No batsmen interviews, says Sutherland - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

No batsmen interviews, says Sutherland

By Jim Morton 19/10/2006 07:14:57 PM Comments (0)

Cricket Australia won't allow television interviews of dismissed batsmen as they leave the field during this summer's Ashes.

The huge interest in Australia's fight to regain the Ashes has seen long-time broadcaster Channel Nine attempt to increase its coverage, including on-field questioning of players.

Nine has broken with tradition and recruited Stephanie Brantz from SBS to be the commentary team's on-field interviewer.

Brantz has said her role will be to talk to the cricketers as they step past the boundary rope on and off the field during the five-Test series, which starts on November 23 in Brisbane.

"There might be some bats flying around if someone has just got a duck," she told The Courier-Mail.

But CA chief executive James Sutherland said there would be set limits on Nine's coverage, prohibiting questions of aggrieved batsmen.

"You're not going to see people talking to them straight after they have got out, that wouldn't be appropriate," Sutherland told AAP.

"There has to be some parameters that are appropriate to the circumstances."

His comments come as Victorian officials were incensed that a female Perth television reporter questioned Shane Warne about his marriage as he returned to the WACA dressing room after being dismissed in a Pura Cup game.

Australia's 25 contracted players discussed Nine's desire for an up-close-and-personal coverage during August's controversial boot camp in Queensland.

Sutherland and the players' union said the players were open to helping provide a better viewing coverage but it couldn't come at a cost to their roles in the game.

"The players are more than happy to encourage the coverage as long as their boundaries are respected," the Australian Cricket Association spokesperson said.

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