FORMER Test cricketer Gavin Robertson has revealed why he believes Cricket Australia is facing its most important 12 months in 40 years.

The culture of the Australian men’s cricket team is at a crossroads after three of its players were involved in the Cape Town cheating scandal in March.

Robertson said the team and its fans have since become disconnected, which requires immediate strong leadership at administration level to be repaired.

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“It’s probably the most important 12 months for Cricket Australia, maybe since World Series Cricket,” Robertson told Fox Sports’ Bill & Boz.

“It’s important to get to where we were, and [think]: ‘Why were we so successful? Where are we heading?’ And just make strong decisions ... because we want to be in the position we were 15 years ago.”

He added: “Don’t see it as a job, see it as a chance for legacy.”

Robertson spoke on Tuesday night as CA reportedly formed a subcommittee to address a report being compiled on the culture of Australian cricket, according to Sydney Morning Herald.

Insiders told the publication of an alleged “disconnect” between administrators and the Australian cricket team, and a feeling among players that little would be done to punish aggressive on-field behaviour.

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Robertson said the Australian cricket team and its fans have become disconnected, which will require strong leadership from CA to be repaired. Source: Getty Images

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor and retired paceman Michael Kasprowicz form half of the four-person committee.

Robertson stressed the importance of the team repairing its public image, but said the challenges don’t end there for Australian cricket.

“The biggest things that need to happen is the Australian cricket team needs to very much connect back to its public over the next 12 months,” said Robertson, who played four Tests and 13 one-day internationals for Australia in the 1990s.

“The Australian cricket team needs to very much connect back to its public,” said Robertson, who played four Tests and 13 one-day internationals for Australia in the 1990s. Source: News Corp Australia

“We’re obviously going to have T20 doing what it does, but we’re also going to have a bunch of teams, state teams that need to be lifted and put back into the public framework where kids want to be Sheffield Shield cricketers and still want to be one-day cricketers, because that’s not going to go.

“Cricket won’t survive just on T20. It can survive commercially, but you’ve got to do a sporting job.”

He added: “It’s not about money and winning the budget, it’s about legacy.”