Watson gives CA perfect chance to get tough
Roar Rookie By Matthew Maguire, 20 Dec 2009 Matthew Maguire is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Australia, Chris Gayle, Cricket, Shane Watson, West Indies
Cricket Australia have an important but relatively simple decision to make before the Boxing Day test against Pakistan, and its not who replaces the injured Ricky Ponting.
Shane Watson, the golden haired nomad of Aussie cricket, constantly moving from state to state like a fugitive on the run, should be dropped from the Test team.
In light of the Sulieman Benn penalty of one test match or two one day internationals for giving Mitchell Johnson hugs and tickles on day two in Perth, match referee Chris Broad will hopefully impose similar disciplinary action for Watson’s immature outburst at Windies captain Chris Gayle.
Any penalty should be immediately doubled by Cricket Australia.
Cricket is a gladitorial sport, therefore celebrations and even the odd glare and fist pump as a send off to the departing batsman add to the intensity of the contest.
Watson’s petulant and embarrasing performance however, where Gayle was in no position to respond without compromising his own reputation, showed his immaturity and a blatant lack of respect for his opponent and the game that gives him so much.
No doubt there will be the standard apology and suggestions it was all patched up over a few beers in the rooms after the match.
If so, yet more credit to Gayle who not only maintained his composure at the crease while Watson bounced about like a raver on acid, but will also likely accept any apology in good faith.
Cricket Australia love nothing more than trumpeting their 2003 Spirit of Cricket code, as supposed proof the players have taken it upon themselves to maintain a code of conduct that emphasis’ respect and professionalism.
Neither were on display by Watson at the WACA.
Its an easy decision. Cricket Australia need to make an example of Watson and send him back to domestic cricket (presumably NSW, unless he has moved states again this week).
Throw in a hefty fine and send the message such behaviour is no longer tolerated by cricket’s governing body. They have been too weak for too long.
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
- Explore:
- Australia, Chris Gayle, Cricket, Shane Watson, West Indies
December 20th 2009 @ 4:45pm
Matthew Maguire said | December 20th 2009 @ 4:45pm | Report comment
15% fine of match payment….why am I not surprised at the leniency
December 20th 2009 @ 5:07pm
jameswm said | December 20th 2009 @ 5:07pm | Report comment
What a crock – CA double the penalty?
FFS he went over the top, got fined, and that’s it. Harbhajan does worse about every Aussie wicket he takes (Watson’s worse? You’re kidding). You can’t judge the Aussies more harshly than the others. It’s the same for everyone. And no other country in the world would suspend their own player for an over-exuberant celebration.
Build a bridge you self-flagellants.
December 20th 2009 @ 5:28pm
Benjamin Conkey said | December 20th 2009 @ 5:28pm | Report comment
jameswm, you’re right, Harbhajan is probably a big offender in World Cricket..but the legitimate point that Matthew makes is about Cricket Australia’s code of conduct. My understanding is that the code was brought in as a further reinforcement to the ICC Code..so essentially Matthew is right…Watson was fined by the ICC and now should be punished by Cricket Australia. If players aren’t punished for minor indescretions then they will never respect this Spirit of Cricket mantra adopted by CA.
December 20th 2009 @ 8:37pm
Matthew Maguire said | December 20th 2009 @ 8:37pm | Report comment
jameswm:
Firstly, holding Australian players to account should be in the interest of all Oz cricket fans and most importantly, Cricket Australia. How the BCCI choose to deal with Harbhajan or anyone else is their business.
For what its worth though, Harbhajan was handed a 5 match (ODI) ban from the BCCI over and above the 10 IPL match ban handed down by the ICC for slapping/punching Sreesanth. India felt responsible for their player and took action. He has also incurred previous ICC and BCCI penalties which now have him potentially facing a life ban if he were to seriously transgress again.
If Andrew Symonds can be dropped for going fishing, I dont believe it unreasonable to suspend Watson for a Test match for publicly bringing the game into disrepute. Perhaps the issue is whether you believe that actually occured.
I’m sick to death of these incidents which, in themselves dont appear particularly serious but contribute to the decline in the sporting nature of the game. I just felt Watson let himself down and therefore, as a member of the national team, let Australian cricket fans down. I was embarrased by it. It showed utter disrespect to the opposition captain and was completely unnecessary.
15% fines (equivalent to about $1800) for a bloke on probably $300-400k a year does not send the msg I want delivered, not just to Watson but also his team-mates and youngsters embarking on a career in the game. If you have the honour of wearing the baggy green, treat it and the game that gives you a living with some respect.
