up until all hours of the night on the drink