Disgrace to “Gentleman’s Game” Cricket?
Saturday - March 31, 2018 2:06 pm ,
Category : WTN SPECIAL
Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God - The most infamous goal in World Cup history” during1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England made Argentina win the game and eventually the title. Team Argentina was welcomed like true champions when the team reached back home. Unsportsmanlike conduct is prevalent in all sports and usually gets unnoticed or is ignored.
Similarly, allegations of ball tempering and ball tempering itself is not new to cricket. Even “God of Cricket” in India, Sachin Tendulkar was booked for ball tempering in the second Test match of India's 2001 tour of South Africa at Port Elizabeth. Match referee Mike Denness had sanctioned Tendulkar for ball tampering. Although ICC, after investigating, revoked the one-game ban on Tendulkar. Tendulkar claimed he was actually just removing the piece of grass stuck in the seam of ball.
In 2004, Rahul Dravid was caught on camera applying lozenge on the ball while playing Zimbabwe in a one-day international in Australia. He was found guilty and fined 50 percent of his match fee.
Waqar Younis of Pakistan became the first player to receive a suspension for ball-tampering after a match in July 2000, and was fined 50% of his match fee.
The famous "dirt in the pocket" incident happened when England captain Michael Atherton took dirt off the pitch, put it in his pocket and was caught on camera using it on the ball.
Be it the Pakistan cricket team in 2006, England cricket team in 2005, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, Faf du Plessis and Afridi; many have been caught for ball tempering.
So, what’s new this time with Steve Smith ,David Warner and Cameron Bancroft? Malcolm Bligh Turnbull the Prime Minister of Australia said it had been “a shocking affront to Australia” and management must act “decisively and emphatically”. The entire media of Australia termed it as cheating and disgrace to Australia. Public opinion in Australia found the behavior “unacceptable”.
Cricket is a gentleman’s game and Australia proved that. While in past the cricketers/ respective cricket boards/ governments were neither apologetic nor remorseful for similar offence, the action and reaction of Australian government, Cricket Australia (formerly known as the Australian Cricket Board), media and public has proved that sportsmanship should be supreme and most critical component of the game, not just winning the game.
The team’s coach, Darren Lehmann, announced that he was quitting; “To all of my team-mates, to fans of cricket all over the world and to all Australians who are disappointed and angry. I’m deeply sorry,” Smith said as he broke down in front of camera; ‘I lied. I panicked. I let everybody down’: Bancroft admitted ; David Warner issued an apology saying he made a decision that he “will regret as long as I live and said that he may never play for Australia again.
This incident should be an eye-opener not only to cricketing fraternity but sports at large. Sporting malpractice is all over the world be it Olympic games, Soccer or any other sport. But, as of now “Gentleman’s Game” cricket has saved its reputation.
-Window To News
Recommended Reading----------->
Similarly, allegations of ball tempering and ball tempering itself is not new to cricket. Even “God of Cricket” in India, Sachin Tendulkar was booked for ball tempering in the second Test match of India's 2001 tour of South Africa at Port Elizabeth. Match referee Mike Denness had sanctioned Tendulkar for ball tampering. Although ICC, after investigating, revoked the one-game ban on Tendulkar. Tendulkar claimed he was actually just removing the piece of grass stuck in the seam of ball.
In 2004, Rahul Dravid was caught on camera applying lozenge on the ball while playing Zimbabwe in a one-day international in Australia. He was found guilty and fined 50 percent of his match fee.
Waqar Younis of Pakistan became the first player to receive a suspension for ball-tampering after a match in July 2000, and was fined 50% of his match fee.
The famous "dirt in the pocket" incident happened when England captain Michael Atherton took dirt off the pitch, put it in his pocket and was caught on camera using it on the ball.
Be it the Pakistan cricket team in 2006, England cricket team in 2005, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, Faf du Plessis and Afridi; many have been caught for ball tempering.
So, what’s new this time with Steve Smith ,David Warner and Cameron Bancroft? Malcolm Bligh Turnbull the Prime Minister of Australia said it had been “a shocking affront to Australia” and management must act “decisively and emphatically”. The entire media of Australia termed it as cheating and disgrace to Australia. Public opinion in Australia found the behavior “unacceptable”.
Cricket is a gentleman’s game and Australia proved that. While in past the cricketers/ respective cricket boards/ governments were neither apologetic nor remorseful for similar offence, the action and reaction of Australian government, Cricket Australia (formerly known as the Australian Cricket Board), media and public has proved that sportsmanship should be supreme and most critical component of the game, not just winning the game.
The team’s coach, Darren Lehmann, announced that he was quitting; “To all of my team-mates, to fans of cricket all over the world and to all Australians who are disappointed and angry. I’m deeply sorry,” Smith said as he broke down in front of camera; ‘I lied. I panicked. I let everybody down’: Bancroft admitted ; David Warner issued an apology saying he made a decision that he “will regret as long as I live and said that he may never play for Australia again.
This incident should be an eye-opener not only to cricketing fraternity but sports at large. Sporting malpractice is all over the world be it Olympic games, Soccer or any other sport. But, as of now “Gentleman’s Game” cricket has saved its reputation.
-Window To News
Recommended Reading----------->
