B D Narayankar asked:
player always gets a raw deal. The whites go scot-free even if they are guilty of provoking and abusing rival players. Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was unceremoniously handed a one-match ban order by international match referee Chris Broad as against a mere 10 per cent fine on Shane Watson, who indulged in sledging and provoking the opener.
Broad, if one remembers, is the same character, who had struck all the stumps with his bat after getting a poor verdict in a test match. Such an intemperate character now lectures about sportsman spirit to Indians. ICC should first get hold of referees who practice what they preach. It’s something like having Mathew Hayden and Ponting on elite panel of umpires.
A person, who provokes is a bigger criminal and should be fined more severely. If Broad banned Gambhir for one test for elbowing Shane Watson, then the Aussie should have been banned for at least two tests. Television footage clearly showed Watson abusing Gambhir and later standing in his way to provoke him.
Broad’s judgment seems pretty odd if compared to a similar incident in the past. In April 1998 in a one-day game in Sharjah, Ponting had shouldered Harbhajan after the he had gone berserk celebrating after getting the former out. Now that was a physical contact for sure. But Ponting was fined 20 per cent of his match fee and Bhajji was fined 50 per cent and suspended for one match. And why was Mitchell Johnson let off the hook for his verbal bout against VVS Laxman?
The Australians, particularly under Ponting’s captaincy, have adopted the dirty policy of targeting players by using abusive language and provoking them. They knew Gambhir was hot-headed and had been fined for barging into Shahid Afridi in a one-dayer against Pakistan last November. So, the Aussies went after him to trap him. They also tried their luck against VVS Laxman, who also was in ominous form, belting a magnificent double century. But he didn’t fall prey to Johnson’s abusive language.
If Aussies play their game in this fashion, then becoming World Champions will not bring dignity to the tag. Surely Aussies can’t bear others performing. They troubled Sri Lanka’s Muthaiah Muralitharan and Harbhajan Singh in the past. Perhaps an act of indulging in verbal abuse is acceptable in Australia, but they shudder to employ it against Sachin Tendulkar.
By these undesired tactics, Ponting is damaging Australian cricket’s reputation. Extreme personalities are developing under him. He has formed a team of instigators like Simon Katich, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson, Mathew Hayden, Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke, who never stop bullying rival team members. Ponting should take a leaf out of the 1970s’ Clive Lloyds’ West Indies team, who never sledged, and yet ruled the cricketing world.
Had the umpires exercised the authority they have, this incident would almost certainly never have occurred in the first place. Imagine an umpire saying a player should complain to them about another players “sledging” so that action can be taken. Which modern player would display this weakness? This statement is so pathetic and lacking in moral fibre that the umpire and match referee should be immediately suspended for their cowardice.
Until match officials have the courage of their convictions, these sort of unsavory incidents will continue to mar the name of the game and players will take full advantage of the umpires’ unwillingness to fulfill their role and obligations.
Shame on Billy Bowden, Broad and ICC for allowing this sort of behaviour to be part of the noble game of cricket. If the officials do what they are supposed to do in the first place we would not have these incidents.
Sam
player always gets a raw deal. The whites go scot-free even if they are guilty of provoking and abusing rival players. Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was unceremoniously handed a one-match ban order by international match referee Chris Broad as against a mere 10 per cent fine on Shane Watson, who indulged in sledging and provoking the opener.
Broad, if one remembers, is the same character, who had struck all the stumps with his bat after getting a poor verdict in a test match. Such an intemperate character now lectures about sportsman spirit to Indians. ICC should first get hold of referees who practice what they preach. It’s something like having Mathew Hayden and Ponting on elite panel of umpires.
A person, who provokes is a bigger criminal and should be fined more severely. If Broad banned Gambhir for one test for elbowing Shane Watson, then the Aussie should have been banned for at least two tests. Television footage clearly showed Watson abusing Gambhir and later standing in his way to provoke him.
Broad’s judgment seems pretty odd if compared to a similar incident in the past. In April 1998 in a one-day game in Sharjah, Ponting had shouldered Harbhajan after the he had gone berserk celebrating after getting the former out. Now that was a physical contact for sure. But Ponting was fined 20 per cent of his match fee and Bhajji was fined 50 per cent and suspended for one match. And why was Mitchell Johnson let off the hook for his verbal bout against VVS Laxman?
The Australians, particularly under Ponting’s captaincy, have adopted the dirty policy of targeting players by using abusive language and provoking them. They knew Gambhir was hot-headed and had been fined for barging into Shahid Afridi in a one-dayer against Pakistan last November. So, the Aussies went after him to trap him. They also tried their luck against VVS Laxman, who also was in ominous form, belting a magnificent double century. But he didn’t fall prey to Johnson’s abusive language.
If Aussies play their game in this fashion, then becoming World Champions will not bring dignity to the tag. Surely Aussies can’t bear others performing. They troubled Sri Lanka’s Muthaiah Muralitharan and Harbhajan Singh in the past. Perhaps an act of indulging in verbal abuse is acceptable in Australia, but they shudder to employ it against Sachin Tendulkar.
By these undesired tactics, Ponting is damaging Australian cricket’s reputation. Extreme personalities are developing under him. He has formed a team of instigators like Simon Katich, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson, Mathew Hayden, Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke, who never stop bullying rival team members. Ponting should take a leaf out of the 1970s’ Clive Lloyds’ West Indies team, who never sledged, and yet ruled the cricketing world.
Had the umpires exercised the authority they have, this incident would almost certainly never have occurred in the first place. Imagine an umpire saying a player should complain to them about another players “sledging” so that action can be taken. Which modern player would display this weakness? This statement is so pathetic and lacking in moral fibre that the umpire and match referee should be immediately suspended for their cowardice.
Until match officials have the courage of their convictions, these sort of unsavory incidents will continue to mar the name of the game and players will take full advantage of the umpires’ unwillingness to fulfill their role and obligations.
Shame on Billy Bowden, Broad and ICC for allowing this sort of behaviour to be part of the noble game of cricket. If the officials do what they are supposed to do in the first place we would not have these incidents.
Sam
