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Cricket Australia's shock decision to ban Ashes stars from talking to the ABC was driven by the players themselves, it has been reported.
The national broadcaster was told no team members would be made available for interviews after day two of the Sydney Test due to anger over remarks made by former fast bowler Stuart Clark.
Speaking on the ABC, Clark suggested chief selector George Bailey was a yes-man who lacked the power to say no to coach Andrew McDonald, while also questioning the credentials of head of cricket James Allsopp.
Clark said: 'James Allsopp who runs cricket in Australia, the head of cricket, community cricket, is a grade club cricket coach that throws underarm balls to kids.
'[Ben Oliver] runs high-performance cricket, but I'm not really sure what he does now.
'Then you have George [Bailey], who is the chairman of selectors. Does he have the gravitas or the leadership skills to tell Andrew McDonald and Steve Smith or Pat Cummins what to do? He should do, 100 per cent, but I don't think he does.'
The Aussie cricket team (pictured after winning the fifth Ashes Test) were behind the shock decision to ban the ABC from talking to stars in Sydney, it has been reported
Former Aussie Test star Stuart Clark (pictured) infuriated Cricket Australia and the team when he criticised chief selector George Bailey and head of cricket James Allsopp
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Green responded by labelling the attack on the pair 'out of order' and bringing in the ban.
Now a report claims the decision was driven by the players, not the top brass at Cricket Australia.
'I'm told the playing group led the decision to snub the ABC, backed up by the CA media department who had told the national broadcaster all would be forgiven if an apology was issued - which the ABC refused to do,' the Australian's Andrew Webster reported.
Steve Smith - who captained the side in Sydney in the absence of Pat Cummins - and paceman Mitchell Starc have launched staunch defences of Bailey in response to Clark's criticism.
Bailey has come under repeated criticism from past players since he took over as chief selector in 2021, including Steve Waugh questioning if was willing to make tough calls ahead of this summer.
In that time Australia have won their maiden T20 World Cup, an ODI World Cup in India, a World Test Championship final, retained the Ashes in England and beat both them and India at home.
Smith claimed after day five in Sydney that he was not aware of Clark's comments or the ABC boycott, but questioned why anyone would be critical of Bailey.
'He's done a wonderful job for a long time,' Smith said.
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg (pictured) described Clark's comments as 'out of order' as the national broadcaster was refused access to Aussie stars
Steve Smith (pictured after winning the fifth Test) has launched a strong defence of Bailey
'Since he's been in charge, we've made a couple of Test Championship finals. We've played really good cricket.
'We've won this series 4-1. So what more is there to say?'
During Bailey's tenure, Australia have left Nathan Lyon out of pink-ball Tests in Jamaica and Brisbane.
Travis Head was recalled in the middle order and now moved up to open, while Alex Carey was cut as wicketkeeper one game into Australia's successful 2023 ODI World Cup.
Mitch Marsh was also dropped last summer, while Starc was left out for games during both of the past two T20 World Cups.
'The greatest thing with George is it's never a sugar-coating conversation,' Starc said.
'He'll tell you straight up whether it's conditions-based, role-based or the like.
'That's how I can speak on that relationship with George as a selector.
'As Steve said, I think every move that George and the selection panel have made this series, it's a 4-1 result.
'And they have made some tough decisions, not just this series, but even going back a series before. So to sit here 4-1, I think they've done a fantastic job.'