These competitions are held in remote places in India on private grounds, and have been set up purely for betting. Gamblers can bet and follow the games on live streams.

The organisers of these events, which are not controlled by the local board, then progress to larger Twenty20 tournaments where there is more money on offer. Officials believe these people are behind approaches that occur in international cricket.

Three international captains in the past two months have been approached. All reported the illicit offers to the International Cricket Council within the hour.

The names of two captains, Zimbabwe's Graeme Cremer and Pakistan's Sarfraz Ahmed, have been leaked. The Tonk has been told the other skipper is not Steve Smith.

In two instances, the intermediary - a person used by fixers who is known to the cricketer - was identified by the captain and apprehended. They are likely to be charged by the ICC.

Strauss not coming back

England team director Andrew Strauss will not be returning to Australia for the Ashes. Strauss' wife, Ruth, has been diagnosed with cancer. The former captain had been criticised for heading home while the visitors were under fire after a string of off-field indiscretions.

Managing up

England's bar-room troubles in the past three months have led them to contemplate adding someone to their already bulky touring staff who would have direct responsibility for player discipline, leaving Trevor Bayliss to simply coach the team.

Our friends at the London Telegraph report that among the roles of the proposed position of team manager would be fronting up on issues such as security and off-field drama, which a far-from-pleased Bayliss has had to do on this Ashes tour.

Broad view

As we know, the English have found some ways to get into trouble off the field, but this pastime of Stuart Broad's is a bit more wholesome. An avid photographer, Broad filmed the entire first day's play at the WACA Ground on his phone - from his hotel room.

The star quick is taking advantage of the plush view from his hotel balcony, which overlooks the WACA Ground and the nearby new Optus Stadium. He has already sent out one project from his Instagram account, which showed the sunset and the lights coming on at Perth's two major cricket venues.

Friends in high places

It has been more than two years since Wally Edwards retired as chairman of Cricket Australia, but he can still pull a crowd when the Australian cricket caravan turns up in Perth.

The former Test batsman had an event on match eve here to mark the opening of a new head office for his company, Holman Industries, which makes irrigation, gardening and lighting products. The MC was James Sutherland and John Howard officially opened the office.

Big flush

Speaking of cutting ribbons, it won't be long until the new Optus Stadium is officially opened for a sold-out one-day international between Australia and England next month. However, a very important event has already taken place at the 60,000-seat venue.

Staff this week spread out and conducted a ceremonial, simultaneous flushing of all the stadium's toilets, to test its sewage capacity. It's important to get it right. The Tonk remembers being at a Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington where the sewage was flowing down the driveway behind the ground.