Cricket Australia has blocked the ABC from its usual post play player interview at the Sydney Test after former fast bowler Stuart Clark used the national broadcaster’s coverage to criticise senior figures inside the game.
The standoff unfolded on day three of the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG on Tuesday when the ABC was not offered an Australian player at stumps despite the arrangement being a long running courtesy during the series.
The ABC’s Corbin Middlemas told listeners the decision was extremely disappointing arguing fans in regional Australia were being denied access to the team.
Cricket Australia is not contractually obliged to supply players for that end of day spot, the ABC reported but it has typically done so and had provided players to the broadcaster across the earlier Tests this summer.
The trigger was commentary delivered by Clark on Monday, when he questioned the authority and credibility of Cricket Australia’s head of cricket, James Allsopp and chair of selectors George Bailey.
Clark said on ABC Radio, “James Allsopp … is grade club cricket coach who throws underarm balls to kids.” He added that Allsopp “can’t tell Andrew McDonald and Steve Smith or Pat Cummins what to do.”
Clark also questioned Bailey’s gravitas and leadership remarks that sparked an internal response from Cricket Australia.
Chief executive Todd Greenberg met with Clark on Tuesday to register the organisation’s displeasure and defend both men according to Australian Associated Press reporting carried by The Guardian.
The dispute is awkwardly layered because Clark holds roles inside the domestic game. Greenberg also confirmed the views expressed were not those of Cricket NSW with Clark a selector and board member in the state set up.
On air, Middlemas framed the boycott as a question of public access rather than a private media squabble saying, “The Australian team is a public good. It is not a private team, not private enterprise.”
Clark played down the temperature of his exchange with Greenberg, rejecting suggestions of a confrontation and saying he had sought out the Cricket Australia boss to clarify his position.
“I’m not going to get into a public spat with Todd” Clark said on ABC Radio describing a long working relationship and calling their discussion cordial.
The incident lands at a sensitive moment for Cricket Australia which has worked to keep broadcast partners aligned while scrutiny of selection and administration intensifies in a high profile Ashes summer.
Bailey has held the chief selector role since 2021 and has been a regular target for criticism from past players while Allsopp is regarded internally after moving through a range of cricket administration and coaching roles including leading Cricket ACT.
Whether the ABC remains shut out is still unclear. The broadcaster reported it remained to be seen if Cricket Australia would allow players to speak to ABC when coverage resumes on day four at the SC while AAP reporting suggested the usual access was expected to return on Wednesday.
