‘Bangladesh tour on schedule’

Taylor optimistic of a potential compromise

Mark Taylor, the former Australian captain and current board director of Cricket Australia (CA), said on Tuesday that he was confident the ongoing dispute between the players and the board would not lead to any disruptions during the national team’s upcoming tour to Bangladesh or the southern summer Ashes, reports Wisden India.

Speaking at an event hosted by Channel Nine in Melbourne, Taylor also revealed that a fresh Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was in the process of being drafted, away from public view.

“We’ve got to get together, we’ve got to sort this out and hopefully sooner rather than later,” said Taylor, as 230-odd professional men’s and women’s cricketers in the country remained firm about their decision to not play for any teams under CA until a fresh MOU was in place.

“But I’m very confident we’ll have a side for the Ashes, and I’m also very confident we’ll have a side to go to Bangladesh which is only in a month’s time.

“There’s obviously been a lot of conjecture and speculation about what’s going on. There is stuff going on behind the scenes, there are discussions. Obviously, the stuff that people are reading and hearing is not great for the game. Not good for Cricket Australia, not great for the ACA either.”

The lapse of the previous MoU on June 30, and the lack of a mutual agreement on signing a new one, has left the large pool of current players unemployed. But Taylor, who has held the post of director with the board since 2004, was optimistic of a potential compromise that could help clean up the mess.

“I think we all have to be adult about it. It’s a big game these days,” said the former skipper. “Players are fully professional. Cricket boards are trying to do what they think is right for the game in general, so there’s going to be times when you disagree and that’s where we are at the moment. But I think both sides have to work towards finding a resolution which is in the best interests of the game and the players.

“There’s ongoing discussions and that’s about all I’m going to say, I don’t think people here need to know more than that. But I like to think I’m a positive person – we’ll have Ashes cricket this year.”

The Ashes is scheduled to get underway in Brisbane on November 23, but before that, Australia are due to touch down in Bangladesh on August 18 for a two-Test series.

“From a game point of view, it’s far from ideal. We are in July, the Ashes are still four months away, but the Bangladesh tour is only a month away,” Taylor conceded. “The quicker we can get it resolved the better, the quicker we can move on and rebuild the relationship [that] I think is important between CA and the ACA. The quicker we can start rebuilding that, I think that’ll be good for the game.”

Taylor is the first and only board director to have publicly spoken on the matter so far.

Bangladesh tour on schedule

Taylor optimistic of a potential compromise

Mark Taylor, the former Australian captain and current board director of Cricket Australia (CA), said on Tuesday that he was confident the ongoing dispute between the players and the board would not lead to any disruptions during the national teams upcoming tour to Bangladesh or the southern summer Ashes, reports Wisden India. Speaking at an event hosted by Channel Nine in Melbourne, Taylor also revealed that a fresh Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was in the process of being drafted, away from public view. Weve got to get together, weve got to sort this out and hopefully sooner rather than later, said Taylor, as 230-odd professional mens and womens cricketers in the country remained firm about their decision to not play for any teams under CA until a fresh MOU was in place. But Im very confident well have a side for the Ashes, and Im also very confident well have a side to go to Bangladesh which is only in a months time. Theres obviously been a lot of conjecture and speculation about whats going on. There is stuff going on behind the scenes, there are discussions. Obviously, the stuff that people are reading and hearing is not great for the game. Not good for Cricket Australia, not great for the ACA either. The lapse of the previous MoU on June 30, and the lack of a mutual agreement on signing a new one, has left the large pool of current players unemployed. But Taylor, who has held the post of director with the board since 2004, was optimistic of a potential compromise that could help clean up the mess. I think we all have to be adult about it. Its a big game these days, said the former skipper. Players are fully professional. Cricket boards are trying to do what they think is right for the game in general, so theres going to be times when you disagree and thats where we are at the moment. But I think both sides have to work towards finding a resolution which is in the best interests of the game and the players. Theres ongoing discussions and thats about all Im going to say, I dont think people here need to know more than that. But I like to think Im a positive person well have Ashes cricket this year. The Ashes is scheduled to get underway in Brisbane on November 23, but before that, Australia are due to touch down in Bangladesh on August 18 for a two-Test series. From a game point of view, its far from ideal. We are in July, the Ashes are still four months away, but the Bangladesh tour is only a month away, Taylor conceded. The quicker we can get it resolved the better, the quicker we can move on and rebuild the relationship [that] I think is important between CA and the ACA. The quicker we can start rebuilding that, I think thatll be good for the game. Taylor is the first and only board director to have publicly spoken on the matter so far.