2002-03 Annual R eport 2002-03 Annual R eport - Australian Sports ...

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Bob Merriman
An overview of Australian cricket will
note the past 12 months as a landmark
period in the game, highlighted by team
success at both the Test and one-day
international level and continued
development of the game’s grassroots.
On reflection it is a period that can be looked upon with pride, but also one that has emphasised areas
for improvement if the game is to retain its unique place as Australia’s favourite team sport and
cherished summer pastime.
An eighth-consecutive Ashes series victory, the retention of the Frank Worrell Trophy and a convincing
series win over Pakistan, emphasised Australia’s fine year in the Test arena.
That the side reclaimed its grip on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Championship Trophy
was due reward for a dominant era in that form of the game.
Test captain Stephen Waugh is to be congratulated on his leadership and for becoming the mostcapped
player in cricket history. The record is testament to his steely approach and pride in
representing his country.
At one-day international level, the undoubted highlights of the year were victory at the ICC Cricket
World Cup in Southern Africa, coupled with a record winning streak of 21-consecutive victories.
The road to World Cup success, which began as early as four years ago, was not without its challenges
and all involved at the elite level of the game, from captain Ricky Ponting through to the selectors and
team management, can take a great deal of satisfaction from the win.
Perhaps one of the greatest challenges linked to the World Cup campaign was the decision to fulfil
Australia’s commitment of playing its pool-match against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
In spite of intense public, media and political interest, both at home and overseas, Cricket Australia in
conjunction with player-representative body, the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA), re-affirmed
its position that the decision to tour a country would be always made on cricket terms, with safety and
security being paramount.
The board is firmly of the view that Cricket Australia is a non-political organisation and any political
concerns associated with a scheduled tour should be addressed by those with an elected mandate.
This was a testing period for cricket’s administrators and the World Cup touring party, but the decision
to play the match emphasised the trust that exists within the organisation from the player-group
through to management and Directors.
Cricket Australia will not compromise the safety of its players, and this was emphasised only a few
months earlier when Australia stood down from its scheduled Test and one-day international tour to
Pakistan due to security concerns.
This decision was the result of deep consultation with a variety of stakeholders, including the Pakistan
Cricket Board (PCB). However, based on advice received, it was accepted that the security risks in
Pakistan at the time of the tour meant it could not proceed.
That the PCB agreed to shift the series to the neutral venues of Kenya, Sri Lanka and Sharjah, was
testament to the spirit of co-operation that exists within the international cricket fraternity.
Despite a 12-month period of unprecedented team success, the area of on-field player behaviour at all
levels of the game – from the elite level to local park cricket – has raised concerns about players’
awareness and commitment to the spirit of cricket.
Cricket Australia will continue to look at ways to protect and enhance the spirit of cricket throughout
all levels of the game.
Cricket’s appeal is closely related to its firmly entrenched values, and as such a dedicated effort to
work with state and territory cricket associations, national, state and club players about our
responsibilities as custodians of today’s game is being undertaken.
Throughout the year, boardroom discussion also revolved around the area of women’s cricket, and the
Directors adopted a recommendation to integrate the women’s game into the Cricket Australia
structure on a full-time basis.
This follows a successful two-year trial integration and signals women’s cricket as a key component of
the game growing into the future.
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