When he dared to indict the Aussies in the claims by labelling them the biggest fixers of all, the out rage was palpable. James Sutherland labelled the claims as 'baseless and outlandish', Nathan Bracken had his lawyer on spread dial threatening to sue, and others labelled the claims as 'appalling'. Such as Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers' Association.

 

In truth all these powerful men making loud noises on their soap boxes made you think in a manner that you logically do when confronted by this occurrence in life.

 

That their collective reactions made one believe threads of truth might exist in the claims.

 

For all they had to do to kill the words from Mr Majeed was simply say this,

 

'We cordially invite anyone that has any doubts about the credibility of Cricket Australia or it's players to come in with auditors and investigators, and we will provide them with any information they so desire"

 

They failed to adequately kill it, and in truth fuelled the controversy, to the point that quite literally the wax fell out of every cricket fans ears on hearing the claims.

 

For it is ok to point the finger at players from an Asian Country in regards to being corrupt, but dare to mention an Aussie as having any connection and this will be the reaction.

 

Strange, when you take into account that out of a population of 21 million, it is reported that collectively, Australian's gamble $11 billion per annum or roughly $523 for every Aussie. The number actually a lot bigger by the estimated 26% of the population, who are under the legal gambling age of 18.

 

Then lets face it the Aussie's have form in this regard, remember Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and 'John the Bookmaker' ?

 

Away from the Aussies, its been a known fact since the beginning of time, and the Garden of Eden, that human Nature covets the forbidden fruits. 

 

So all this talk about education, or pay scales or the threat of severe punishments is just a load of old codswallop. True lip service, only serving to show a denial and ignorance of the real depth of the issue. View the tragic case of Hansie Cronje to understand this.

 

In a somewhat surreal and sadistic sense, Cricket as a whole needs to thank Mr Majeed. For with  the furore of his claims, the results have been embodied in this Shane Watson quote,

 

'We never want anything to happen to the game but with all these allegations flying around people, not just within cricket but outside cricket, start to question exactly certain things that happen in games,' (SkyNews)

 

Which in effect, starts to restore credibility through the attention brought to a Cancer that has eaten away the very fabric of the game.

 

This is a great result, but it needs to be taken further by the ICC and Associated Cricket Boards being more vigilant in the scheduling of ODI series or cash cow T20 games. That are nothing more than meaningless series, and prime targets for fixers as embodied in these thoughts.

 

Game after game means cricket is not as special as it used to be. Some matches do not hold great significant and that leads to the possibility of corruption. Would a fixer target a game in the spotlight or one under the radar? (ROAR)

 

Many have also called for gambling to be legalised as a way to track any possible corruption more easily, but this is fundamentally flawed. For any bets that were in regard to a fix would be done in the secrecy of a black market set up, rather than with any hint of detection.

 

The key is the pro-activity of the ICC as viewed in it's scheduling of games before, but also its investigations. In truth these should be conducted in the same manner as random drug tests are conducted for athletes. In regards to target a Nation, and it's players, and send in investigators and auditors to go through all it's dealings without any pre warning. 

 

For it is easier to catch a cheat when he thinks their is no focus on him, rather than when it is touted that he is under suspicion.

 

If this was undertaken, I am near certain, it would uncover more cheats from all Nations, and in the long run cleanse the game of its unwanted stigma.

 

Restoring the games credibility, for which we as fans so desperately desire.

By : Tim Holt