Australia cricketers unhappy with sacking of physio David Beakley ahead of Pakistan Tests

Australian team physio David Beakley has found himself to be the latest casualty of the shuffle post-2021-22 Ashes which has claimed former head coach Justin Langer and team manager, Gavin Dovey. However, if reports are to be believed, several Australian cricketers have expressed their unhappiness over Cricket Australia’s (CA) decision to remove Beakley, who is known to be popular, just days before the Kangaroos were set to kick off their tour of Pakistan after nearly two and half decades.

A report in foxsports.com.au on Wednesday, March 2, headlined ‘Disappointing sacking sparks Aussie tensions as blindsided players query payback plot’ said Beakley’s departure “has now raised question over whether CA is trying to send a message to the players that it’s still in charge”. Beakley was known to be particularly tight with Australia’s speedsters and shared a rapport with the players who were left shocked with his dismissal.

The report about Beakley’s sacking was first reported on Tuesday, March 1, which read that move was made to “send a message to the players that it’s (Cricket Australia) still in charge”. However, the Australian cricket board “strongly” denied the suggestion, according to the daily.

CA’s team performance boss Ben Oliver informed the players and the support staff about Beakley’s departure via an email just days before the Australian squad was scheduled to board the Islamabad-bound flight, the report said.

It was reported that a number of cricketers were “left disappointed” by the physio’s ouster and “confused by the lack of explanation provided by Oliver”.

“This message is to advise that David Beakley will be finishing up in his role as Physiotherapist with the Australian men’s team this week,” Oliver wrote in the email seen by News Corp. “Following assessment of the team’s needs, and review of the requirements to support these needs, it has been determined that change in the role of Physiotherapist is in the best interests of the team and Australian cricket moving forward,” it said.

Players had to move on, says Lyon

Ace Australia spinner Nathan Lyon said after reaching Islamabad that the news of Beakley’s removal was “disappointing” but the players had no option but to move on.

Beakley had been serving as the physio since 2015 and he played a big role in keeping Australia’s fast bowlers fit since, particularly Test skipper Pat Cummins who struggled with injury in the early days of his career.

Australia will play three Tests, as many one-day internationals and one T20 international during their month-long tour of Pakistan, the first since 1998.