In the wake of Australia’s scandalous tour of South Africa, recently released footage from last year’s Over40T20 Challenge has come to light that Carlos Gonzalez Captain of the 2nd grade “Forty Shades of Grey” has been caught by the opposing team tampering with the ball.
The damning evidence has been presented to the Herbert River Committee who hosts the competition on the first weekend of May. Club Secretary Michael Bain was shocked by the video “This is our fifth year of the competition and it is a fantastic weekend. Not long ago we were voted community event of the year. This is really disappointing and not in the spirit of the game”. So bad was the ball tampering that one opposition player can be heard telling the umpire that it goes behind tampering and is in fact ball molestation.
Management, players and coaching staff for the team have refused comment until further investigation. One official who wishes to remain anonymous responded “The whole thing has been blown totally out of proportion, when you feel the need you just have to go with it.”
Meanwhile the man at the center of the controversy upon hearing the allegations was humble at a press conference showing genuine remorse and his manager had this to say “He realises his captaincy is on the line and will accept any suspension the governing body dishes out.”
Junior Director for Herbert River Cricket Steven Carrara when contacted said “I’m not sure if cricket will recover from this, only time will tell”. Nino Cristafulli from the opposing team “Builders and Diggers and one of the more vocal of the players on the field at the time had this to say “It was not pleasant to watch”. Queensland BBL hero and reverse swing specialist Chris Lynn when contacted said “Everyone does it”. I’m not sure about that Chris as there is a time and a place and it certainly doesn’t make it right. Billy Birmingham from 12th man fame said “It’s just not cricket”.
Looking back at the footage it was a really ugly incident and everyone’s thinking what would Richie say? Needless to say we haven’t heard the last of this issue stay posted as further information unfolds or check out all the action of the Herbert River Cricket Association “Hinchinbrook Hotel” Over40T20 Challenge May 4th-6th 2018 at Butler Park.
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