Cricket Australia has taken the extraordinary step of blocking its players from speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), following stinging criticism of the national team's setup from commentator and former Test fast bowler Stuart Clark.
The Comments That Sparked the Boycott
The dispute erupted on Monday when Clark, in his role as an ABC commentator, launched a pointed critique of key figures within Cricket Australia. He labelled head of cricket James Allsopp a "grade coach" and suggested chief selector George Bailey lacked the necessary gravitas to stand up to star players and coaches, implying he was merely a yes-man.
These remarks provoked a furious reaction from Cricket Australia's hierarchy. Chief executive Todd Greenberg met with Clark on Tuesday to express his strong disapproval and to defend the reputations of both Allsopp and Bailey. Greenberg also clarified that Clark's personal views were not shared by Cricket New South Wales, where Clark serves as a selector and board member.
Immediate On-Air Consequences
The fallout was immediate. Despite the ABC's usual entitlement to a post-play interview with a player at the close of each day's action in the Sydney Ashes Test, no Australian player was made available to the broadcaster after day three. While there is reportedly no formal contractual obligation to provide a player, the move was seen as a direct snub.
This left ABC commentator Corbin Middlemas to voice his frustration live on air. He described the situation as "extremely disappointing" for listeners across the country, particularly in regional areas. Middlemas emphasised that the Australian team is a "public good" and that all Australians have a stake in it, arguing against treating it as a private enterprise.
Meanwhile, centurion Steve Smith spoke to other broadcast networks following his innings, highlighting the selective nature of the boycott.
Background and Reaction
James Allsopp is highly regarded internally at Cricket Australia, having progressed through roles in high-performance management, women's state coaching, and leadership at Cricket ACT after starting in NSW's pathways system. George Bailey, despite overseeing a period of significant success since becoming chief selector in 2021, has frequently faced criticism from former players, a trend known to irritate the current coaching staff.
Following his meeting with Greenberg, Clark stated the conversation was "cordially" held. He downplayed the prospect of a public feud, noting their long-standing friendship from working together at the NRL. "We have had disagreements. We will continue to have disagreements. We obviously don't agree and that's cool," Clark remarked, adding he expected to share a laugh with Greenberg later.
It is anticipated that the post-play interviews with the ABC will resume as normal from Wednesday, but the incident has cast a spotlight on the sometimes-fraught relationship between sporting bodies and public broadcasters.
