With due respects to Mr Laidlaw, I want to tell him that he is totally wrong about his interpretations of what Sunny said in his lecture. It can be sensed that this article was written from the point of view of white skinned people and their perception of the game. The white skinners have lost the game which they were once masters. Now Asians are the kings in Cricket and make more money. This is not tolerated by these persons. Hence, whereever they get a chance, they try to unduly sling mud on them. Mr Laidlaw, your article is foolish.
Most of what Daniel says is true. But Roberts, Holding, Garner, Marshall and the others used legitimate means to intimidate (whatever the Indians may have felt at that time!). But sledging is about getting the batsman to lose his concentration, since you can't get him any other way.
There is another angle to Sunny's comment, that you cannot afford to ignore. He loves stirring up things and start controversies that will keep the newsmedia busy.
There is no doubt that the Aussies currently are the best side in the world. Nor is anyone taking away any credit from the team for achieving its position. As in case of any other team, there is a time when the team gets everything right and performs. The time is now of the Aussies.
But to say that they have contributed ... n times is giving more credit than they deserve. The really revolutionary thinking in terms of use of technology and move towards absolute fitness was contributed largely by the South Africans. The concept of hitting in the first 15 overs was perfected by the Sri Lankans. Reverse swing was perfected by the Pakistanis. For that matter even chucking was started by Pakistanis.
So Aussies have done a lot of good imitations. However, the only original that I can see from Aussies is sledging.
Both columns that featured out here talked about sports inherently being so competitive one does get into sledging etc. If it is at the heat of the moment and spontaneous then it is very alright. But if it is a conscious strategy then there are problems.
If both the commenters dont see a problem in that, then there IS a problem with them and not Gavaskar.
Mr.Daniel, please condemn and act of babrbarism if you have a civilised hart. Australians think that it is their birth right to absue in the name of sledging and they don't like smart replies.
Take the case of Mcgrath and Saravan. For a reply from Saravan, why should Mcgrath gets agitated for the the correct reply from sarawan. If sledging is part of was then everything is fair. Let Australins understand this first while supporting sledging.
Well I understnad your feelings. But the topic of the lecture was spirit of cricket. In that context what Gavsakar spoke is apt. What you are writing is just to put down the great player. while talking about the play he has always said that aussies are great player but on this scale if they faulter then you got to accet it. In the entire lecture never he said about the sproting abilities of anybody. While in love with Aussies we should not forget that they are sledging and also backing it, which is truely bad for the game. In a process to criticise gavaskar let's not back the bad habbits of aussies.
Sledging should not be considered as some one's property. It should be legitimated,just like bouncers. Sunny is some what right. There exists a high degree of racism as even for a slight provocation, darker nation players receive capital punishment. The similar or even worse kind of provocations would have been considered as absolutely fare for a white player.
Daniel Laidlaw has once again remained true to his form. Can I pls reassure you that not all Aussies as as spineless as this bloke? He uses Ganguly's comments to back him up but trashes Ganguly on every other occasion. He equates kicking stumps or arguing with umpires with third rate personal abuse of the McGrath variety. This guy can't stomach the fact that cricketers from the subcontinent are now gaining prominence in the world scene and there's nothing anyone can do abt it. Its long overdue mate so just put up or shut up..
Gavaskar clearly said that it is the 'persobal abuse' that he is talkinag against,not sledging as a whole.And from what I see in TV,Australians are the worst offenders.Don't tell me this is because of their success.I formed the opinion from what I see in TV.here are players from other countries also,who indulge in sledging,but Aussies do it as a rule.Let me ask you this,what right has anyone in this world to insult another guy?If mental disintegration can be allowed in cricket field,who not physical disintegration also?I find nothing wrong if the west indies team bowled bouncers.They were using the cricket ball in the legal way to intimidate.Cricket is not chess.But this verbal abuse should be either dealt by the ICC or by the players in the streets.I remember,once Srinath bowled a beamer to bevan and immediately apologised.When Srinath said sorry,Bevan abused him!If it was an ordinary man from a village in Srinath's place,Bevan's career(as well as his own) would have ended then and there.Maybe all countries are guilty of personal abuse,but Aussies act as if it is a God given right to abuse others.Don't tell me about the 'tall-poppy syndrome' and all,thatz just an excuse.
Not sure why Daniel seems to believe that Sunny does't acknowledge Australians' invincibility or greatness. Sunny's concerns are only with their sledging which they certainly do. If Sunny criticises or pities the future "greats" to be sledging, what is wrong? Daniel seems to indicate that sledging is ok because they have contributed enormously in other areas.
Poor Daniel, has spent so much time to find all the reasons why Gavaskar's claims are untrue. Unfortunately for him, at the end of the article, Gavaskar's claims still appear correct.
It is ignorant to say that the Australians are being criticised now because they are the champions. When they were not the champions, cricket fans were still equally disgusted by bad behaviour. And if a day ever comes again when they are no longer the best, and continue to behave like they do now - even then, they will be unpopular, and draw criticism.
The fact remains that this issue largely highlights very different mindsets. Indians, by virtue of their mindset and upbringing, are likely to see sledging as vulgar and crude. It is about time the Indians get a bit tougher. The Australians see it as a sign of toughness, assertion of their confidence, and desire to win at all costs, dare I say, to keep their fragile egos intact. Think I am lying? Obviously you did not read some of the aussie papers after their drubbing by NZ in Rugby. Instead of admitting the NZ had the better team, the papers contained a sport by sport comparison, claiming how the aussies were still better in swimming, cricket, aussie rules (which only australia plays).. and also in desperately maintaining their egos..!