If I launched a rant like that in the face of a colleague at my workplace and Im guessing yours too, I would likely lose my job. The cricket pitch is a workplace like any other. Gayle and the game deserved better. As for CA, what is the point of the Spirit of Cricket accord if they never enforce it? We have seen time and time again that we should hold ourselves to a higher standard than the ICC or some other cricketing nations choose to. We could set the standard in these off-field decisions in the same way we have led the world for so long on-field.
December 21st 2009 @ 2:01am
johnno said | December 21st 2009 @ 2:01am | Report comment
What rubbish. Once again Australian players are held to a much higher standard than anyone else.
I see worse celebrations from non-Australians every single test. They never get a mention.
Why does no-one mention that Benn came up to Watson nearly every single over to stand close to him and sledge him?
To my mind the people who call themselves Australians and keep harassing our players can sod off out of Australia. You are not Australian.
December 21st 2009 @ 1:28pm
Fisher Price said | December 21st 2009 @ 1:28pm | Report comment
Fair enough to defend the Australians (as, for instance, james wm has done above and through reasoned argument).
But trotting out the ‘un-australian’ line (as if that somehow closes the debate) is pathetic.
December 21st 2009 @ 8:41am
Jameswm said | December 21st 2009 @ 8:41am | Report comment
I agree Johno.
Matt – the issue is not whether or not I think Watson did anything wrong. He did, and sledging a departing batsman is poor form in any circumstances and a pet peeve of mine.
The issue though is that he’s done the wrong thing and copped a fine, but the self-flagellants want to multiply the penalty exponentially. 15% of match fee to banned from a game – that’s not a doubling of a penalty. And I wonder what Ponting really thinks or says to him.
You can’t compare it to what Benn did, or the Harbhajan slap for that matter. They both grabbed or hit an opponent. Watson sledged one. Physical contact compared to words. Apples with apples, thanks.
December 21st 2009 @ 8:54am
Brett McKay said | December 21st 2009 @ 8:54am | Report comment
And what’s more James, with the Australian players being on the higher end of the world cricket pay-scale, Watson is copping a bigger fine than would a player from most other countries for the same charge anyway.
We’ve got a classic Australian sporting public over-reaction here: no-one judges Australian players’ behaviour more harshly than ourselves. I completely agree with your “self-flagellants” labelling..
December 21st 2009 @ 9:21am
Bunratty c said | December 21st 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
…jingoism aside from some of the above posts, you might be surprised Brett that some folks outside of Australia DO judge “Australian players’ (boorish) behaviour” just as harshly as yourselves.
December 21st 2009 @ 10:47am
Brett McKay said | December 21st 2009 @ 10:47am | Report comment
I’m not even slightly surprised Bunratty, I’ve lost count of the number of times Australian players have copped heat where other teams seem to be able to escape the same criticism. I just happen to agree with the need to compare apples with apples. And that’s not to defend anyone here, all charges have been fairly laid here, as I see them..
December 21st 2009 @ 1:38pm
sittingbison said | December 21st 2009 @ 1:38pm | Report comment
after looking at it again, he was facing the umpire and almost don the batsmans end of the pitch, THEN turned around ran at Gayle fell about laughing gleefully right in Gayles face. Sorry johhno james and Brett that is disgracefully disrespectful from any player from any team. When other payers carry on like that we all hop up and down about it. What Watson did is ‘unaustralian’ and perhaps it is he who should sod off out of the team, especially with his record. God forbid he opens the batting. What are the selectors thinking.
December 21st 2009 @ 1:51pm
Brett McKay said | December 21st 2009 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
but Bison, not one of Johnno, Jameswm or I have suggested in any way that what Watson did is acceptable. It was childish, petulant even, and completely deserving the fine imposed. As is the stern criticism that’s been delivered his way since.
We’re just saying any talk of doubling fines or being suspended or whatever seems to be because 1) it’s Shane Watson and he’s “a knob”, and 2) because he’s an Australian player, and for some reason, Australian players seem to be judged more harshly (particularly by Australians) than others.
December 21st 2009 @ 9:04am
Art Sapphire said | December 21st 2009 @ 9:04am | Report comment
According to Peter Roebuck – Microphones overhead a local bowler calling a batsman a ”f—— scared little c—”’.
Is this what people in the Australian Cricket Team call a “sledge”??
