Australia’s Test cricketers in Pakistan were blindsided by the shock sacking of popular team physio David Beakley.
Just days out from the first Test on Friday, Beakley was given his marching orders, becoming the latest casualty in the great post-summer shuffle that has also claimed Justin Langer and team manager Gavin Dovey.
Unlike Langer, however, Beakley had the full support of the players who have been angered by the decision, as The Daily Telegraph reported first.
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The departure of Beakley — who is particularly tight with Australia’s fast bowlers — has now raised the question over whether CA is trying to send a message to the players that it’s still in charge.
The publication understands that some within Australia’s set up may have questioned team performance boss Ben Oliver over whether that is the case.
CA strongly denies this suggestion, according to The Daily Telegraph.
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Oliver informed players and staff via email just three days before Beakley was due to leave with the Australians for Pakistan last month that he had been sacked.
A number of sources confirmed to the publication that players have been left extremely disappointed by Beakley’s departure 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.”
Speaking to reporters from Islamabad ahead of Friday’s first Test, veteran off-spin bowler Nathan Lyon said the news was “disappointing” but the players had to move on.
“Obviously it was pretty disappointing news from a player point of view, but in saying that it’s out of our control,” Lyon said.
“We don’t make the big decisions on that, so we’ll leave it up to CA and everyone else involved.
“But it was disappointing to hear, obviously we’ve got a very close relationship with Beats. He was a very professional physio and someone who I personally loved working with.
“It is disappointing, but we’ve just got to move on.”
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Beakley had been in the role since 2015 and Australia’s quicks have been relatively fit since, particularly Pat Cummins who struggled with injury earlier in his career.
Former Australia star James Pattinson told The Daily Telegraph that Beakley was “up there with one of the best physios” he’s ever had.
Reflecting on news of Beakley’s departure, another former player, Ryan Harris, told SEN: “The physio was my best mate when I played.
“Someone I trust hugely and he was the one that did a lot of work to get you back on the park.”
The Daily Telegraph reports that there is ongoing tensions between players and Oliver, who shared a close working relationship with Langer.
The pair also worked together at Western Australia, which helped his case in landing a job at CA.
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