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People make mistakes. Four years ago between consenting adults.Quote:
Originally Posted by cyrille
Cricket Australia had obviously hoped it would stay in the cupboard/filing cabinet. As poor a decision as Paine sending dick pics to a flaky work colleague in the first place.Quote:
Originally Posted by cyrille
The cliché goes that the Australian Test captaincy is the second-most important job in Australia, and on Friday there was an obvious visual cue that Tim Paine was about to do the important work of delivering some very bad news: the wall behind him was devoid of corporate logos.
Paine resigned before the imminent exposure of personal failings. As his solitary figure hunched over a statement as cringeworthy and unedifying as any sexting scandal demands, the 2017 timeline of the events that led to his demise revealed institutional failings more alarming still.
That chronology told us that Cricket Australia (CA), the organisation that popularised the term "elite honesty", had engaged in a four-year cover-up and then dismounted with duplicitous zeal: take it as read that if Paine hadn't jumped, his employer would have pushed him.
CA must now answer a number of uncomfortable questions, but none more pertinent than this: How and why, in the wake of the 2018 Sandpapergate fiasco, did it choose to rebuild the country's cricketing reputation by appointing a Test captain with such a damaging scandal hanging over his head?
Another is: If the incident involved no breach of CA's code of conduct, as Paine claimed, yet its exposure is considered worthy of such a humiliating job loss, is the code of conduct worth the paper it's printed on?
Like most of the big sports now, CA likes to consider its integrity department a kind of private police force, but at times like this it is shown up as nothing grittier than a public relations team with an accent on crisis management. Only the crises never quite get managed, do they?
Paine's shock scandal
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Cricket fans were taken aback when news of Tim Paine's indiscretions and resignation broke, but Cricket Australia probably wasn't — and that is much of the problem, Dean Bilton writes.
Read more
Paine took no questions on Friday, but at some point, he will need to answer some too. For instance, if it was only "on reflection" that his behaviour did "not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain", what exactly has changed between 2017 and 2021, and why did he accept the job in the first place?
Many will forward a not-unconvincing argument that Paine's loved ones hold the exclusive rights to any hurt and, having squared things off with them, he should never have been forced into the public domain to air dirty laundry.
But that doesn't square with the image cultivated by CA and their corporate partners of Paine as wholesome and sweet — the perma-smiling boy next door who healed a cricket nation in the wake of its last major scandal — not to mention the rich benefits all parties have derived from that image.
It would also not wash with the huge swathes of Australians — women, particularly — who don't care for cricket and only see another celebrated and powerful man exposed as weak and perhaps unworthy of his exalted status.
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Tim Paine was appointed captain when Australian cricket was reeling from the Sandpapergate fiasco in South Africa.(AP: Themba Hadebe)In the following days, weeks and probably for months, like all cover-ups, this affair will become messier still, as evidenced by the flurry of media releases issued on Friday afternoon — a far cry from the anodyne screeds that normally accompany such moments.
In an extraordinary statement released soon after Paine's press conference, Cricket Tasmania and its chairman discredited and all but named the complainant.
"The allegations raised against Tim Paine by a former Cricket Tasmania employee were only brought to the attention of Cricket Tasmania when formal charges of theft were laid against that employee in mid-2018," the statement read.
"Cricket Tasmania Chairman, Andrew Gaggin, said there was no complaint raised at the time of the incident in November 2017, nor when the employee's position with the organisation was terminated.
"As soon as Cricket Tasmania was made aware, it undertook an investigation that determined the interaction was consensual, private, occurred on the one occasion only, was between mature adults and was not repeated."
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Tune in for the latest cricket news, interviews and analysis from the ABC team in the Grandstand Cricket Podcast.
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While issuing an assurance it "does not condone this type of behaviour", Cricket Tasmania said "because of the consensual nature of the actions it was determined that no further action was required or appropriate".
And sure, perhaps it was consensual, private, and only occurred once between mature adults. But you take your chances when you bat so far out of the crease.
Gaggin was finally quoted as saying it was "inappropriate to comment any further given the matter [is] still before the courts", yet it is hard to imagine a more explicit and explanatory series of comments.
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Paine will likely have to answer key questions at some point.(AAP: Julian Smith)In offering its "unequivocal support", the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) was a little more equivocal than Gaggin in reacting to the precise circumstances.
"While respecting the decision made by Tim Paine, the ACA is saddened that he felt the need to resign from the captaincy of the Australian Test team," its statement read.
"While regrettable, this was an historical mistake that was a private matter between consenting individuals."
