Tim Paine reveals Australian players' pact

The much awaited Australian cricket cultural review has been released.

Test skipper Tim Paine unveiled the pact | Getty

Guilty of being "wrapped up in our self-importance", Tim Paine admitted, Australia lost respect from the cricket watching public and is now extremely determined to earn back the lost faith of the fans. 

Following the cultural review instigated by the ugly ball-tampering incident earlier this year, Paine, along with Cricket Australia(CA), have released the players' pact, a document that was created as a product of the review chaired by former Test opener Rick McCosker.

"We recognise how lucky we are to play this great game. We respect the game and its traditions. We want to make all Australians proud," the pact declares, "Compete with us. Smile with us. Fight on with us. Dream with us."

A panel of Paine, Rachael Haynes, Pat Cummins, Shane Watson, George Bailey and Justin Langer helped McCosker in the much awaited ethical review, which further bemoaned "gilded bubble" that many "idolised" elite male players operated at the highest as well domestic level with. 

"Players lack what might be called a 'worldly perspective' - and are perceived to be arrogant, entitled and self-centered," the pact states, "They are disconnected, for much of each year, from families, friends and the grounding influence of community."

Speaking about the development, skipper Tim Paine told the reporters present, "I was having conversations with Steve Smith about that when I first came back into the team (in 2017), We just got a little bit wrapped up in our self-importance. It's not our cricket team. It's Australia's cricket team and I think for a little while we lost that."

"It's about giving back to our fans. Getting outside our bubble and trying to grow the game a little bit more, think more of others," he signed off. 

(Inputs from AAP)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 29 Oct, 2018

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