Cricket Australia’s failings will be laid bare on Monday, when the the findings of a long-awaited independent review into the governing body are released publicly.
The Ethics Centre was commissioned by CA more than six months ago to conduct a warts-and-all appraisal of its organisation, governance and culture following the Cape Town cheating scandal.
The think tank’s report, including a list of recommendations, is set to be released in full next week.
The only exception will be redacted lines “capable of identifying any person or their individual point of view”, as per the review’s terms of reference.
CA asked Dr Simon Longstaff, who also chaired the review into the Australian Olympic Committee that was prompted by bullying claims, to consider whether any factors contributed directly or indirectly into Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft making life-changing mistakes.
Longstaff was also instructed to recommend measures to ensure “these or similar events never occur again”.
Details of a separate played-led review, also commissioned by CA following the ball-tampering furore, will also be released to the public on Monday.
The two reports have been tabled to CA’s board ahead of Thursday’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Melbourne.
It has been a year of immense change at CA.
Tim Paine and Justin Langer were appointed captain and coach respectively, replacing Smith and Darren Lehmann, while Kevin Roberts has been confirmed as chief executive James Sutherland’s successor.
The imminent review, which shapes as the sport’s biggest shake-up since the 2011 Argus report that was commissioned after a rare Ashes series loss at home, is expected to result in more changes.
Financial performance bonuses, which many players believe either created or exacerbated a win-at-all-costs mentality, could soon be on the way out.
Measures aimed at tackling the disconnect between professional and grass-roots cricket, and encouraging stars to have interests outside cricket are also expected to be floated.
Longstaff interviewed CA board members, management and staff, current players, former players, players’ union representatives, journalists and other stakeholders to gain an understanding of why Smith, Warner and Bancroft erred in such egregious fashion.
Lehmann, who was cleared of any wrongdoing by CA’s formal investigation of the ball-tampering incident but resigned in tears shortly after, was among the hundreds of individuals who spoke with the Ethics Centre.
“I had good discussions with them. Everyone would have had their thoughts, it’ll be good to see what the findings are,” Lehmann said earlier this month.
The Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) has raised concerns about the timing of the release, questioning why it couldn’t come out before the AGM.
A new behaviour charter, resulting from the player-led review that was chaired by former Test opener Rick McCosker, is already in place.
The final details were drawn up after an informal meeting of the nation’s on-field cricketing leaders, male and female.
“We have our values in place. Not just words on a page but (we have to be) living them day in, day out,” new Test vice-captain Josh Hazlewood said last month.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Test great Steve Smith is to play for Washington Freedom in the second season of Major League Cricket as the Australian influence in the…
Nathan Lyon has revealed his disappointment that Australia's cricket chiefs have prevented him from playing his first full season of county cricket in England…
Some of you may have watched the recent Fox Sports Series 'A Brief History of Australian Cricket: the Eighties'. If not, I’d definitely recommend…
Nathan Lyon's spell with English county Lancashire has been halved as Cricket Australia looks to protect the fitness of the star spinner. The Australian,…
Cricket Australia insists Optus Stadium can replace the Gabba as the men's Test team's new fortress after handing Perth the first match against India.…
It's no longer about how many runs score individually - it is about the team's ability to win Test in pressure moments.
