As the great Australian cricket tragedy unfolds, and the once untouchable Australian cricket team unravels, I have been astonished to observe the response from the greater Australian public. People who have had no interest in the on field success or failure of our cricketers have nonetheless come forward to express abhorrence and embarrassment at their actions during the Cape Town Test – and indeed during the whole South African tour. And rightly so – this is a stain that will not easily be laundered.

But why, I asked myself – why the new-found interest in sporting culture, sporting antics, sportsmanship? Why do I find myself so upset? Then I heard our Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull add his righteous indignation to the argument. To quote himself –“I think there has to be the strongest action taken against this practice of sledging. It has got right out of control. It should have no place on a cricket pitch. I want to be very clear about this. The game of cricket should be once again held up as a role model and I think that some of the sledging and some of the shocking conduct that we have seen is also part of the process of review and reflection that is going to be undertaken.”

Well, thankyou Malcolm Turnbull. You have helped me to understand. It would appear that even you have conceded, and understand, that whilst the Australian cricket team captain has long been considered the #2 leadership position in Australia – behind that of our Prime Minister (not this Prime Minister, but the position thereof) – Steve Smith has found himself in the #1 position – by a long, long way. So whilst we have sadly come to expect the childish antics, bickering, rorting, name calling and outright lying of our political leaders, we cannot abide this in our sportsmen and women – and certainly not in our cricket captain.

So unfortunately, Steve Smith and David Warner will have to carry the weight of this expectation, and therefore the resultant punishment, for many a year to come. I doubt they realised the importance of their roles, and I’m not sure they would have taken them on knowing how much we demand of these positions. The dearth of role models and the embarrassing antics of those in once esteemed positions, leaves us demanding the unattainable from our cricketing and other sporting heroes. Fair enough perhaps, or perhaps just a bit Utopian. But please, please – no more hypocrisy from political leaders, who should take a long hard look at their own behaviours and activities before throwing the book at these blokes – they themselves should have been sent home many years ago!