There are no winners here, but spare a thought for the person who will suffer most.
In his landmark study of Australia's Test captains, Ray Robinson became perhaps the first cricket journalist to seriously consider the toll of the job on wives and partners.
"The demands international cricket makes on players put a strain on marriage," he wrote.
So too modern life and technology. Just ask Bonnie Paine.
Tim Paine scandal a mess of Cricket Australia'''s making — and it will get worse - ABC News
So he should have chosen a more reliable colleague?Quote:
Originally Posted by Saint Willy
Hope he plays - the sledging and singing opportunities are endless, and it's a matter of record that the aussies don't take it too well :D
Institutionalised racism in English cricket
Institutionalised idiocy in Australian cricket
Simply Pakistan cricket . . .
It's simply not . . .
Umm ... what?Quote:
Originally Posted by panama hat
Now the Yorkshire Post has suggestive texts being sent from a number belonging to Rafiq to a young girl. Which he says he is "investigating"!
:chitown:
^ he's got the heritage
Azeem Rafiq accused of sending 'creepy' messages to teenage girl
Rafiq is facing fresh hypocrisy claim after WhatsApp messages emerge that he is alleged to have sent to 16 year-old in December 2015
By
Ben Rumsby
20 November 2021 • 6:14pm
the rank hypocrisy of this two faced man is unbelievable.Quote:
The messages were allegedly sent by Azeem Rafiq in December 2015 CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
Azeem Rafiq is facing further accusations of hypocrisy amid claims he sent “creepy” messages to a teenage girl.
The Yorkshire Post said it had obtained screenshots of WhatsApp messages from a phone number belonging to Rafiq, which were sent to Gayathri Ajith in December 2015.
Ajith told the newspaper that was three months after she had met Rafiq on a flight from Manchester to Dubai, when she was 16.
Ajith said she had told Rafiq she was 17 to “seem a bit older” and agreed to have a vodka-coke with him on the plane but turned down an invitation to have dinner with him in Dubai.
The Yorkshire Post said the screenshots of the later messages read, “u know what I wanted to do on the plane?”, and, “I want to grab you push u up against wall and kiss you”.
The newspaper said her reply read, “do you realise that I’m only 17?”, to which she received the response, “Does tht mean it not allowed to want to kiss me”, and, “Wud u have let me kiss u?”.
Ajith, who is now 22 and lives in Yorkshire, was said to have branded his message “creepy” and to have asked Rafiq: “How do I know that you’re no [sic] some absolute pervert?”
She told the Yorkshire Post: “I was just kind of shocked by the crudity of those messages. They were just so vulgar.”
The accusation came at the end of a week in which Rafiq gave harrowing testimony at the Houses of Parliament about the racist abuse he suffered while playing for Yorkshire.
Placeholder image for youtube video: sWCEMeCGnc8
Among the most shocking moments during his evidence was when he said he had been pinned down and forced to drink red wine as a 15-year-old while at Barnsley Cricket Club.
He also said he had felt forced to drink at Yorkshire in order to fit in and not hurt his career.
Ajith said: “I’m not disputing any of his racism claims, because I’m sure they’re very true experiences. But certain aspects of what he said just don’t really sit right with me.
“If he was being forced to drink by his teammates then surely that wouldn’t then mean he would be drinking alone on a flight and encouraging a 17-year-old girl to be drinking with him?”
She added: “His behaviour towards me was a direct contradiction really of what he said in his testimony.
“He’s calling for equality and respect, but why is he not embodying that in all aspects? Especially in his tone towards women. It’s hypocrisy.
“He is being put on this pedestal for inciting systemic change, but he’s really contributing to the problem of the vulgar attitudes towards women.The whole nature of that doesn’t sit right with me.”
A spokesman for Rafiq declined to comment on Saturday night.
The 30-year-old received widespread praise last week following his tearful testimony to MPs about racist abuse he said cost him his career – and almost his life.
But he faced accusations of hypocrisy after it emerged two days later that he himself had used anti-Semitic slurs in an exchange of messages with another cricketer in 2011.
He immediately apologised for having done so, as well as for sharing a meme on social media in 2017 containing a derogatory joke relating to African people.
Azeem Rafiq accused of sending 'creepy' messages to teenage girl
Paine scored 1 for Tasmania’s second XI yesterday. England needs him in that side. Hope the selectors do the right thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by malmomike77
Patel v India
Black Caps spinner Ajaz Patel makes cricket immortality with 10 wickets in innings against India
4 December 2021
Patel tonight wrote a new page into the annals of New Zealand sport, becoming the third bowler in the 144-year history of test cricket to take 10 wickets in one innings.
