Daniel Laidlaw has completely missed the point. Sure the game has changed a lot since Gavaskar hung up his boots, but it looks ugly when one player abuses another on the field of play, whatever the time. Sure Croft and Holding misbehaved, but that was because of some rank bad and biased umpiring in New Zealand, where the umpires did everything to help the Kiwis win(remember our own Chandrasekar, a gentle soul if ever there was one, once asking a Kiwi umpire 'I know he is bowled, is he out?). Gilchrist walking was an exception, which he may not do again in his career. Sure the Aussies play great cricket, but can't take it if others play well, more particularly if they win. Steve Waugh was totally graceless in Chennai 2001. Such behaviour would have got them the boot if the apex body had been tough like FIFA is. However the ICC is a wimp. No match referee has the spine to take on the Aussies. Playing winning cricket does not entitle you to behave like a hoodlum, which is what the Aussies do. Period. Mr. Laidlaw, if you condone this loutishness, stop writing on cricket. There is a certain degree of responsibility which you need to show.
Mr.Laidlaw may wholly disregard Sunny's views on modern day sledging. Its not only about sportsmanship, really. Its more on how the game has refined your humanistic instincts. Art doesnt follow life. Art defines life. And we do know that cricket is an art (atleast to cricket playing nations).
Its true that Gilchrist walked. But is there anything in this to boast or brag about? Oh yeah, an aussie walking is indeed a rare incident.
Sportmanship in not only about on-filed demeanour, but also off it. How else would you explain Mark Waugh & Shane Warne bribe-taking frenzy (which was never made public by ACB until too late). Or the fact that both these players played long enough after that!. How would you describe Warne's doping or his publicised lewdity?? Sportsmanship off-field? My foot !
Champion sides are masters of sledging. thanks & congrats to them. The great game of cricket is surely dying. But who cares? The dollars are still flowing.
Hi Daniel! THis is poor stuff from you. It is undeniable that Aus had a great role in making modern cricket what it is. Their sporting infrastructure is way ahead of others. But still, you can't say sledging is a minor issue. Remember Hughes, Slater, McGrath ..... list is endless. I feel Aussies have the guilt conscience as you all are writing reams defending them even if they were not mentioned in as many words by Sunny! Be that as it may, you have not done anything different than SUnny here. If he has picked events to justify what he said, you too did the same. And that very thing makes your article a poor reading.... May you regain your past glory, just like cricket!;-))
Dear Mr Laidlaw, Many times earlier as a response to your article, I have logically tried to bring out the flaw (and many times bias also) in your argument. And I can do it again today. But I find contemplating a much more important question....WHY ? You dont seem to either acknowledge/counter-argue/refute or learn from it.
Sir, AFter reading your article i feel that you were prejudiced and was trying to take away the point Gavaskar raised. Just because the Australia are world leaders will bring them the moral duty to play a fair game with full sportsmanship. Kids watching them will always tries to emulate them and they learn these bad habbits and think they are right!. I have seen enough cricket from current and yesteryears and clearly there is a differance in the way the game is played. I do not buy your points and alearly points out the fact that the journalism has fallen its pedigree [I am in US and i see that everyday]. Right now the journalism means [to some] to justify their favorit country and try to create rosy pictures and stories to support these views. I pity you. Hope you will do a look at your self and try to write in true honesty.
Read Mr. Daniel Laidlaw about Mr.Sunny. It is completely biased and clearly shows that he is an Austrelian supporter. This is very unfortunate and also shows disrespect to a great yester years crickter Mr. Sunil Gawaskar. Venkatesh Chitradurga, Santa Clara, CA950 51, U.S.A. 10th August 2003.
i am an Indian and I am completely in sync wih your views. Gavaskar was lying when he said the 70's windies team didnt sledge. gavaskar was lying when he said only 15 people sledge among 150 cricketers. in the WC final there was only 1 guy who sledged and he was zaheer khan. we all know whose face had an eg in the end.
australians are the best team in the world. the indians are obviously jelous of it. so none of these readers would understand your rational and logical arguments. most of these people lack the detachment to view india with an unbiased eye.
most senseless people think , just because THEY were born in india , india is a better country than all others. so u will find immature questions like "are you australian" etc which are irrelevant.
so i apologize for the indians who posted before and who ill post in the future. most of these readers are biased indian rather than cricket followers.
and gavaskar should really shut up with his preaching! he is not qualified at all.
I guess the point Sunny is trying to make is about using sledging as a tool for mental disintegration specifically by the Aussies.
Australia are indeed a champion side as the record suggests. Other sides have tried to copy sledging but have failed. Classic example was the series between Australia and South Africa.
After a loss to Australia (India vs Aus 1999 2000) the team and the fans felt they were cheated. I for one felt that the Indians under performed. One of the reasons could have been due to sledging. Gavaskar did extremely well against the West Indians and I having watched it on TV I would agree that they did not undrermine a player mentally as the Aussies did.
Even when West Indies thrashed India in India (after the world cup 1983) I thought there was not much bitterness but some sort of sympathy for the Indians and awe for the West Indians.
I for one feel that if Aussies allow opponents to play at their best and then beat them they could probably be admired.
The society players live is important as NZ (similar culture to Ausssies) perform very well in Australia. They are not hurt by sledging and give it back to Aussies and generally get on well.
One mustn't cricticize Aussies they are the World champions and can do anything. They can sledge,swear,use abusive language, they can use drugs, get banned and yet play charity matches, they can give weather information and tell about pitch report to bookies and can getaway by paying some fines,they can bring in references to other players family members while playing, abuse umpires, ..... the list is endless. They are Angels. All of us are blind. Thanks Mr. Laidlaw for letting us know what a positive effect Australian Cricket players have on the game. And all the ex-aussie-players who have come in their defence. By the way everyone else beware that no matter who you are never cricticize an Aussie. Are u listening Mr. Gavaskar....
