Ball tampering row: Cricket Australia chairman resigns

New Australia coach Justin Langer and captain Tim Paine are charged with changing the culture within the Australian team.

Cricket Australia chairman David Peever announced his resignation on Thursday, three days after a report saying Cricket Australia was arrogant and bent on winning at all costs.

The ball-tampering affair last March in Cape Town, South Africa has claimed another victim in Australian cricket.

Cricket Australia chairman David Peever announced his resignation on Thursday, three days after a report saying Cricket Australia was arrogant and bent on winning at all costs in a review of its culture and governance commissioned after the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

The board appointed Earl Eddings as interim chairman.

“The board is keenly aware that we have a way to go to earn back the trust of the cricket community,” Mr. Eddings said in a statement, thanking Peever for his service.

The review by Simon Longstaff of The Ethics Center, released on Monday, said administrators should bear as much blame as captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft, who were suspended for their roles in the incident at Cape Town in March.

The attempt by Bancroft to use sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball during the test match, with the knowledge of Smith and Warner, caused “grief” among the Australian public, Longstaff said.

CA had addressed some of its perceived shortcomings ahead of the review. Chief executive James Sutherland has left after 17 years and Pat Howard, the high-performance manager, has said he won’t seek to extend his contract beyond mid-2019.

New Australia coach Justin Langer and captain Tim Paine are charged with changing the culture within the Australian team.

Mr. Eddings said Mr. Peever had played a pivotal role in the elevation of women’s cricket, and the significant growth in attendance and participation.

“He should also be acknowledged for his efforts in improving funding to the ICC full member nations outside Australia, England and India; overhauling governance of the ICC and reforming the Future Tours program, among a long list of achievements,” Mr. Eddings said.

Mr. Peever had been appointed to a further three-year term at the helm of CA’s board at the organization’s annual general meeting last Thursday.

But since, he came under sustained pressure to stand aside from influential voices including ex-test captain Ian Chappell and former CA chief executive Malcolm Speed.