The comments made about the words of sunny by Mr. Laidlaw are not justified as we all know how good a cricketer and sportsman he was. Though I am not that old to see his playing days or the yestereryears of cricket, but i have seen Kapil Dev, walsh and Ambrose play but i never saw them sledging or do anything which is not unworthy of a sportsman. But it seems that Australians are over doing the sledging thing, they need to see that the are the champions and act like one. So if Mr. Laidlaw thinks that Sunny is blowing things then he should remember what Micheal Slater did after claiming a catch and not getting the favouable decision, he charged Rahul Dravid and the umpire Venkatraghavan. Was is justified is so then how. So Mr. Laidlaw should think again who is blowing things out of proportion.
Mr. Laidlaw, It is surprising that a Cricket writer of your standing does not understand the ground realities of sub-continental Cricket. The core issue is about Australian vs sub-continental Cricket culture. The sub-continent got its Cricketing ethics from England and quickly loved the game mainly for its ethics. That is the biggest reason why Cricket is such a rage in the sub-continent -even though no one will say so in so amny words. The ethics being: praise for good performance and civilized behaviour. Nothing can excuse uncivilized behaviour in our books. I can quote you a number of stories, proverbs and anecdotes which preach the central philosophy that even if you have won the world, if you cannot be humble, it is worthless. -Short pitched bowling can be dangerous and there are rules to stop it and are enforced. Even then, it is a part of the game. Same is not true about sledging, which is just being uncivilized. -Nothing excuses uncivlized behaviour. No amount of charity, helping out youngsters, walking can justify it.
If laidlaw is saying that Gavaskar is blowing things out of proposition, then what does this article do? Everyone knows that aussies are a champion side, they are exciting to watch and they've influenced every team to play positive cricket. But there's no doubt that they have also ihad a negative influence on the other teams in terms of sledging and most of the aussie players do sledge. And ,eventhough it was great to see Gilchrist walk off in the world cup semifinals, it was a just the first time that the viewers are seeing him do that. So eventhough he desreves all the praise, he cannot be placed in the same league of lara who is a true gentleman and a walker. So Laidlaw, please dont blow things out of proposition
It is not sledging which need to change but the attitude of the players. Not merely considering it as a game but as a money machine has made the players get the "win at any cost' attitude. Taking a closer look at sledging, it is just a mere means of expressing ones anger/inability to overcome the opponent. It should not be taken as offense. It is just the reply/response for some emotional outbreak leads to the buildup.. Blaming Australia - it is ridiculous - It seems like a mere expression of fury due to mere incompetence. If somebody tries to overcome the batsman by sledging and the batsman gives up - how strong is the batsman mentally ? What ganguly does in the field - shout at the umpires - is it a good gesture ?? Is it sportmanship ? Gavaskar just wants to stay afloat in the media - just rekindling the latest buzzword - australians sledging.. HA what a Joke
Just because Australians have done soooo much for cricket, they can sledge on teh field (ya we all know what McGrath said to Sarwan). Just because they have the best coaching acadamies Shane Warne can take drugs (din't they teach them not to there), send smses to women all over the world (don't they teach not to in australia) and sledge (oh!!! they taught them not to). There are specific issues and then there are general observations. In this article DL has generalised specific points and given specific instances of general observations in Sunnys speech. Ofcourse Australia will be in the forefront when it comes to sledging, cos they have accept that the sledge and call it "mental disintegration".
Daniel Laidlaw has tried his level best to defend his country's cricketers but in vain.
"Colin Croft once deliberately barged into an umpire and Michael Holding kicked down the stumps in frustration, petulance which, with today's close-ups, replays and match referees, would become an international incident rather than just a memorable black-and-white photograph"...Mr. Laidlaw, note the use of the word 'once' with reference to Colin Croft. Doesn't the same apply to Michael Holding as well?
In sharp contrast there have been UMPTEEN occasions when the Aussies have behaved like cry babies who cannot bear to see their toffees snatched away from them. This has been happening right from the days of Ian Chappell. Lloyd's men were arrogant, no doubt about that. But their attitude to defeat wasn't as pathetic as the Aussies.
If the Aussies find themselves at the receiving end of this sledging debate, it is NOT because of JEALOUSY. It is because they made it commonplace to sledge.
And since the topic here is sledging, it was wholly INAPPROPRIATE on the part of Mr. Laidlaw to have attempted to give the impression that every aspect of the Aussie cricket is being criticized.
