The CEO of sportswear company Skins has penned a scathing open letter to the board of Cricket Australia.
Jaimie Fuller, whose company once chose former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh to be the face of its products, published the letter as a full page ad.
His statement came as Australia crashed to a 322-run defeat in the Third Test against South Africa after admitting to cheating a day earlier.
Australian captain Steve Smith was booed off the field as wickets tumbled and later took refuge in their hotel where they were hounded by reporters outside.
The CEO of sportswear company Skins has penned a scathing open letter to the board of Cricket Australia (pictured is Cameron Bancroft)
‘Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time to act. What you are presiding over is our national sport,’ the letter began (pictured is Jaimie Fuller)
Former captain Steve Waugh (pictured) was the face of a Skins advertising campaign in the late 90s
‘Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time to act. What you are presiding over is our national sport,’ the letter began.
‘The Australian cricket team is one of the most beloved national teams in the country.
Mr Fuller writes that cricket is part of the national psyche, so much so that it helps define right and wrong.
He then demands CA ‘get your job right’ after saying cricket ‘does not belong to you. You are the custodians of it.
His statement came as Australia crashed to a 322-run defeat in the Third Test against South Africa after admitting to cheating a day earlier (pictured are Cameron Bancroft, left, and Steve Smith, right)
Mr Fuller writes that cricket is part of the national psyche, so much so that it helps define right and wrong (pictured is the open letter)
Next Mr Fuller brings up the nasty pay dispute which put the last Ashes series in jeopardy, calling it a ‘terrible chapter in cricket’s history’.
‘So I’m putting you on notice, because this is our sport, not just yours,’ he wrote.
‘You need to tell us who is behind this, who came up with the idea, who agreed to it, who knew about it.
The letter comes as Cricket Australia begin a full investigation into the ball tampering scandal, one that could lead to a life ban for Steve Smith.
The letter comes as Cricket Australia begin a full investigation into the ball tampering scandal, one that could lead to a life ban for Steve Smith (pictured with fiancee Dani Willis)
CA’s Head of Integrity Iain Roy began interviewing players involved and coaching staff in South Africa as part of the investigation the cheating scandal.
Code of behaviour charges are expected to follow, leading to a verdict by an independent commissioner.
If the commissioner finds those involved guilty, they could then impose the maximum penalty of a life ban for conduct contrary to the spirit of the game.
Smith and vice captain David Warner were already sacked midway through the Third Test, after pressure from all sides.
Smith was also slapped with a one-match ban and fined 100 per cent of his match fee by the ICC.
Cameron Bancroft, who was caught on camera ball tampering, was handed three demerit points and a 75 pe rcent fine of his match fee.
The opening batsman escaped a ban and is available for selection in the final Test of the series, starting in Johannesburg on Friday.
Cameron Bancroft, who was caught on camera ball tampering (pictured), was handed three demerit points and a 75 pe rcent fine of his match fee
Jaimie Fuller, whose company once chose former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh to be the face of its products, published the letter as a full page ad (pictured is Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland)