Why Cricket Australia boss has no issue with Nathan Lyon being ‘absolutely filthy’ at selectors
Greenberg was not as accepting of Khawaja’s colourful criticism of Perth’s Test strip but said he was against readily punishing players.
In his former role as the head of Australian cricket’s players union, Greenberg was critical of how CA managed player discipline issues.
Usman Khawaja speaks with Todd Greenberg in Brisbane.Credit: Getty Images
There are provisions for CA to penalise players for making public or media comment that is detrimental to the interests of cricket, but they were not applied to Khawaja.
“There’s a very fine line in our industry about those sorts of things,” Greenberg said. “We can go around writing sanctions for players as much as we want, but I’m not sure what purpose that delivers.
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“I think frank conversations and honest conversations between players and administrators is where it should be. Uzzie and I have had that conversation.”
He said he had counselled Khawaja over his choice of language and is confident the veteran opener would not use those words again.
“It certainly wasn’t my definition of it [the pitch],” Greenberg said. “I’ve spoken to Uzzie. I’d prefer not to share exactly what was discussed in respect of that.
“I would say I was disappointed in those comments. I think if he had his time over again he’d choose his words differently. I thought it was a good, tough cricket wicket in Perth – it certainly wasn’t that definition.”
Greenberg said day/night Test cricket was here to stay in Australia, despite England champion Joe Root’s comments questioning the need to schedule a pink-ball game for the Ashes. CA said TV ratings for the evening session of more than two million had justified the inclusion of a Test under lights.
“That’s double what it normally would do,” Greenberg said. “I think the last session was the biggest session we’ve had in Ashes history over the last 10 years. It’s not just about that – there’s a lot of different things in it – but it is about getting more people watching cricket.
“I’m not suggesting we’ll do five pink-ball Tests, but that one pink-ball Test in this series is an important part of what we’re trying to achieve.”
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