Shane Watson celebrates a wicket – (AP Photo/Gautam Singh)
Rudyard Kipling wrote memorably about ‘the muddied oafs’ of rugby football and the ‘flannelled fools’ of cricket. The cricket part of the description sums up the behaviour of Shane Watson and Sulieman Benn in the Perth Test between Australia and the West Indies.
I have played and watched cricket for more decades than I care to remember in my anecdotage but I don’t recall a more obnoxious display of banshee exultation as that put on by the screaming Watson when he dismissed Chris Gayle in the second innings of the Test.
Watson’s arched body, primeval screaming, and his mad-eyed and contoured face, red and tight from over-the-top braying at the departing figure of the bemused Gayle, was an unforgettable and unacceptable image of the very ugly side of modern cricket.
If Gayle had turned around and whacked Watson across the ankles with his heavy bat I reckon that the applause would have resounded around the world.
It is nonsense that Watson was fined only 15 per cent of his match fee for his idiotic and potentially explosive (in inviting a ferocious re-joiner) behaviour.
At least Sulieman Benn has been suspended for a couple of matches, something that should have happened – at least – to Watson as well.
You had to feel sorry for Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin being punished for reacting to Benn’s mad-cap behaviour. It seemed to me that Johnson actually tried to get away from Benn when the West Indian was trying to put him down in a rugby tackle while he was trying to take a run.
Haddin’s gesture of pointing his bat at Benn after this incident seemed to be the epitome of restraint, in my opinion, given the unacceptable provocation Benn was intent of providing to the Australian batsman.
Both Benn and Watson have taken sledging to a level of aggravation where something really awful, perhaps a fist fight, is going to take place on the field when a player is provoked beyond his endurance.
This brings into the discussion the whole sordid business of sledging. Its defenders say that it is part of the game.
This is, of course, nonsense.
Up to the 1970s the only sledging you heard at cricket matches was from the crowd. And this form of sledging, as we know from the immortal Yabba whose bronze statue is placed in the seating at the SCG, was humourous and perceptive.
When Douglas Jardine wiped some flies from his face at the SCG, Yabba called out: ‘Jardine, leave our flies alone!’.
It was Ian Chappell, unfortunately, who brought in the tactic of sledging opponents to Test cricket. I say ‘unfortunately’ because Chappell was a terrific captain and batsman, and aside from the sledging, a dynamic force for good in Test cricket.
When, say, Richie Benaud dismissed a batsman, there was at most a quick clap of his hands and sometimes the quiet handshakes of his players. That was the way up to the modern era. Greg Matthews was one of the pioneers of over-exuberance when getting a wicket.
But now Watson has gone well beyond this. And has been given, at best, a slap on the wrist.
The next time someone behaves in a similar fashion the umpires should immediately ban him from bowling again in the innings, using ‘the spirit of cricket’ injunction as a justification.
As for the incessant sledging that leads towards the unacceptable Benn-like behaviour of physically engaging with an opposing player, the only remedy is to ban it entirely.
Stop the players from talking to each other, and you will stop the sledging and the chances of more Test players behaving like the two flannelled fools of Perth: Shane Watson and Sulieman Benn.
Dave1
Guest
Your right he does sound a bit like Watson.
Sportsmouth
Roar Rookie
So Dave, you are no better then Watson!
Dave
Guest
Couldn't agrree more about the disgraceful behaviour shown by Watson!!! What a T@#$$%!!! I got no problem with celebrating a wicket but that was crossing the line!! I was embarressed for Watson... don't worry Chris- most Aussies are good sports!!! Isn't it funny how karma works in the world...today Watson got run out when starring at his first century!!!!! I was runnung around my lounge room in fits of laughter and punching the air when he was given out.... a bit like how he acted when taking Gayle's wicket..
whiteline
Guest
"Educated" doesn't mean having a degree Davo. Steve Waugh hasn't a uni degree but he has learned about different cultures and people, allowed himself to mix with a variety of groups and formed a rounded view on the world and life. "Strong" - Has the qualities to abide by his staed principles and doesn't kick with the breeze when it suits "Diplomatic" - Has the capacity to see all sides of a story and act accordingly (India vs Australia series in 07/08 was a classic example from our great leader of a lack of diplomacy). So there you go daveo1, nothing to do with whether you go to school at Bankstown High or Scotch College but a lot to do with what you make of yourself when the opportunity presents.
Dave01
Guest
"educated"??? No I don’t think it’s necessary at all to have a degree in surveying like Taylor, to captain Australia.
