ACA response to proposed player sanctions

Steve Smith, Dave Warner and Cameron Bancroft made very serious mistakes in South Africa.

It is right that these mistakes are sanctioned, and that must occur in a fair and proper way.

The national game we all love must always demonstrate standards and behaviours consistent with both the rules, and the spirit, of cricket.

And the game must be supported by rigorous and fair processes.

There are a number of glaring and clear anomalies in the process to date which causes the ACA to query the severity and proportionality of the proposed sanctions.

These are:

• The grading and sanctions proposed are considerably higher than the ICC's grading and sanctions;
• The disproportionality between the proposed sanctions and those previously handed down in world cricket for 'changing the condition of the ball' - including by Captains of international teams applying artificial substances;
• The activation of CA's Board as a deliberative body on the proposed sanctions;
• That public statements by CA to date have not referenced consideration of contextual factors including the environment in South Africa during the series and the impacts on individual players;
• The rush to place players before the world's media last Saturday night without the benefit of considered and coherent advice.

The ACA continues to provide welfare and legal support to all players.

This welfare support will be critical at a time where the network and environment of each of the three players must play an active role in their rehabilitation.

All Australians would understand the right of the players to receive advice from their advisers, peers and family and the time necessary to ensure the sanctions are fair and proportional.

The ACA has called for the proposed cultural review to be fully independent and to consider all relevant factors and context surrounding these acts. The examination must also extend to CA's response and process following Saturday's events.