Sledging Banned

[Twodogs]

Re: Sledging Banned

Would you also overlook personal abuse off the field?

If you answer no to this, then why should the abuser be protected on the field?

And do you think the lawmakers had it in their mind for the game to allow personal abuse?

Maybe or maybe not but I dont see that as being the point. Playing cricket and real life are different-and like SS says it would come down to the motivation anyway.


I didnt flinch at most of the rubbish thrown at me in the workplace because it wasnt really me they were abusing anyway. It was their situation, frustration etc that was driving them.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Sledging Banned

Plenty of salient points made on both sides of the argument. I for one agree with SS on the point that if it's not personal and simply tactical it can be amusing, easily shrugged off and doesn't affect relationships between people. I also see that EJ is concerned that it is often more than simply 'gamesmanship', especially when it straddles the line with racism, cultural ignorance, etc. that potentially strain relationships between, not only people, but also countries. We Aussies are a resilient bunch that take abuse with good nature, but one cannot expect that all cultures share our sensitivities or lack of it, and not simply claim that because others are different they should just 'get on with it'. Yes, the Indian board tends to be oversensitive and trigger-happy, and they should also learn to get a backbone, but there is a reverse racial tension where they feel that they have been 'oppressed' by Western nations for a long time and thus take any opportunity now to assert themselves. This is true of all emerging post-colonial cultures when in contact with parties perceived to be connected with their previous colonisers. I'll bet India isn't half as sensitive when playing South Africa or the West Indies as they are when playing Australia or England.

Some questions I have:

- Is sledging always 'about the game' and never 'personal'? I doubt it. Some players are sledged far more than others. When does it cross the line into abuse?

- Not all players, not even all Australian players, sledge. Some of the classiest players -- Tendulkar, Lara, Lee, Hussey -- don't sledge. Is it simply then a tactic of less talented players to 'even up the playing field' so to speak?

- Our favourite non-cricketing sledger was a little tagger that answers to the moniker 'Libba'. We loved it that he gave it non-stop to our opposition, but now that he's 'all grown up' he is still mouthing off to all and sundry and it's not quite as cute anymore. Is sledging ever just 'left on the field' or is someone who is uncouth on a field more than likely to not know where the line is in 'real life', and therefore the playing of cricket in this way actually contributes to the development of an unpleasant character? Does this not go contrary to the spirit (naive, perhaps) of not just cricket, but sport in general, which is supposed to promote health and well-being?

- It's well and good that professionals do whatever they can to win, but we all know that this attitude is copied right through the ranks down to suburban leagues (as above anecdotes tell) and down to the junior leagues, where kids are calling each other c***s and swearing to high heaven. How is amateur sport ie. rocking up on a weekend to play a game against other blokes also a haven for all manner of abuse that -- and I'm sure we've all seen this happen -- sometimes/often lead to unpleasantness or even punch-ups? What happened to good, old-fashioned 'sportsmanship'? Is it a particularly Aussie thing to be uber-competitive even playing weekend sport and then able to go out for a beer together after?

- I've been involved both as a player and coach in incidents at amateur/school level in different sports where excessive sledging has created tensions and clubs/schools fall out over the matter. Is this worth it? I understand (and have even actively encouraged it) when it's state-league level or whatever and it really is all about winning, but at a park level surely people should be having fun and not have their insecurities probed mercilessly?

---

ps. I know I sound like I'm anti-sledging, and I've written a post some time back where I spoke about Aussies setting an example for the rest of the world, but a confession is that I used to be a terrible offender with a take no prisoners approach to sport in general (nine yellow cards and three red cards in a single hockey season, for example, before I learnt to be more subtle with my gamesmanship, should serve to illustrate).. and I don't look back at my behaviour with much pride, so I just wanted to make it clear that I'm in no position to judge, simply to study different, and perhaps better or healthier approaches?

