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Cricket report 'sobering reading': PM

Scott Morrison does not want to tell Cricket Australia how to do its job, but thinks there is a "heavy responsibility" to restore faith in the national game.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Scott Morrison says Cricket Australia must work to lift standards across the board. (AAP)

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Cricket Australia (CA) to restore trust and credibility in the sport given its importance to Australian life.

Mr Morrison's comments follow Monday's release of a damning assessment of Australian cricket culture which he labelled as "sobering reading".

CA was branded as "arrogant" and "dictatorial" in the independent review that came after a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in March.

Mr Morrison said CA needed to lift standards at all levels on "every pitch all around the country".

"I think for cricket fans all across Australia they will be very disappointed," Mr Morrison told reporters on Tuesday.

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"Young boys and girls look up to their cricket heroes and they aspire as a result of what they see out there on the field.

"That imposes I think a very heavy responsibility on Cricket Australia to ensure that they are upholding the values of our great game."

He added it was not for him to tell CA how to do its job.

"But as a fellow Australian we all know what our expectations are."

The Ethics Centre's 145-page report is a snapshot of 469 people in the industry, highlighting concerns about the "commercialisation of cricket" and a win-at-all costs mentality.

Mr Morrison will get a first-hand look at cricket culture on Wednesday when he attends his first Prime Minister's XI game since taking the top job in August.

The Prime Minister's XI team, captained by ex-Australian batsman George Bailey, will battle South Africa at Canberra's Manuka Oval in a day-night one-day clash.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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