Hugh Marks intervenes in mid-Test feud between Cricket Australia and ABC

A mid-Test feud between Cricket Australia and the ABC over comments made during commentary by former player Stuart Clark required the intervention of the managing director of the national broadcaster Hugh Marks.

Marks last night phoned Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg to complain after the ABC was denied access to a player for interview following play on Tuesday, despite holding radio broadcast rights for this summer’s Ashes series.

The step was seen as punishment for comments made by Clark on ABC Radio on Monday criticising head selector George Bailey and senior CA executives James Allsopp and Ben Oliver.

As a result of Marks’s phone call, ABC Radio is set to be granted a post-play interview with an Australian cricketer after stumps on day four of the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG today.

While there is no contractual obligation for Cricket Australia to provide a player to the ABC after play, the decision not to do so after day three was understood to be linked to the comments made by Clark.

CA was particularly stung by them as Clark is a Cricket NSW board member and selector of the NSW side.

CA chief executive Todd Greenberg and ABC managing director Hugh Marks.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen/Getty

Clark questioned the authority of Bailey, Allsopp and Oliver within the national set-up.

“James Allsopp, who runs the cricket in Australia, the head of cricket, is a grade club coach that throwns underarm balls to kids,” Clark said. “That’s what his background is. He’s a lovely guy, don’t get me wrong. But he now runs the whole of cricket. He can’t tell [Australia coach] Andrew McDonald or [acting captain] Steve Smith what to do.

“[Ben Oliver], he runs high-performance cricket, but I’m not really sure what he does now. Then you have George Bailey, who is the chairman of selectors. Does he have the gravitas or the leadership skills to tell Andrew McDonald and Steve Smith, or Pat Cummins, what to do?”

Greenberg said on Tuesday the comments were “unwarranted” and “out of order”, describing them as a personal attack.

Stuart Clark was back on ABC commentary duties on Wednesday.Credit: AP

Clark later sought Greenberg out at the SCG to discuss the issue and the pair met near the CA suite in the Victor Trumper Stand.

After the ABC was denied a post-play interview, Marks phoned Greenberg to express his displeasure, according to sources speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.

Clark was present at the SCG on Wednesday and will continue his commentary role with the ABC, which is standing by the former Test bowler. Clark is also the chief executive of Softball NSW.

ABC broadcaster Corbin Middlemas said on air before play on Wednesday it was the ABC’s understanding the interview ban was limited to one day.

“Cricket Australia were unhappy about it,” Middlemas said.

Clark also addressed the interview snub on Wednesday, saying he stood by his comments.

“It was a quiet old day yesterday. I felt very fulfilled and content with my day,” Clark said.
“We want to see the cricket and hear from the players. It is part of the reason the broadcasters pay so much for the rights. I hope we get to talk someone who scores a hundred or scores a five-fer.

“The amount of people who have reached out to me [who] I haven’t spoken to in years … I’m fine. I had a good night’s sleep. It’s my opinion. Personally, I’ve moved on and it’s not causing any grief in my life.”

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Greenberg said he had made his position clear to Clark.

“I’m not going to get into a war of words with Stuart because I’ve got very high regard for him, but when I think that someone’s got it wrong, I’ll say it,” Greenberg said.

“On this occasion, I thought he overstepped the mark by talking not just about the decisions, but individually about people. I thought that was personal. I said that to him.”

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