The feud between Cricket Australia and the players has intensified, with Australian Cricketers Association CEO Alistair Nicholson slamming Trevor Hohns for his comments on Cameron White.
Hohns labelled White's international career as "nothing earth shattering" on Wednesday, following the Victorian's criticism of the national selectors picking a "development team" for the ODI series in New Zealand.
Nicholson leapt to White's defence on Thursday morning, tweeting that Hohns comments were "disrespectful to someone who has represented Australia 139 times in all formats."
Nicholson reiterated his concerns in a press release on Thursday, saying White is entitled to his views.
"Cameron is entitled to express his views, and Trevor Hohns and others from CA are entitled to disagree."
"But to reduce the discussion to a negative critique of Cameron White's career is playing the man, not the ball. Cameron continues to give his heart and soul to the game, his State and has been recognised as a Captain of his country. He deserves better," Nicholson said.
Nicholson added that there was a growing sense amongst players and the ACA that any public comment would be met with a disproportionate response by CA.
"It is important that the players and the ACA are able to have a robust, but respectful engagement with Cricket Australia. The game will only benefit from a healthy and constructive exchange of views and information - both on and off the field, extending to issues such as financial transparency around MOU negotiations, BBL expansion or the future of female cricket," he said.
"Personal commentary and sensitivity to worthwhile questioning does nothing to promote the constructive relationship we seek - the dialogue between the players and the administrators must be better than this."
