By Chris Barrett and Andrew Wu
When Steve Smith announced before the one-day international in Sydney that Glenn Maxwell had been fined for "disrespectful" comments about Matthew Wade over the Victorian batting order, he said it had been a decision he had come to in consultation with the Australian team's "leadership group".
The term is a well-worn one in the AFL and NRL but hasn't had anywhere near as much air time in cricket, where the captain, and more recently the coach as well, have traditionally called the shots.
David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon celebrate a wicket.Credit: Getty Images
Darren Lehmann, however, says it is a concept that has operated quietly behind the scenes, certainly since he became Australia's head coach in 2013. Smith, as captain, is actually not a formal member of the group – the current members are vice-captain David Warner and fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood – and the coach says it's designed to give the senior players a voice at the decision-making table.
"I've had that wherever I've gone really," Lehmann said on Thursday. "I think that's a good idea because sometimes they might have a problem with the coach or the skipper, so it's a good idea to have those senior players, and the skipper working closely with that leadership group. As staff we sit back and let them go with that.
"It gives them responsibility for how they want the team to run and perform and act and all those sorts of things. We've had that the past four years ... it's just chopped and changed depending on who's playing and selection a little bit. Now we've got a core group they can pretty much do it and run it."
Leadership members: Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.Credit: Getty Images
The Australian team also has a separate "fines committee" that's been called into action occasionally for comparably trivial matters such as when Chris Rogers turned up late to the public reception at the Opera House three years ago after giving it a nudge celebrating the Ashes whitewash the night before.
Faf 'clear case' of cheating
While we're on the subject of committees, there was a significant meeting of another in Mumbai this week. The MCC World Cricket Committee, a body which meets twice a year to discuss issues in the game and propose law changes to the ICC, resolved at its latest meeting in Mumbai that the rules around ball tampering did not need altering, as had been suggested by South Africa after the the Faf du Plessis episode in the second Test in Hobart.
Faf du Plessis caught polishing the ball with minty saliva.
Du Plessis' appeal hearing has been set down for December 19 but if it was up to the MCC committee's head of cricket, rather than an independent commissioner, to determine the South Africa captain's guilt or innocence then it would be pretty clear cut. "He put his finger straight on to the mint, straight on to the ball and was caught on camera. It was a clear case of ball tampering," said John Stephenson, who also sits on the ICC cricket committee.
Mistaken identity
Mitchell Marsh is still getting the love from the fans despite his recent run of outs – or so it seems. The all-rounder, fresh off a whirlwind 76 off 40 balls, received a warm welcome at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday from an enthusiastic autograph hunter who wanted his miniature bat signed. As Marsh left to board the team bus, the fan turned to The Tonk and asked: "Was that Pat Cummins?"
Thunder all the rage
If you wanted proof winners are grinners take a look at Sydney Thunder. The reigning Big Bash League titleholders are already proving a hit with the fans before the tournament has even started. The western Sydney franchise is expecting a crowd of 5000 this weekend for a warm-up game against Hong Kong in Orange and another 10,000 for the clash with Melbourne Stars in Albury. It is also expecting 10,000 fans for the clash with a touring Bangladesh team at Spotless Stadium. Bangladesh, coached by former Thunder boss Chandika Hathurusingha, are stopping by on their way to New Zealand. While it's essentially the national team playing, due to commercial obligations back home they cannot be referred to as Bangladesh in this game so instead are flying under the banner of the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI.
Women take centre stage
There is still a week and a half to go until opening night of the BBL at Spotless Stadium but the Women's BBL get under way with all eight franchises involved over two days at North Sydney Oval on Saturday and Sunday. Channel Ten is broadcasting four of the matches, including a prime-time fixture between Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars after the news on Saturday, but with free entry and all number of kids activities it's worth getting along to the ground.