Frankly a lot of it is bull!! The Aussies are a great side & let's leave it at that. Their success rate is phenomenal because of 90 overs a day plus lights being used.. there's no place to hide!!! It's great for the modern game.
But I would like to add that they still have a long way to go.. It's convenientely forgotten that this Aussie side ( world champs) lost to both srilanka & India in their last test rubbers.. So where does this all conquering fit??? it doesn't!!! i think the UK commentators (Bob willis & Botham)have to be reminded that more than the Aussies. It's pathetic to see them call the Aussies "All conquering".
Mr Laidlaw, like many others (probably affronted because the the finger was pointed at the Aussies) has missed the point completely.....
Bowling short pitched was a cricketing tool..... a cricketing means of intimidation.... verbally abusing thr opposition as part of official team strategy is a different matter alltogether.
Today its happening on the field..... what will Mr Laidlaw say when tomorrow it takes the form of threatening the oppositions family with phone calls? Isnt that mental disintegration as well?
The Aussies use mental disintegration as team policy... this is Waughs own admission.
Gavaskar points out abuse, not verbal jousting.....
All the AUstralians are being uncharacteristically defensive about this
Sunil,as Daniel himself admits, was not specific of the Aussies doing it. He was critical of the behaviour rather than its carriers. While Sunil's focus was "eliminating poverty and not the poor". Daniel is trying to massage the data and show that it is the reverse.
He even goes on the justify his stance, by arguing that the fault is common, so it can be ignored. He fails to understand that the prevalence of crime does not reduce its severity.
The issue is quite serious and must be addressed. Aussie behaviour has the similar negative effect as that of a big Star advertising for cigarette. It legitimizes bad behaviour.
In a competetive sport its for the governing body to maintain high standards. If it falls into popularity trap, the bars are only going to go down. One must realize that popularity of a game is not determined by freedom to misbehave (though at time we may ignore the misbehaviour of popular person). It is determined by its mass appeal. Does Daniel's argument try to say ordinary people like low standards of behaviour?
The line of argument used in the article is faulty. It is a classic case of attention seeking
If this is not controlled, now it is just a war of words on the field, but, one fine day some impatient aussie will bring in gun or a knife from his dressing room and threaten or even kill the opposition player and or umpire.
Then the Cricket law makers and this author will realize Gavaskar's Sledge.
Well it is a nice article and only a site like Rediff can publish it. Rediff does not believe in sycophants and that is great. A) It is highly inappropriate of Gavaskar to so directly mention that Australians are the chief sledgers. First off, the Sunny we know is a true gentleman and he could have just mentioned the disrepute the act is bringing as opposed to naming names. And who are we kidding maybe there are many Australians that sledge but they are NOT the only ones. Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, South Africans, New Zealanders have all indulged in it. And one more thing why is sledging so bad and Javed Miandads distractive talk so worthy of appreciation. If sledging aint cricket Miandads talk aint cricket either however cute it might have sounded. B) Gavaskar totally overlooks Australias other magnificent contributions to cricket as mentioned in the article. C) Why is there undue focus on sledging??? If sledging isnt cricket tell me how over-appealing (or shall I say absolutely unnecessary appealing) which the sub continental cricket is so deeply involved in is cricket? What about chucking?Keep up the good work Daniel! Keep up the great work Rediff Regards Jeet
I agree with you on one thing - the Australians have played some of the best cricket over the past few years. However, I have 3 questions for you
1. Lets assume that the Australians did not resort to any sledging over the past few years. Can you cross your heart and say for certain that they could have accumalated this impressive record without sledging?
2. Let's assume that it is not Australia but some other Asian team (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc), who are the current world champions with the win record that the Australians have today and had sledged over the past few years like the Australians have. Then if some Australian player, say Steve Waugh had said what Gavaskar has said, would you have written this same article in support of that Asian team?
3. Let's assume that it was not McGrath but some Asian player who had been involved in the sledging incident against the Windies, can you again cross your heart and say that he would have been let off in the same way that McGrath had been?
In summary, what you are saying is that if any team can come up with a way to intimidate the opposition and as a result win matches then that is part of the game.
Laidlaw has got it all wrong.Sunny criticized the aussies for sledging.He did not say anything about the way they have made the game more exciting.So why mix up these isssues.Agreed the aussies have made cricket more exciting to watch but does this excuse their sledging.
An aussie talking crap...Dan why don't u try ur luck with some other site back in Aus.....its cool till u people do it...but don't like when others point out...remember the incident of Sarvan and Mcci....Mcci goes to Sarvan and makes "" comments but when Sarvan replies back Mcci complains back....and here our great Dan tries to justifies it...you guys have no ethics man....
How many indian would have liked to see sourav go and shake hands of ponting in the world cup final after he scored a century. This game is changing and getting competetive so deal with it. Everyone is up in arms about the this issue of Sledging. But that's what makes us interested in this game. Sunny i really respect his opinion but not this time. Aussies do sledge but that only make me like them better because atleast they are showing the spirit, they want a win no matter what. Wouldn't we all love india to have that attitude. We will only realize greatness when its not around. So let these aussies finish playing then we will know all sporting spirit and competitiveness they had.
Dear Mr. LaidLaw , I am an avid reader of your articles and admire your wit and your candid comments. Your immense pride in the Australian team comes through and you know what? if I were an Australian , I would do the same. As a cricket lover, watching the Australians "play cricket" is excellent value for money and time invested. I admit and admire their professionalism, high level of skill, and total committment to winning. But as I said "play cricket" is the key word. Anything other than that - they really suck. They come across as arrogant cricketers (good for them), whining losers and lousy sportsmen with horrid sense of humor. One time Adam Gilchrist walked you did not lose the opportunity to bracket him with Brian Lara.I see you get it from the Australian team - opportunism. Dont kid me with your reasons. Yes - the australian team is supremely skilled and et al I like them for their positive attributes. But what is also is true that some of them are spoilt brats, who are ordinary players but get their arrogance by resting on the laurels of their more level-headed and better achieving colleagues, and also falsely get a pride because they were groomed in a superior system.
