All 42 culture review recommendations

Andrew Ramsey's report on the reviews and its findings.

Download the full Ethics Centre Review here

Recommendation 1

Australian Cricket establish, as a standing body, an Ethics Commission: To be comprised of three persons – with at least one male and one female member; Nominated by the Board of Cricket Australia; Appointed only with the unanimous agreement of: Each State and Territory Association; The Australian Cricketers’ Association; Cricket Umpires Australia.

The purpose of the Australian Cricket Ethics Commission would be to hold all participants in Australian Cricket accountable to the ethical foundations for the game as played in Australia in accordance with How We Play, the Spirit of Cricket, the Laws of Cricket – and any successor documents that establish ethical standards for the game.

The Australian Cricket Ethics Commission would have no formal powers. Its influence would lie solely in its capacity, in private and/or in public, to approve or disapprove of: Certain practices occurring on or off the field of play, or in the administration of the game; The conduct of organisations involved in the governance, management or advancement of cricket in Australia.

Cricket Australia response:

CA supports the Recommendation and CA will implement it in a manner consistent with the format used by the ICC. CA will appoint an independent Ethics Commissioner with direct access to the Chairman and the CA board.

The CA Board believes that consideration of ethical matters is part of the responsibility and accountability of the board, CEO and Executives.

CA will consult with key stakeholders on both the terms of reference and the appointment of the Ethics Commissioner.

Recommendation 2

Australian Cricket establish the Australian Cricket Council – a consultative body that will bring together cricket’s major stakeholders, twice per year, to consider issues of strategic significance to the game. The Council would have the following features:

Meet twice per year; Be comprised of the Chairs of CA, State and Territory Associations, ACA and Cricket Umpires Association; Be chaired by CA; Be a forum for consultation, deliberation and voluntary agreement where consensus can be found

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation and will implement it by using and enhancing existing mechanisms, rather than adding new structures and creating additional bureaucracy. CA will invite the Chairman of the ACA to meet with the Chairmen of State & Territory Cricket Associations from time to time. CA will consult with the leadership group of the umpires to consider issues of strategic significance to the game – including in relation to content in these Recommendations. CA will consult with State & Cricket Associations and ACA in relation to further suggestions regarding ongoing consultation, to ensure that meetings with stakeholders in the game of cricket are as valuable as possible.

Recommendation 3

Require CA to consider establishing a mechanism for consulting with cricket’s fan base – with the intention of developing a mechanism by which the views of fans can inform the deliberations of the Australian Cricket Council.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will continue to use and enhance existing mechanisms for consulting with fans and patrons of cricket in Australia. These are and will continue to be used as input to the forums identified in Recommendation 2.

Recommendation 4

State and Territory Associations be engaged with the intention of ensuring a consistent ethical foundation for all of Australian cricket. State and Territory Associations should be asked to explain the reason for insisting on any divergence of material significance.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will continue to engage with State & Territory Cricket Associations with the intention of ensuring a consistent ethical foundation. The outcomes of the Players’ Pact will also be applied consistently across Australian Cricket.

Recommendation 5

Honours – such as the Allan Border Medal – take into account a players’ character and behaviour as well as their performance in batting and bowling (akin to the Brownlow Medal for ‘best and fairest’ in AFL). In line with this, players who have been penalised for poor on-field behaviour should not be eligible as recipients for major awards. Additionally, the status of the Richie Benaud Spirit of Cricket Awards should be elevated.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will review the criteria for all national honours and awards including the Spirit of Cricket awards in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations and the ACA.

Recommendation 6

The How We Play Awards take into consideration alignment with those elements within the Spirit of Cricket not otherwise covered in How We Play.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will review the criteria for all national honours and awards including the Spirit of Cricket awards in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations and the ACA.

Recommendation 7

CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association, within a period of 30 days, commence a process by which they establish a constructive working relationship. This process may:

Require the assistance of a mediator
Involve preliminary confidence-building measures
Require CA and ACA to respectively ensure that their representatives be committed to and capable of moving the relationship to a positive setting.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation and will continue to engage positively and constructively with the ACA. CA will request a formal meeting within 30 days.

Recommendation 8

That the practice of Umpires rating the sportsmanship of all Grade, State and National Teams be reinforced as mandatory best practice and that, at the end of each match, the Umpires’ formal assessment of the sportsmanship shown by each team be published along with the name of any player whose conduct the Umpires deem to have been exemplary.

CA response

This Recommendation is under consideration and there are some challenges to implementation, such as CA not being responsible for, or in control of International Cricket. CA will review the Spirit of Cricket awards in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations and the ACA. CA will discuss these processes further with the ICC.

Recommendation 9

In Test, Sheffield Shield and Grade matches, following at least one informal warning, Umpires be empowered to exclude players from the field of play, for set periods of time and with immediate effect, as a penalty for: Continuous abusive sledging (after one warning);  Deliberate breaches of the Laws of Cricket, or;  Deliberate conduct inconsistent with the Spirit of Cricket (after one formal warning).