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The Black Caps swarm Ajaz Patel after his 10th wicket. Photo / AP
In a scarcely believable 48 overs across four sessions, Patel etched his name alongside England's Jim Laker, in 1956, and India's Anil Kumble, in 1999, three men who have completed the perfect 10.
The fact Patel achieved the feat in Mumbai - the city where he was born and lived until immigrating to New Zealand aged eight - only added to the unfathomable nature of proceedings.
On the eve of the test, the 33-year-old spoke of his excitement about returning to India's largest city once more, this time wearing a silver fern on his cap.
Patel finished the innings with figures of 47.5 overs, 12 maidens, 10 wickets for 119 runs.
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The Indian Express: Perfect 10 for Ajaz Patel
Watched some of that - the pollution looked horrendous. Could barely see the square. Maybe the players should wear the clothing they wear for the pyjama game. :sad:
Are you saying they couldn't pick him becoz of the pollution. It does get really bad in delhi, worst i've been in.
They're in Mumbai.
I know, i mentioned delhi as its even worse usually.
Celebrating the 10 wickets...
Black Caps embarrassed in record collapse
5 December 2021
From a hero to a bunch of zeroes.
The Black Caps completely wasted Ajaz Patel's historic 10-wicket performance in Mumbai, immediately slumping to their sixth-lowest test total – and the lowest ever recorded by any team in India – as they were eviscerated for 62.
The only man who scored more runs than Patel took wickets was Kyle Jamieson, who was the last man dismissed, for 17.
:rofl:
FFS :rofl:
Oh dear . . .
End of an era: Kohli steps down as India Test captain
Virat Kohli has now stepped down as India's captain across all formats
Attachment 81308
Virat Kohli has shocked Indian cricket by abruptly resigning as the national side's Test captain, after leading the team to several memorable victories in his seven years in charge.
The 33-year-old, India's most successful Test captain, took to Twitter to announce his decision on Saturday a day after India's 2-1 series defeat in South Africa.
"It's been seven years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance everyday to take the team in the right direction. I've done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there," Kohli said in his statement.
"Everything has come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test captain of India, it's now. There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey, but never has there been a lack of effort or lack of belief."
End of an era: Kohli steps down as India Test captain | cricket.com.au
^ I've never been a fan of Kohli, just never appealed.
Sachin Tendulkar ... what a man and marvelous cricketer.
This happened with the Kohli led team in South Africa recently
I can't get the YouTube of it (probably because of rights), but it's embedded in this news item from news.com
Well worth a watch IMHO appalled by the arrogance of the man.
India vs South Africa cricket: Virat Kohli slams SuperSport after Dean Elgar DRS decision | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news siteQuote:
Virat Kohli erupts as India accuses South African broadcaster of cheating
Virat Kohli and his Indian teammates used the stump microphone to accuse South Africa’s host broadcaster of manipulating a DRS result.
Yes Kohli, as much as you like to think you are better than everyone, the rules don't apply to you, like NoVax ... your :icon_poo: does stink.
Yep, he's always been an arrogant fucker.Quote:
Originally Posted by David48atTD
Big game tomorrow, Eng v Ind in the World Cup
Justin Langer resigns as Australian men's cricket team head coach
Justin Langer has resigned as head coach of Australia's men's cricket team less than a month after a thumping Ashes series win.
Key points:
- Justin Langer recently coached the men's team to a 4-0 Ashes series victory and a T20 World Cup win last November
- Rumours of player dissatisfaction with Langer's coaching style have also surrounded the squad for much of the past 12 months
- Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting says it's "almost embarrassing" the way Cricket Australia has handled the matter
It comes after a meeting with Cricket Australia officials last night.
A Cricket Australia (CA) statement said Langer was offered a short-term extension on his current contract but he refused to accept it.
"The contract extension offered to Justin was the result of a thorough review process that evaluated many factors including future requirements of the team and the upcoming extensive schedule of fixtures," the statement read.
"The extension was approved by the CA Board and was put to Justin last night. It included the opportunity to defend the T20 World Cup title in Australia at the end of this year.
"Justin informed CA this morning he was not accepting the offer and would resign with immediate effect."
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley praised Langer for what he had achieved during his four-year tenure as head coach.
Here and the analysis is Here
End of an era?
Quote:
James Anderson and Stuart Broad axed as England cull eight for West Indies tour after Ashes failure
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2022/02/08/james-anderson-left-england-squad-west-indies-tour/