CA fines Sydney Sixers for Hayley Silver-Holmes playing gaffe

Sydney Sixers have been fined $25,000 by Cricket Australia (CA) for the administrative error of playing Hayley Silver-Holmes although she was not part of the original 15-member squad during their Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) fixture against Melbourne Renegades on Saturday (November 21).



Silver-Holmes, who was out with injury for two weeks was replaced by Alisha Bates in the squad, was named in the starting XI without getting approval from the WBBL technical committee. During the second innings of the match, it came to notice that relevant paperwork was not submitted for her inclusion and she was replaced by Maddy Darke in the field.



On Sunday, Sixers appeared in front of Alan Sullivan QC, CA’s Senior Conduct Commissioner, for the hearing of the matter. During the hearing Sullivan imposed a sanction of $25,000 considering the serious nature of the breach, $15,000 of which was suspended for 12 months.



Further sanctions and the maximum penalty of $50,000 weren’t imposed as Sullivan acknowledged Sixers decision to report the breach and subsequent removal of the player in question.



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“We made a regrettable administrative error for which there are understandably stringent rules,” said Jodie Hawkins, General Manager of Sixers. “We were given a fair opportunity to present our case in the hearing and accept the findings and sanction. As a club we will learn from this and put processes in place for the future.”



Sean Carroll, CA’s head of integrity and security, emphasised on the importance CA places in the integrity of all the competitions, player contracting rules and regulations.



“Cricket Australia places a significant emphasis on the integrity of all competitions, including the compliance with its player contracting rules and regulations. This breach by the Sydney Sixers, while serious in nature, had a reduced impact due to the Club’s actions during last night’s game,” he said.



“As such, we support the findings of Alan Sullivan QC, including the suspension of $15,000 of the $25,000 fine imposed.”