Earlier this month saw the release of the hotly-anticipated review into Australian cricket. It was incredibly detailed and wide reaching, not just examining on-field performance but governance and the culture around the sport at every level.
As suspected, it was not very complimentary, delivering a stinging critique of players and officials alike. A wide range of stakeholders were surveyed and shared their thoughts, labelling Cricket Australia as “arrogant” and “controlling”, commenting that the national team had condoned forms of cheating as “playing hard to win”, and that the organisation had allowed bullying under the umbrella of “tough negotiations”.
An Air of Inevitably
It was this culture that was seen as creating an environment that had made the recent ball tampering scandal possible, an almost inevitable result—in its nature, if not the specifics—of a mindset that prioritised results above the game. Without diminishing the individual responsibility of the players involved, it may not have happened if Cricket Australia hadn’t turned a blind eye to so many incidents in the past.
Their refusal to act in the past gave players an impression of tacit approval, or even encouragement, to feel unbound by the Spirit of the Game if it was in the service of winning. It also gave players a sense of disconnect from the low regard much of the Australian public has for the pattern of player behaviour we have seen over the past few decades.
Rude Awakenings
After the contentious Sydney Test against India in 2008, players seemed puzzled by the level and intensity of criticism levelled against them by the media, claiming that they were playing the game hard but fair and that was what Aussie supporters wanted to see. Numerous controversies around sledging and other behaviour since showed that the lesson had been ignored, culminating in what may come to be seen as a turning.
In the days and weeks after the ball tampering incident, you could see a look of realisation on players faces as they seemed to become aware of the true significance of their actions, and the damage it had done in the public’s eyes to the game and to the team’s legacy. It supports the review’s contention that the money and fame elite cricketers receive had seen them become insulated from public opinion and lose sight of the spirit of the game.
More to Mission than Metrics
Officials were not spared and received their share of the blame for encouraging this behaviour. They were seen as trying to run cricket as a business in a way that forgot what was truly important. In the name of profit and sustainability, figures and statistics became more important than people, and results justified any means.
Anyone who has been involved in running a sporting club or organisation, or is part of a church or community group, has probably seen what happens when we lose sight of what our mission actually is. Cricket Australia seems to have come close to forgetting that they exist to promote the game and serve the spectators who make it possible.
Rediscovering our Purpose
Even in the most well-meaning organisations there are times when leaders seem to forget their mission is to remain true to their original values. This can lead to putting more importance in attracting the “right kind of people”, or on numbers, or see them become insulated from the needs of their followers—feeling as if they were above criticism.
Like governments, community organisations have a responsibility to make decisions based on what is good for those they serve, rather than what will benefit themselves. If nothing else, Cricket Victoria’s current situation shows the importance of always remembering our purpose and why we do what we do.
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David Goodwin is the former Editor of The Salvation Army’s magazine, War Cry. He is also a cricket tragic, and an unapologetic geek.
David Goodwin archive of articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/david-goodwin.html
David Goodwin is the former Editor of The Salvation Army’s magazine,War Cry. He is also a cricket tragic, and an unapologetic geek.
David Goodwin archive of articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/david-goodwin.html