GAA can’t afford high price of winning at all costs

Last March, Cameron Bancroft of the Australian men’s cricket team — with the prior knowledge of his captain, Steve Smith, and vice-captain, David Warner — was seen on TV cameras tampering with the ball during his country’s third test against South Africa in Cape Town, writes Jack Anderson.

Bancroft’s use of yellow sandpaper to make the cricket ball swing roughed up more than one side of a ball. It damaged the reputation of Australian cricket globally and, in particular, its governing body, Cricket Australia (CA).

In the seven months since the incident, CA has seen its chief executive, its high-performance manager, its chief integrity officer — who immediately flew to South Africa to investigate the matter — all depart. Of course, the senior men’s team has a new coach and captain.