Alex Moore
Guest
Certainly the game can no longer be said to be "the Gentlemen's game." Australia have certainly been at the forefront of it in recent memory. Brett Lee's heel clicking jumps after a wicket, is one example which infuriates me. But what about Andrew Flintoff's hands in the glorious air celebrations? Or Akhtar's runs around the pitch? Watson is just another version of this. I think it comes back to players appealing. It's one side of the game that is traditional but is now more an intimidatory measure. And don't get me started in the new review system. As soon as you have nicknames n the back of players shirts I'm sure it is the 1st sign of the Cricket apocalypse.
whiteline
Guest
Ponting, Watson and Haddin are all bogans. Bring on the day when we have a strong, educated and diplomatic leader, Mark Taylor style.
mattamkII
Guest
I have said on this forum before... I am a very very proud Australian who actually dislikes our cricket team because of the child like, spoilt bratt and pratt like attitude of Ponting and Co. The footage of Watson and Ponting running in and acting like 7 year olds makes me sick in the stomach for my countries reputation.
Mattay
Guest
Look at his legs and the position his body is facing. Ponting is most definitely giving Gayle a send off and in my opinion his actions are worse than Watsons in that Ponting runs up to Gayle's face, where as Watson appears to complete his follow through and do it where he lands. Ponting's hypocracy in his after match comments is also pathetic. Someone needs to pull him up on this: "I know all the guys are a bit embarrassed probably, and know they've overstepped the mark," Ponting said. "It's one of my responsibilities as the captain to make sure that guys aren't overstepping the mark. This week when we get down to Melbourne as a group together it will happen in our first team meeting, we will go over some of the events of this week."
Tom
Guest
I couldn't believe his sanctimonious bleating on the radio about the Benn/Johnson/Haddin incident though. He was seemingly outraged Haddin got away with a lighter punishment than Benn, completely ignoring the fact that Benn started it, and as he himself pointed out, Haddin pleaded guilty whereas Benn did not.
Tragic
Guest
Oh and Roebuck - I mention him because his writing style would often be something akin to the over-dramatic re-telling of an epic myth - something that befits neither the actual circumstances nor the era. His commentary is good on the radio though.
Tragic
Guest
Admittedly no, there are other reasons. But this is the primary reason. I enjoy the chat on the radio and detest the image-consciousness of the Australians on the television. Perhaps they forget themselves in the heat of the moment despite this consciousness. Other reasons include the boredom I have experienced listening to the commentators on tele, the over-reliance on the pictures and graphic gimmickry, and the gut wrenching commercials and branded nationalism (which no sport is free of). I also like to do other things when I listen to cricket - something that is a little more difficult when its on the tele.
sittingbison
Guest
Sorry I disagree that is the "only" problem with his outburst. Test cricket is a 'test' of character and mettle, where hard players must perform for 5 days. We all like to see players on the edge, it shows they care. Watsons celebration was the antithesis, graceless insulting and childish. Sure getting Gayle out was key but does not excuse that reaction. The guy has just scored one of the greatest centuries in test history, and Watson has not shown anything in his many opportunities to indicate he is anywhere near the caliber needed for test cricket. Show some class please.
Campbell Watts
Guest
Steve Waugh NEVER stood eye-to-eye with Ambrose.... Unless he was standing on a milk crate!!!! Boom boom!! ;-)
sittingbison
Guest
it could be because he tackled, grabbed and tripped Johnson.... However I think Haddin Benn and Watson should all be stood down a TEST match (bugger the one dayers they did the crime in a test match). Also the Umpires should ban them from bowling for the rest of an innings - likewise it is because 'chucking' is deemed cheating and offensive that they are removed from the attack. This would quickly put a stop to it.
nf_001
Roar Rookie
The only problem I have with Watsons outburst was that it was in the last innings of the series and didn't allow the Windies the option to reciprocate his 'enthusiasm'. Actions that add heat to the confrontation in test cricket only add to the theatre. Sure give them a slap on the wrist and take away part of their match payment but these battles within the match itself are essential to the game. It doesn’t need to happen every test but don’t deny that two test cricketers standing toe to toe, eye to eye ala Steve Waugh vs Curtly Ambrose and now Haddin vs Benn is not good viewing. Add in some sledging, well directed bounces. Marvelous. Watson just needs to pick the context for his outbursts, bring it on.
Fisher Price
Guest
Recall his abuse of Rahul Dravid in 2001?
Fisher Price
Guest
NOT in his face they didn't.
Fisher Price
Guest
Haddin - restraint? Not sure about that. Even he admitted he was too animated.
Tom
Guest
I totally agree that there was some very ordinary behaviour by a lot of players in the third test, and why Watson's punishment is so much more lenient than Benn's is a mystery to me, but it strikes me that the standards we set for cricketers are vastly different than for other sports. I mean, if a defender in AFL turns the ball over and the opposition get a goal you'll often see the opposition players get stuck into the defender. As far as I know, nobody's been fined or suspended for that and I haven't seen anyone calling for it. Perhaps we should be careful not to get too dramatic when talking about player behaviour in cricket.