December 21st 2009 @ 1:33pm
Fisher Price said | December 21st 2009 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
We should be thankful race was left out of it.
December 21st 2009 @ 9:20am
MrKistic said | December 21st 2009 @ 9:20am | Report comment
The thing about a percentage fine is that its a percentage – he’s higher paid, meaning he can afford more. 15% is the same fine for everyone, that’s the point of it.
People aren’t having a go at all the Australian players, just the ones acting like idiots. Mitch Johnson showed how you can react to Benn’s rubbish, i.e. ignore it and do your job. Nobody is having a go at him.
And the reason we’re judged so harshly on this, is because we’re the bloody instigators of it all. Do you think Haddin stands behind the stumps like an angel and doesn’t get into every opposition ear every chance he has? Watson takes every opportunity he can to have a go at the opposition and Ricky, while not spitting all over his palms, doesn’t mind pointing out an opposition batsmen’s weaknesses here and there. And yet you’re suggesting that we’re being a bit harsh because big bad Benn sledged poor little Shane the cry baby?
I’d love to hear which of the celebrations by non-Australians in this series was worse than Watson’s too.
December 21st 2009 @ 9:22am
Jameswm said | December 21st 2009 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Yes. And if that sledge worries a batsman he shouldn’t be playing test cricket.
And it’s just the same in Grade cricket – including say 4th grade.
December 21st 2009 @ 9:34am
Art Sapphire said | December 21st 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
I am not worried about the batsman jameswm – I am worried about the bowler.
That’s a pretty unimaginative sledge don’t you think?
Maybe in the old days he would have thrown in the word “black” after the word “little” just for good measure.
Good thing we have move on since those days don’t you think?
December 21st 2009 @ 1:34pm
Fisher Price said | December 21st 2009 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
A la McGrath and Lehmann.
December 21st 2009 @ 9:44am
vinay verma said | December 21st 2009 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Sorry,Jameswm,this kind of sledge is not acceptable. I have played a bit of cricket and I have never come across anything remotely like this in Shires or Grade. If I had I would not be as restrained as Gayle was. How any self respecting cricketer can live with Watson’s tantrum is beyond me. And this is not about other countries and players this is about a cricketing nation that was ranked the best in the world for 15 years. There has to be a responsibility to cricket in general. I like passion and aggressiveness but not arrogance and pettiness.
And as for comments that criticising Austral;ian players is unAustralian then we are satisfied with mediocrity. Ponting is on record about upholding the Spirit of Cricket and I accept he is genuine. More has to be done to ensure this. I have never subscribed to the view that Ponting is a bad Leader. But what he does over the next 2 years will determine his legacy. I for one am confident that Ponting will point out to Watson that his behaviour was unacceptable. Beyond that it is upto CA to act if he repeats.
December 21st 2009 @ 9:27am
Mick of Newie said | December 21st 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Brett
Who cares what the fine is. Shane Watson has finally put a string of performances together that has quietened those fans who say he is full of himself and overrated. Then he goes and does this. He should be humiliated.
We should expect more of our players. His biggest problem was that he did it to the champion of the series. Who responded like a champ.
I say we don’t fine him, just put the replay up on the big screen at every match this summer. That should teach some humility.
December 21st 2009 @ 10:42am
Brett McKay said | December 21st 2009 @ 10:42am | Report comment
Mick, I actually agree with you completely. The fine is token compared to the ridicule Watson is currently coping from all quarters, and quite rightly so. He should be embarrassed by what he sees replayed and written, and you’re right, just as he was starting to show people what he can do on the cricket field, he does this.
But talks of doubling fines, and all that, is way over the top, and that was my point in my “no-one judges Australian players’ behaviour more harshly than ourselves” comment.
And I thought Gayle’s post-match comments about the matter (“That’s typical of Shane Watson”) were particularly well made. I haven’t seen the footage, but I can imagine Gayle delivering it in a manner that lets people decide for themselves whether it’s an honest answer or a subtle dig…
December 21st 2009 @ 11:19am
Dave01 said | December 21st 2009 @ 11:19am | Report comment
The ICC has changed its dode of conduct to make it more like the NRL and AFL with points for different offences and downgradings for pleading guilty.
I have enough problems with the NRL and AFL systems, even though they seem to work well, so it doesnt seem to clear to me.
But reading this may help to explain how they come upwith the penalties.
http://static.icc-cricket.yahoo.net/ugc/documents/DOC_F97840A2DC1953F7C5DD8EBBE3BA2E25_1255255836634_415.pdf