CA response

This Recommendation is under consideration and there are some challenges to implementation, such as CA not being responsible for, or in control of International Cricket, and the potential impact on the official status of matches in Australia (e.g. first-class cricket). CA will consult with relevant stakeholders- including the ACA, umpires and State & Territory Cricket Associations.

Recommendation 10

There be conscious and sustained investment in a program to elevate the status of and respect for umpires across all forms of the game of cricket – and amongst all age groups.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will implement a program to elevate the status of and respect for Umpires in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations.

Recommendation 11

CA, State and Territory Associations use their best endeavours to ensure that cricket pitches are prepared in a manner that: Allows batting and bowling sides a fair opportunity to compete effectively, and; Maintains regional variety and diversity of playing surfaces.

CA response

This Recommendation is in place. CA will continue to implement its policies in relation to pitches and playing surfaces.

Recommendation 12

The current performance bonus (linked to match wins, series wins and world rankings) be converted into a payment, without loss to players current remuneration, in recognition of: Contributions to the maintenance and development of grass-roots cricket; Positive relationships with fans, sponsors, etc.

CA response

CA will continue to work with the ACA and players to improve performance bonus structures. CA will consider and review remuneration structures of other sports to consider best practice in remuneration policies.

Recommendation 13

There be core consistency (a clear ‘family resemblance’) between How We Play, the Spirit of Cricket and any additional Ethical Framework applying to elite players (such as is being developed by McCosker and Collins).

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will review How We Play, the Spirit of Cricket and the new Players’ Pact in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations.

Recommendation 14

The role of vice-captain be ‘de-coupled’ from that of ‘heir apparent’ for the captaincy. The captain should be able to rely on the loyal support of the vice-captain. Rivals for the role of captain should be given leadership development and opportunities to demonstrate leadership in other roles (e.g. by captaining sides in different forms of the game).

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will review selection policies and consider further leadership training in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations.

Recommendation 15

Players with leadership aspirations or capacity should undertake formal leadership training – including processes to improve their capacity to display moral courage.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will consider further leadership training in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations.

Recommendation 16

Players on CA contracts be encouraged and enabled to maintain active involvement with Sheffield Shield and Grade cricket. Except when playing major series abroad, players on CA contracts should made available to the relevant State and Territory Associations, if selected, to play a minimum of two entire Sheffield Shield matches and one Grade match per Australian cricket season.

CA response

This Recommendation is under consideration and there are some challenges to implementation, such as ensuring CA selects the best available team for International Cricket taking into account CA’s selection policy and the Players’ Pact, as well as ensuring players’ health and wellbeing.

CA will actively look for additional opportunities for players to maintain connections with State and Premier cricket without committing to a minimum number of matches, in consultation with State & Territory Cricket Associations and the ACA.

Recommendation 17

Members of Australian Test and One Day teams be excused from playing International T20 cricket to the extent necessary for them to play Sheffield Shield and Grade cricket as per Recommendation 15 (above).

CA response

This Recommendation is not accepted. CA will continue to select the best available team for International Cricket taking into account CA’s selection policy and the Players’ Pact, including T20 Internationals.

Recommendation 18

In regard to Test, Shield, ODI and T20 players, and consistent with CA’s Duty of Care, there should be consultation between the player, medical specialist, team captain and chairman of selectors before any decision is made to “rest” that player on medical grounds.

CA response

This Recommendation is in place.

Recommendation 19

The leadership of CA accept its share of responsibility for the circumstances that gave rise to the ball-tampering incident at Newlands – not as a matter of direct, personal culpability but as a demonstration of responsible leadership and accountability.

CA response

The Board, CEO and Executives of CA accept its share of responsibility and wants to use the Recommendations in this report to improve the game of cricket in Australia.

Recommendation 20

The Board of CA appoint a standing committee for Ethics and Culture.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will extend the charter of the CA Board Sub-Committee to become the People, Culture and Ethics Committee. This Committee and the CA Board will receive feedback from the Ethics Commissioner.

Recommendation 21

Subject to issues of confidentiality (commercial and otherwise) the Board of CA publish the Minutes of its meetings (e.g. as is done by the Board for Control of Cricket in India).

CA response

We note this Recommendation, and while CA will not be publishing minutes of board meetings, CA will review mechanisms to provide greater transparency.

CA’s key priority is to communicate transparently with State & Territory Cricket Associations following board meetings. The CA Board will consider publishing media releases on key outcomes from Board meetings.

Recommendation 22

All Board papers include a formal section evaluating the ethical implications of proposed policies, practices, agreements or delegations. The assessment of ethical implications should identify key stakeholders, how their interests are likely to be affected and demonstrate how the proposal(s) are consistent with CA’s declared purpose, values and principles.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will amend its CA Board report template to ensure these matters are formally considered.

