Cricket: Waugh fails to detect right way to catch cheats

Steve Waugh. Photo / File

Bring back the News of the World or, more specifically, fake sheikh Mazher Mahmood,

At least when that scribe donned his robes for action he could catch the lousiest reprobate in the cricket spot-fixing act, as happened when Pakistani representatives Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir via player agent Mazhar Majeed were sprung during the Lord's test last August.

The suggestion a lie detector test might match hard graft journalism or other deterrents like severe fines and life bans looks like getting stymied. Why former Australian captain Steve Waugh would link his name to such a flawed test - as head of the MCC's world cricket committee anti-corruption working party - is hard to work out.

Certainly it is borne of frustration, but witnessing Waugh strapped to a machine having various physiological indices tested such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration and skin conductivity in the name of truth was an awkward sight. It smacked of a scene out of a B-grade whodunnit.

It will not solve the problem of spot-fixing, given polygraph responses held as little as 61 per cent validity according to a study of 421 psychologists in the USA Today in 2002. Worse still, some candidates might appear to be lying, and would unfairly suffer the consequences of failing the polygraph.

Waugh's crusade is gaining little traction. It has been flayed by the Federation of International Cricketers Associations led by former team-mate Tim May. He said it is "totally unacceptable that players should be put under pressure to submit to testing that is far from foolproof. To publicly request players to make some stand against corruption, by submitting to this imperfect testing is irresponsible and FICA will oppose such actions in the strongest possible manner".

New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan is also shaking his head, despite acknowledging Waugh has the best interests of the game at heart. "It's a gimmick. It hasn't worked in the criminal justice system. People are looking for innovative ways to cut corruption but this is not one. It only serves to demonstrate a level of frustration at the inability of authorities to detect illegal behaviour."

Despite the farcical nature of Waugh's polygraph policing, he points out there has been no respite in bookmaker approaches. Fifty-six cricketers reported illegal approaches to the ICC last year; only five came forward in 2009.

Education will help, as happens every two years at the under-19 World Cup, but in turn that can open player minds to the concept.

It might sound bland, but the best solution continues to be the simplest: big fines and bans. Take away player means and livelihoods and it delivers the desired ends - and the News of the World can stay buried.