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Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer Kevin Roberts said no evidence had been presented to support allegations that the national men's team had used foreign objects to alter the rules. state of the ball before the Cape Town Test match last year.
However, Roberts noted that if credible allegations were made to suggest that the sandpaper incident was not occasional imprudence, but rather part of a larger set of behaviors, then they would be subject to a thorough investigation.
While stressing that CA would not react to rumors and conspiracy theories that continue to cover last year's event in South Africa, a review of new evidence would be undertaken even though it might undermine the confidence that the men's team has rebuilt diligently.
In addressing the Melbourne Press Club yesterday, Roberts also defended the limited scope of CA's initial investigation in Cape Town, citing the planning of a match-test a few days later as the reason needed a quick and close investigation.
And he refuted claims that the likely reinstatement of the outlawed couples Steve Smith and David Warner into the Australian ODI configuration risked destabilizing a combination that regained form and unity with the ICC World Cup just two months away. .
Roberts, who badumed the role of CEO last October and has been overseeing significant changes in the composition and methodology of CA's operations, paid tribute to the work undertaken by Smith, Warner and Cameron Bancroft during their respective absences at the highest level. level of cricket.
However, the former captain and his deputy now being free to resume their international careers after the expiry of their 12-month suspension, questions continue to arise about the circumstances that led to the use of sandpaper during the Cape Town test last March.
Former vice-captain of the test team Ian Healy said this week at SEN radio station Melbourne that he thought Australian players, as well as those from rival teams , had used other methods to modify the balloon before Cape Town, because "I do not think without trying things before that".
But Roberts said that despite the offer to all stakeholders, including players, NHQ staff and the public, to report allegations through an anonymous phone line or other means, no report of this type had been sent.
"All we have in hand is that it's the first time that sandpaper has come out," he said yesterday.
"(And) all the evidence suggests that it was the first time that a foreign object such as this one was used, and we have no suggestions from the match officials of the CPI, broadcaster sequences, nor agents of players, CA staff, cricket fans – no one has ever claimed that there had been other inappropriate actions before.
"We have not had such reports, so we will not jump to shadows.
"But I can tell you that if anyone reports an integrity problem, that it's an attempt to falsify anterior bullet or anything else." Another, we are serious about solving this problem.
"If there are reports or allegations, as opposed to insinuations, we will conduct a thorough investigation on this."
Roberts conceded that if such an allegation were revealed, it could undermine the work of coach Justin Langer, and captains Tim Paine and Aaron Finch, to restore the confidence of the fans in the national men's team.
This would not, however, deter the CA from actively pursuing the content of these claims, even if it meant going back over the painful experiences of the Cape episode and its aftermath.
"There is no doubt that it would affect the way cricket fans and the general public view cricket, which is certain," he said.
"But I guess we're dealing with badumptions, not what we are: we could jump to shadows and we could over-react to innuendo.
"If the facts unfold, we will deal with them, and if that means we have problems for us in the short term because we are doing the right thing, then so be it.
"This will in the long run benefit the reputation and integrity of the sport we love."
Earlier this week, the former test captain and former board member of the board, expressed concern over the history of ballooning practices within the company. 39, Australian team. He said "there was no investigation to determine how long it lasted".
Roberts, however, confirmed that the investigation led by CA Chief Integrity Officer Iain Roy just after the Cape Town test was limited due to the three-day delay between the third and fourth tests against South Africa.
He also said that he was unaware if Taylor – who resigned from his position as director of the CA last November, seven months after the balloon sabotage controversy – had expressed his concerns about the scope of the 39; Roy investigation at the level of the board of directors before his departure.
"Certainly, the investigation must be conducted quickly," Roberts said of the investigation that had led to the ban on Smith, Warner and Bancroft under the company's Code of Conduct. ; AC.
"We had to keep our commitment to face South Africa with a team the following week and we did not know if we would have to fly over new players to line up this team or no new players.
"Obviously, the ultimate answer was somewhere in between.
"The investigation was well done, but we did not rest on these laurels.
"What's really clear is the way the audience was actually affected by what he saw.
"People respond authentically, and it's not up to me to ask how they react.
"All I can say is that we have made considerable efforts to solve this problem and have made our code of conduct much more expensive."
Roberts said the imminent reinstatement of Smith and Warner into the men's national team, which is expected to begin when the Australian group of the World Cup, consisting of 15 people, is announced next month, constitutes a scenario more exciting than stimulating.
He added that the work undertaken by all parties over the last year had dispelled any concerns about the possibility of adding two formerly powerful personalities to a group of players who had initially struggled in their absence but who had recently found their place.
"I do not want to be flippant," Roberts said. "But if you take the names off, you have an Australian team one day with a fantastic boost that could surprise everyone in England (at the World Cup).
"And you still have two players who are eligible to return to this team – one of them is a single player, and the other a single player, every ten years." – What a good challenge to have.
"We are committed to ensuring that harmony continues to build, rather than be affected, which is why our behind-the-scenes efforts are meant to help Steve and others." Dave to be ready to be eligible for selection.
"And also support all the players of the team, as well as Justin (Langer), who have done a remarkable job to restore links with the public.
"So I'm not particularly concerned about that, with Justin and the leaders of the test team and the white ball team – they spent a lot of time together, a lot of time on the road.
"I guess we are really focused on all we can do to help Dave, Steve, Cameron and all the other players and support staff in this integration: create harmony rather than disrupt the game. harmony that is created.
"At the same time, in any workplace, we do not need to be best friends with anyone we work with.
"There has to be a base of respect, and I think there is a growing respect there and we will continue to support the players with the right discussions and manage them."
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