Recommendation 23

The Board of CA be subject to the organisation’s Code of Conduct.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will review its Code of Conduct and the Directors Code of Ethics to determine if the same document should apply to Directors and Employees. The CA Board will continue to adhere to the same principles in the CA Code of Conduct.

Recommendation 24

CA investigate and seek advice to determine if the management of players’ physical and emotional well-being has been consistent with the organisation’s legal and moral obligations, including its duty of care.

CA response

CA will investigate the Sports Science and Sports Medicine programs to confirm compliance.

Recommendation 25

CA’s review its risk assessment system in order to ensure that risks arising from poor player behaviour are correctly gauged and managed.

CA response

This Recommendation is in place.

Recommendation 26

CA address issues of clarity in relation to How We Play 

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will review How We Play in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations.

Recommendation 27

All of CA’s Codes of Conduct make specific reference to How We Play (or any successor ethical framework).

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation.CA will review all CA’s Codes of Conduct with reference to How We Play in consultation with State & Territory Cricket Associations and the ACA.

Recommendation 28

CA amend its Anti-Harassment Code for Players and Player Support Personnel so that the definition of ‘harassment’ is expanded to include abusive sledging.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will consider whether additional changes should be made to the Anti-Harassment Policy. CA notes sledging is already covered under the existing anti -discrimination suite of policies and the Code of Conduct.

Recommendation 29

CA make explicit (in documentation, etc.) a general prohibition against conduct that might reasonably be perceived as bullying.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will review policies and procedures to ensure the prohibition on conduct that might reasonably be perceived as bullying is clear. CA will continue its ongoing and regular training in respect of anti-bullying, harassment, grievance resolution and EEO policies and procedures.

Recommendation 30

CA develop and disseminate practical guidance on how to identify and manage ethical dilemmas.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will include this Recommendation the terms of reference for the Ethics Commissioner and the People, Culture and Ethics Committee.

Recommendation 31

The management of players joining and leaving elite teams be improved so that the processes are respectful and compassionate.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will review management of players joining and leaving elite teams in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations, the ACA and player development managers.

Recommendation 32

CA’s performance reviews and bonus scheme(s) be harmonised so that all versions take into account ethical and behavioural considerations as the basis for potential reward.

CA response

This Recommendation is in place. The People, Culture and Ethics Committee will review performance review processes and bonus schemes.

Recommendation 33

Executive remuneration be linked to performance measures relating to the culture of CA and – to a lesser degree – to the culture of cricket-in-Australia.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation in principle. The CA People, Culture and Ethics Committee will review this Recommendation, particularly in relation to considering the level of responsibility held by CA for all cricket in Australia.

Recommendation 34

CA senior management receive additional training to develop their communication skills.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA will review and enhance communication skills training.

Recommendation 35

CA set and publish a target for achieving greater diversity (including but not limited to gender diversity) within its executive ranks.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA sets and publishes gender diversity targets. CA will also consider formal reporting against diversity goals in addition to gender diversity. CA will continue to implement its strategy to ensure cricket is a sport for all Australians.

Recommendation 36

CA commission a review of its HPU – and associated programs – to ensure that they are responsive to the need for highly skilled, ethical players – with the skill and maturity to exercise personal discretion and responsibility – who are not merely compliant.

CA response

CA’s high performance function operates as part of the broader high performance system across Australian cricket. When the future strategy for the high performance system is developed by CA in collaboration with State & Territory Cricket Associations, opportunities to improve the current approach to high performance will be considered. CA and State & Territory Cricket Associations will consult with the ACA when developing the future strategy.

Recommendation 37

Employees overseeing or working within the HPU be banned from participating in industrial negotiations with players.

CA response

This Recommendation is under consideration. CA will consider the appropriate team to be involved in MOU negotiations in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations.

Recommendation 38

The HPU be responsible for and resourced to develop, not just the physical, mental and emotional attributes of players – but also their characters in line with an ethos of playing ‘hard but fair’.

CA response

CA supports this Recommendation. CA recognizes and supports the concept of developing an ethos of ‘hard but fair’ and will collaborate with State and Territory Cricket Associations to review the further development of players.

Recommendation 39

The Board of CA appoint the national selectors in consultation with the Australian Team Captain and Coach.

CA response

This Recommendation is in place.

Recommendation 40

The General Manager, Team Performance Unit be an ad hoc adviser to the Australian team selectors.

CA response

This Recommendation is in place.

Recommendation 41

Selectors be required to take account of a player’s character as well as their skills as a cricketer when making a selection.

CA response

CA will review its selection policy, with a heightened emphasis on a player’s character and behaviour in line with the Players’ Pact.

Recommendation 42

CA actively engage with the ICC to adopt those of these Recommendations relevant to developing, maintaining and enforcing high ethical standards across international cricket.

CA response

CA will continue to actively engage with the ICC including in relation to developing, maintaining and enforcing high ethical standards across international cricket., and with a view to engagement between the ICC Ethics Officer and the Australian Cricket Ethics Commissioner.