Cricket: Where is the gentleman?

We all know Kieron  Pollard is an aggressive all-rounder, a big-hitting middle-order batsman.  What we also found on Tuesday (06/05/2014) was that Pollard can use the bat for purposes other than cricket.  Aussies are notorious for sledging.  What really transpired?  What were the words used by Mitchell Starc?  Was there any racial slant? Probably, one has to wait for an investigation.  Will it be fair? 

Whatever, the most ugly spectacle and Pollard’s reaction is censurable.  Match Referee Andy Pycroft’s decision to fine 75% and 50% of the match fee on Pollard and  Starc respectively makes a blatant mockery of punishment instead of slapping a match ban on the two, if not more, for their on-field misadventure, as it is only well known that there is always someone ready to sponsor any misdeed.  The fine is akin to “pay something and get away”, rather, get ready to commit the next one, nay a bigger one.  After all, money facilitates buying and selling.  And that’s what is IPL is all about. 

Cricketer was earlier known as gentleman.  Today, however, he is known by different synonyms like sledger, fixer, thug, bully, crook, cheat …… 

Although named the “Gentleman’s game”, cricket’s reputation is frequently tarnished by smaller and larger incidents, that seriously threatened the integrity of the game.  Even street cricket shows better sportsmanship.When you nick it, you wait for the umpire to give a decision.  But when you nick it to first slip and you still wait.  Stuart Broad nicked the ball and was caught by the Australian Michael Clarke, but not by the umpire.  Broad didn’t walk off since the umpire did not see, but the rest of the world did.

English stars after their victorious Ashes series celebrated their victory by getting drunk on the Oval pitch and urinated on the wicket.  The players include Kevin Pieterson, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson who reportedly relieved themselves amid their team-mates cheering them on.  Most uncivilised behaviour by the English cricketers, where other great cricketers used to kiss the earth after creating records.  The same ground that gives them the pride and privilege to earn , it is shameful of them to indulge in such acts. It is depressing that Englishmen known for their value to tradition and culture should stoop to this abysmal perversion.

Apology or "fine" does not take away the disgrace and shame inflicted on the fair game.  It shows what respect they have for the sport they have opted to play. 

The intimidating environment on the field is becoming the key component in unsettling the opponent.  Andrew Symonds vs. Harbhajan Singh in the “monkey-gate episode” provided the ultimate disgust.  Sreesanth has set an example of an Indian cricketer who has gone well beyond the spirit of cricket both in terms of attitude and integrity.  Closely observe,  in most commentators’ views, “sledging” is  just about okay.  At times, we have to believe that Australians don’t just play to win, but more to play to defeat the opposition.

There is no doubt that some of these cricketers are world-class, but their “win-at-all-costs”  attitude lets them, and the game down.

The integrity of the game is already blotted by various events like bodyline bowling, underarm bowling, match-fixing, spot-fixing,  ball-tampering  ….  to name a few unfair ingredients.  Cricket has become business, after IPL.  It has provided a platform for money-laundering. We are in serious doubt if the matches we watch are fake games.

The pity nowadays is that those we think are heroes have been reduced to players we may scorn, notwithstanding their records as there will always be an element of doubt how they achieved their feats.  The  ‘money’  factor has made most participants strive for “performance” at any cost.  How  the owners of the teams react to the ugly behavior of their team players?  If administration is in the hands of businessmen and politicians, what else can you expect to deliver?  Money, ego and power alone control the game.  Do you need a better example than the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)?

Why not umpires be empowered to insist that players who sledge are removed from close-fielding positions if they exceed the acceptable levels, in the same way as a bowler who runs down the pitch can be removed from the attack?  This reminds, why did the match-referee not bring a charge of unsporting behaviour when Andrew Symonds in a match against India in 2008 for not walking when he boasted that he was well aware that he edged the ball?  Again, Murali Karthick in one of the IPL editions confessed that he edged the ball, but did not walk.  Players of this sort have set disgraceful examples to all youngsters following them. 

There was also the occasional other side.  G.R. Vishwanath recalled an Australian batsman (I don’t remember the name) when he thought that the umpire made an incorrect decision.  Let us revive the names of Garfield Sobers, Frank Worrel, Don Broadman, Courtney Walsh ….

There is no place for abusing and bullying.  It is high time the ICC  come out of its spineless state and handout some bans.  Perhaps, time to have more technology involved and have more scrutiny on the players.  Time to show that cricket is not a sport for bullies, but for gentleman.  Wishful thinking?

We would love to watch good cricket – Bat vs. Ball.  Asking for a little too much?

Read:
http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2012/08/book-mark-rahul-dravid-timeless-steel.html