[Twodogs]

Re: Sledging Banned

- Not all players, not even all Australian players, sledge. Some of the classiest players -- Tendulkar, Lara, Lee, Hussey -- don't sledge. Is it simply then a tactic of less talented players to 'even up the playing field' so to speak?

I'll take that one. As a 44 year old who's reflexes arent what they were and who doesnt have the same footwork and eye I used to have sledging is a skill set I can bring to the table. My favorite method is to stand at slip or short leg and keep up a running commentary on the batsman's game. My style is subtle-geez there's some zip in this pitch, isnt there? or try getting head behind the line of the ball-and not abusive but other blokes can be nastier and that's OK with me. It's all part of the game and something you work on as you get older-lets face it a 16 year old with a breaking voice and no experience in the ups and downs of the game would look a goose.

[GVGjr]

Re: Sledging Banned

Not cricket related and not really a sledge but one of my best moments at putting an opponent off his game was playing footy up in the country.
My opponent for the game really loved his hotted up car and like in most country games, you can get a park close to the ground and within eye shot of the field.

I arranged for a few 14yo local youngsters to stand near his car at the start of the game and when I went up to him before the bounce of the ball I asked if that was his car over yonder and why so many of the local juvenile delinquents were standing near it? I even offered something like I hope they are not doing a bit of detailing.

Well that was it, he spent the better part of the first quarter trying to organise a friend or one of the trainers to usher them away from his car. I think it took him most of the next quarter to work out that I might have had something to do with it. I can remember getting a few free kicks from his stupidity after he put two and two together.

By the way, I made sure I got a lift to the return game later in the season

[LostDoggy]

Re: Sledging Banned

I'll take that one. As a 44 year old who's reflexes arent what they were and who doesnt have the same footwork and eye I used to have sledging is a skill set I can bring to the table. My favorite method is to stand at slip or short leg and keep up a running commentary on the batsman's game. My style is subtle-geez there's some zip in this pitch, isnt there? or try getting head behind the line of the ball-and not abusive but other blokes can be nastier and that's OK with me. It's all part of the game and something you work on as you get older-lets face it a 16 year old with a breaking voice and no experience in the ups and downs of the game would look a goose.

I have no issue whatsoever with your style of commentary.

My concern and I think the administrators concern is with the personal/racist abuse a la - You F$%& mongrel black %&$*. I didn't accept it at Test level and at junior cricket level, I think it is outrageous.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Sledging Banned

Not cricket related and not really a sledge but one of my best moments at putting an opponent off his game was playing footy up in the country.
My opponent for the game really loved his hotted up car and like in most country games, you can get a park close to the ground and within eye shot of the field.

I arranged for a few 14yo local youngsters to stand near his car at the start of the game and when I went up to him before the bounce of the ball I asked if that was his car over yonder and why so many of the local juvenile delinquents were standing near it? I even offered something like I hope they are not doing a bit of detailing.

Well that was it, he spent the better part of the first quarter trying to organise a friend or one of the trainers to usher them away from his car. I think it took him most of the next quarter to work out that I might have had something to do with it. I can remember getting a few free kicks from his stupidity after he put two and two together.

By the way, I made sure I got a lift to the return game later in the season

That is quiote possibly the greatest piece of gamesmanship I've ever heard.

Respect.

[Twodogs]

Re: Sledging Banned

I have no issue whatsoever with your style of commentary.

My concern and I think the administrators concern is with the personal/racist abuse a la - You F$%& mongrel black %&$*. I didn't accept it at Test level and at junior cricket level, I think it is outrageous.

I see your point.

Blokes who say stuff like that wouldnt last long at the standard I play at-it's competitive but we arent playing test cricket. I'd be against that sort of sledging at any level.

[Twodogs]

Re: Sledging Banned

Sledge update;



Friday night and the West Coast players are getting into Judd-"Get his shoulders boys-his shoulders are ****ed" Judd comes back with "Of course my shoulders are ****ed, I carryied all you ****s for 5 years"

[ledge]

Re: Sledging Banned

Twodogs thats a players Comettiism, very good, i like that, might start a sledge post.