A Brisbane club, Northern Suburbs, declared their first innings on 14-1 against the University of Queensland in the state’s Premier Cricket first-grade competition, which sparked outcry.
After Queensland racked up 675, the Suburbs cut their innings prematurely in the hope of avoiding the same opposition in the semi-final by manipulating the standings.
But after cries of foul play from the opposition and the other two semi-finalists – Valley and Western Suburbs – Northern Suburbs took home zero points from the fixture. The club was handed further penalty and their actions will have an effect on next summer’s competition – they have been docked 12 points and been banned from hosting a semi-final or final fixture.
The sanctions were imposed after the tournament committee deemed the Northern Suburbs’ move to be “detrimental to the game or the spirit of the game”. While the first-innings result could not be reversed, Queensland were given only five points as opposed to the customary 12.
Northern Suburbs (Brisbane) are in a spot of bother over their recent first grade game against University of Queensland. Something about declaring on 1/14 when the opposition has scored 675 https://t.co/nUAhMDJ6GH
— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) March 13, 2019
It meant the Western Suburbs finished at the top of the table with 94 points, followed by Queensland with 92, while Northern Suburbs and Valley took the third and fourth positions respectively.
The standings also meant that Northern Suburbs, for all their trouble, will still end up facing Queensland at the latter’s home venue in the semi-final, while Western Suburbs host Valley.
Northern Suburbs have 14 days to appeal against the punishment.
