Sutherland wants to lead cricket's change

James Sutherland has come under fire in some quarters since the incident in South Africa, but...
James Sutherland has come under fire in some quarters since the incident in South Africa, but last month received the backing of his board. Photo: Getty Images
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland insists it's his role to see Australian cricket through the fallout of the ball-tampering saga, as details into the sport's review were released today.

CA confirmed they have Sydney-based The Ethics Centre to conduct the review into its organisational culture in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal.

Captain Steve Smith, his deputy Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were sent home from the South Africa tour in disgrace in March after a plan was hatched during a lunch break in the third Test at Newlands to scuff up the ball with a small piece of improvised sandpaper.

Bancroft was caught on camera placing it into the front of his trousers when he believed he had been spotted by the umpires.

Smith and Warner have been banned from playing for 12-months, while Bancroft has received a nine-month ban.

Cameron Bancroft was summoned for a chat to the umpires after footage showed him with a small...
Cameron Bancroft was summoned for a chat to the umpires after footage showed him with a small yellow object he was later seen putting down his pants. Photo: Reddit

The wide-ranging review will be led by Ethics Centre executive director Dr Simon Longstaff, and was expected to be complete by the beginning of the summer.

The Ethics Centre was behind the recent investigation into the independent cultural review into the Australian Olympic Committee last year.

The review, promised by Sutherland upon the lengthy suspensions of Smith, Warner and Bancroft, will investigate any cultural, organisational or governance issues within CA and the sport and if there are links to that and player behaviour.

Sutherland has come under fire in some quarters since the incident in South Africa, but last month received the backing of his board and maintained he wanted to be the man to help initiate change.

"I haven't thought about (resigning as CEO) and I really see the responsibility I have to push through this and deal with the situation," he said today.

"When I reconcile all of this, I see this as a really significant opportunity for growth within Australian cricket, the team, the development of our players and all the way through to the pathways.

"This is an opportunity for the game to get better and it will be better through this."

The Ethics Centre's review will run in conjunction with a past and present player-led review into the culture of the Australian men's team, which will include new Test captain Tim Paine and his yet-to-be-appointed coach.

That review will be led by former Test opener Rick McCosker and will also include Pat Cummins, former limited-overs captain George Bailey, one-time Test captain Shane Watson and women's vice-captain Rachael Haynes.

That panel will report back to the Ethics Centre, as well as considering a player behaviour charter for men's teams.

"We understand and share the disappointment of fans and the broader Australian community about these events," CA chairman David Peever said.

"The Board is determined to do all we can to prevent such events from ever happening again.

"We have full confidence that Simon and his team, along with Rick and the player panel, will be able to fully review and identify recommendations for improvement."

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