Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland has called on cricket to ensure it reflects the best of our society, not the worst.
In a speech to the Melbourne Cricket Club tonight, Sutherland said cricket faced threats, such as corruption or spot fixing.
“There is much to celebrate in cricket’s great history and it’s incumbent on all of us involved in cricket looking ahead to be vigilant that cricket reflects the best of our societies, not the worst,” he said.
“And he is right – if our fellow countrymen can’t see that reflection, cricket can’t lay a claim to being a sport for all Australians.
“And if we don’t, cricket will lose its treasured place in the national imagination – and the magnificent history, tradition and culture of Australian cricket will have no meaning tour grandchildren and their children.
Cricket’s ability to combine diverse people in their common love of the sport was a strength.
Sutherland noted it is 50 years since the fabulous Tied Test series between the West Indies and Australia.
Mr Sutherland was proposing the Toast to Cricket at the MCC’s annual cricket dinner. He said his toast was to all cricket formats from backyard through Twenty20 and one-day cricket to his personal favourite, Test cricket, because cricket meant different things to different fans and all formats were important keeping the game alive.
The full transcript of his speech is attached to this article.
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