Last week was a sad week for Australian Cricket, and for Australians in general. Three cricketers caught red-handed of impropriety, confessed and apologized after being punished by the CA. My heart went out to all three and the coach as well.
Later, I started wondering what would have happened, if the act was not caught on camera? Why would the South African Commentator and ex-fast bowler, Fannie de Villers advise the cameramen to track the Aussie bowlers? Why will we now find out that an Aussie Umpire, Daryl Harper, warned Steve Smith and David Warner, during a Sheffield Shield game of possible ball tampering? I can only conclude that these two cricketers, Captain and Vice-Captain of the Australian team had been indulging in foul-play and getting away with it. Why would the two most successful batsmen indulge in this, I wonder! If they were not caught, then they will continue to do so and have corrupted more youngsters, as in the case of Cameron Bancroft.
Australia is a great country to live, and the Australians take pride in fair-play. But incidents like these make me wonder if it is still the case. I am aware of many Senior Bureaucrats in Australian Public-Sector organizations rife with nepotism or cronyism. Most of them get away. Some get trapped when their excesses are caught on tape, as in the case of a Senior Water Bureaucrat in NSW. Before he was forced to move-on, he has already corrupted his next-levels of administrators to do his bidding. It was too late for very qualified and well-meaning staff. The next level administrators are condemned for rest of their career. No respect from peers, and no self-confidence in their ability to make a sound judgment.
Australians are some of the most fortunate people in the world. We enjoy a very high standard of living and almost all believe in hard work and fair play. This culture needs to be preserved. In the case of the Cricketers, the PM Turnbull has made the correct calls, and the Cricket Australia has acted swiftly. It's in everyone's interest that all of us are mindful of Aussie ethos, refuse to be corrupted, and blow the whistle when there's a shred of foul play.
We need not wait to be caught and embarrassed.
We need not wait to be caught and embarrassed.
