TASMANIAN batting great Jamie Cox has been sacked as South Australian Cricket Association high performance chief after a Cricket Australia investigation into alleged breaches of Big Bash League contracting rules.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The investigation, which involves recruiting for the Adelaide Strikers during a BBL embargo period, is still going but Cox, the former Tigers captain and Australian selector, was a shock, high-profile casualty.
It's not the first time the SACA has been in trouble for acting outside the domestic contract rules, having been fined $15,000 last year for trying to poach Victorian spinner James Muirhead.
``On Tuesday, May 20, Cricket Australia contacted SACA to advise that player recruitment activities undertaken on behalf of the Adelaide Strikers during the league's embargo period were under investigation for possible contravention of the BBL Player Contracting and Remuneration Guidelines,'' SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw said.
He added that the SACA would co-operate with the investigation.
``However, the internal review has thus far revealed that Jamie has failed to comply with SACA's own policies and expectations and it is for that reason that he has been dismissed.''
Cricket Australia would not divulge details of players other than to say its ``integrity unit is investigating the SACA for potential breaches of CA regulations relating to the contracting of Big Bash League players ahead of BBL04''.
The shock news came as South Australian and Strikers batsman Callum Ferguson signed with Melbourne Renegades during the BBL's first trade week, and Nathan Reardon moved to Brisbane Heat.
Burnie-born Cox, 44, remains one of Tasmania's most distinguished batsmen, scoring 18614 runs at 42.69 in 264 first-class matches with his home state and English county side Somerset.
After retiring from playing, he worked in the media and as a consultant with the Tasmanian Institute of Sport before replacing Allan Border as a national selector and assuming his role with SACA.