Sunday, January 20, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Whats said on the field stays on the field
The Event
and the analysis:
Second video also shows some of the regrettably shameful treatment Symonds got in India at the hands of the Indian spectators.
Anyways, "Whats said on the field stays on the field" -- This is the way Aussies supposedly (used to) play cricket. One very notable thing is that Ricky Ponting felt nothing of violating this Aussie way-of-cricket when he reported Bajju for sledging.
Visualize the scenario: After getting major help from Mr Bucknor, the Aussies managed to erect 450 odd runs. And here were Sachin and Bajju chipping away past that total. And Bajju was mercurial -- slapping the bowlers quite a bit. In Ponting's mind he is thinking man now this f***** is also going to be bowling next to us; that too the fourth/fifth day on Sydney. Most importantly, if Ponting didnt win this match, he would be distinctly a lesser captain than Steve Waugh (recall: This is the test Ponting had to win to equal Waugh's captaincy record streak) -- so he is desperate. Along comes this opportunity where Bajju and Symonds sledge each other. Symonds had been called monkey in India and complained about racism. So Ponting -- in his desperation -- seizes the opportunity and thinks nothing of violating the Aussie way-of-cricket by taking on-field conversation off the field to mind-game Bajju. It did work to some extent I think Bajju was affected by the sceptre of a disciplinary hearing that may conclude he is a racist...
As Mark Taylor said, this is a Pandora's box Ponting has opened. Indians and others would previously feel obliged to not really report sledging to the referee. Now Ponting (of all the people -- the pot calling the kettle black!) has set the precedent...His over-reaching will probably have interesting consequences:
Consequence #1: I will bet more teams will not think a great deal before reporting sledging -- further affecting the Aussie way-of-cricket.
Consequence #2: His over-reaching has already led to ICC meeting a BCCI demand for a Code of Conduct Commissioner...Obviously the whole issue of sledging will be revisited... Eg : Why is it ok to call Ranatunga fatso (because its not a racist comment) while these other things cannot be mouthed ? ... Again the Aussie way-of-cricket will likely be impacted....
Of course Ponting == Steve Waugh for the record; and maybe if our batting capsizes once more Ponting > Steve Waugh. But long term impacts may linger.
More on the amazingly sporting Mr. Ponting:
and the analysis:
Second video also shows some of the regrettably shameful treatment Symonds got in India at the hands of the Indian spectators.
Anyways, "Whats said on the field stays on the field" -- This is the way Aussies supposedly (used to) play cricket. One very notable thing is that Ricky Ponting felt nothing of violating this Aussie way-of-cricket when he reported Bajju for sledging.
Visualize the scenario: After getting major help from Mr Bucknor, the Aussies managed to erect 450 odd runs. And here were Sachin and Bajju chipping away past that total. And Bajju was mercurial -- slapping the bowlers quite a bit. In Ponting's mind he is thinking man now this f***** is also going to be bowling next to us; that too the fourth/fifth day on Sydney. Most importantly, if Ponting didnt win this match, he would be distinctly a lesser captain than Steve Waugh (recall: This is the test Ponting had to win to equal Waugh's captaincy record streak) -- so he is desperate. Along comes this opportunity where Bajju and Symonds sledge each other. Symonds had been called monkey in India and complained about racism. So Ponting -- in his desperation -- seizes the opportunity and thinks nothing of violating the Aussie way-of-cricket by taking on-field conversation off the field to mind-game Bajju. It did work to some extent I think Bajju was affected by the sceptre of a disciplinary hearing that may conclude he is a racist...
As Mark Taylor said, this is a Pandora's box Ponting has opened. Indians and others would previously feel obliged to not really report sledging to the referee. Now Ponting (of all the people -- the pot calling the kettle black!) has set the precedent...His over-reaching will probably have interesting consequences:
Consequence #1: I will bet more teams will not think a great deal before reporting sledging -- further affecting the Aussie way-of-cricket.
Consequence #2: His over-reaching has already led to ICC meeting a BCCI demand for a Code of Conduct Commissioner...Obviously the whole issue of sledging will be revisited... Eg : Why is it ok to call Ranatunga fatso (because its not a racist comment) while these other things cannot be mouthed ? ... Again the Aussie way-of-cricket will likely be impacted....
Of course Ponting == Steve Waugh for the record; and maybe if our batting capsizes once more Ponting > Steve Waugh. But long term impacts may linger.
More on the amazingly sporting Mr. Ponting:
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