Mystery over outcome of Geraldton policeman and Sportsman cricketer Glenn Wishart’s cricket tribunal hearing

Mystery surrounds the outcome of a rarely convened cricket tribunal hearing this week to deal with an on-field scuffle between a local senior policeman and a rival batsman, with cricket bosses remaining quiet on what punishments, if any, have been dished out. The Geraldton Guardian exclusively reported on the dust-up last Friday between Sgt Glenn Wishart, a bowler for Sportsmans, and Chapman Valley-Northampton batsman Andrew Cripps in their T20 clash a fortnight ago. It resulted in the Geraldton Cricket Association holding its first tribunal hearing in 10 years on Wednesday night. The Guardian asked to be at the hearing, but GCA president and tribunal chairman Nic Rafanelli said it was a closed hearing, adding “one way or another, something will be resolved”. When told the Guardian would contact him yesterday, Mr Rafanelli said “you probably won’t be told anything”. And that is just what happened — repeated phone calls, emails and text messages to confirm the outcome of the hearing went unanswered. An unnamed witness told the Guardian last week Sgt Wishart delivered a foul-mouthed spray at Cripps on his follow-through after bowling him for 13. Cripps, who works at an independent rural supplies store in Webberton, then lifted a shoulder while walking off and Sgt Wishart reportedly retaliated by grabbing Mr Cripps’ helmet. The batsman allegedly raised his bat as the two clashed. The pair grappled for some time before being separated. When contacted last week, Sgt Wishart — who was in fine form during the match, taking 5-16 — played down the incident, saying there was “nothing in it”.