Cricket Australia’s (CA) new chairman Earl Eddings has urged his Test players to “play hard but fair” in the upcoming series against India, his comments coming at a time when ‘elite honesty’ is a word which is creating a buzz in the Australian cricket. The series is scheduled to commence in Adelaide on December 6. The players have devised their own cultural pact and, under new coach Justin Langer, are expected to play with ‘elite honesty’.
As per the reports in ‘Sydney Morning Herald’, Eddings warned, “Just play good, hard cricket. I don’t think people want us to be quiet but they want us to play with respect to the game, play hard but fair, and win well and lose better. The old adage is you don’t say much when you win and say even less when you lose. I think we have a great team, they are fine young men, and I think they will do that. My advice to the guys is to go out and play your natural game and try as hard as you can. That’s all Australians want to see.”
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Eddings has been appointed as his predecessor David Peever was forced to step down from the post having lost the support of key states NSW and Victoria. His arrival has come as the aftermath of the damning Longstaff report into the culture of the governing body, coming after the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa when David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were suspended for an extended amount of time.
When asked about the ritual of hosting a day-night Test in Adelaide, the new CA chairman clarified that the Adelaide Test would continue to be staged under lights, but the visitors had reservations. He said, “Day-night Test cricket is a way of the future. Certainly, in Adelaide, you have seen how successful that has been. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it done this year but we are going to have one in Brisbane. If you have the right Test at the right spot, day-night Test cricket is fantastic.”
As per the current International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, the visiting nation has the option of host nation’s request when it comes to scheduling. However, that is set to change under the new Test championship program from next year.
