A chance for Australia to regain its lost principles and values: Michael Hussey

Cricket Australia have announced the quantum of the punishment to the trio.

The trio has been punished severely by Cricket Australia. ( AFP)

Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have been asked to return back to Australia by CA Chief James Sutherland. They now will take no further part in the Test series, as Tim Paine has been elected to lead Australia in the final Test in Johannesburg.

Whats worse is that Steve Smith and David Warner have been banned for 12 months respectively while Cameron Bancroft has been handed a 9-month ban by Cricket Australia.  

Meanwhile, former Australian cricketer Michael Hussey has said that this is a chance for Australia to regain their lost respect. 

“I feel like we’ve lost sight of some of these principles in recent years...there are some very good people representing Australia at the moment – but the ball tampering issue isn’t the first time the team as a collective has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons,” Hussey wrote for ‘playersvoice.com.au’.

“The next few days, weeks and months will be difficult for Australian cricket. Jobs might be lost and heavy sanctions handed down,” said Hussey, who represented Australia in 79 Tests, 185 ODIs and 38 T20 Internationals, accumulating 22,783 runs across formats.

“...this period will also present the team with a chance to reset. Our values. Our team culture. Our true north...We played hard, certainly, but also positively and fairly.”

Hussey who is currently working as the batting coach of comeback franchise Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2018 has said that we need strong characters above great cricketers to salvage our pride. 

Stating the example of Rahul Dravid  “What’s the first thing that springs to your mind when someone mentions Rahul Dravid? I’d be surprised if you said, ‘He scored 28 hundreds,’ (or however many it was) but in no way surprised if you answered, ‘He was The Wall. He had an incredible technique and temperament. He played the game with great integrity’,” he explained. 

“...as I’ve got older, and the more people I have spoken to since retirement, I have come to realise, ‘Shivers, no one really gives a stuff about my runs now!’,” he added.

Hussey said he is worried for the reputations of the three players at the heart of the controversy.

“Organisations – both within cricket and in the wider business community – remember these things after you’ve finished playing. When they’re assessing whether to sign you, they’re taking into account your character, your reputation and whether you enhance their brand,” he said.

“Those things take years and years to build and moments to lose. And once they’re gone, they can be difficult to reclaim,” he added.

However, Hussey said he is hopeful that Australian cricket will recover from the shock.

“This is going to take time...Only actions will convince them (the fans) to give this team another chance,” he said.

“I believe we’ll get there, and the road to doing so starts with understanding the responsibility of that baggy green cap,” he added.

As it turns out now, some of the harshest criticism regarding the case and on these two players are coming from there former cricketers. 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 28 Mar, 2018

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