3 minute read

A round of golf has proven expensive for Melbourne Renegades allrounder Will Sutherland, who has been fined $5000 by Cricket Australia for a biosecurity breach.

Young allrounder Will Sutherland has escaped with a $5000 fine for his breach of Cricket Australia's biosecurity protocols.

Sutherland was booked under Cricket Australia's code of conduct after playing golf on January 21 in Melbourne.

Numerous Big Bash League players have used golf as a temporary escape from the bubble in recent weeks.

Sutherland's mistake was that he played a round and dined with individuals who weren't part of the BBL Hub.

CA has promised zero tolerance for such mishaps, with its COVID-19 rules a critical part of pushing on with the Twenty20 competition during the pandemic.

Brisbane Heat's Chris Lynn and Dan Lawrence were each fined $10,000 - $4,000 of which was suspended - in December because of breaches.

The governing body intended to issue the same penalty for Sutherland, who is the son of former CA chief executive James Sutherland.

The 21-year-old, who represented Australia A earlier this summer and is part of Melbourne Renegades' squad, accepted the charge but challenged the sanction.

Sutherland had the fine downgraded to $5,000 at Monday's code-of-conduct hearing.

CA confirmed Sutherland's punishment on the same day he was named 'Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year' as part of its annual awards night.

"We were really lucky to be playing and doing what our jobs are, with the pandemic going on," Sutherland said, when presented with the gong.

"Obviously a few players had to sacrifice a bit.

"I'd like to pay a big thanks to Cricket Australia and the ACA (players' union) for all the work that they were able to do, to make sure we were able to play in those competitions."

Brett Lee, Shane Watson and David Warner are some of the big names to have received the youth award named in honour of Don Bradman.