MELBOURNE, Nov 1: Former Zimbabwe Test batsman Murray Goodwin escaped with a reprimand on Saturday after pleading guilty to breaching Cricket Australia’s code of behaviour.

Goodwin, who plays for Western Australia, earned 19 Test caps before quitting international cricket in 2000 and helped Sussex win their first English county championship this summer.

The 30-year-old was charged by the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) under Rule 9 of Section 1 of the code for making detrimental public comment regarding the selection process of the Zimbabwe test team.

“He suggested that race played a part in such selection,” Cricket Australia (CA) code of behaviour commissioner Alan Sullivan said in a statement.

Goodwin’s comments, which came on the eve of last month’s two-test series between Australia and Zimbabwe, were “inappropriately timed” and “potentially harmful to the interests of cricket”, Sullivan said.

Goodwin’s case was due to be heard in Sydney on Saturday but the player entered a guilty plea on Friday.

WACA chief executive Kath White, who brought the charge against Goodwin, said it was regretful that the situation arose.—Reuters