As I watched the Aussies push hard for an unlikely victory in the last two sessions of the first Test, I did as many do these days and checked Twitter to see what my fellow Tweeps had to say about the spirited action in front of us.
While most of what I read consisted of lively debate and good questions, there was one comment that was disappointing to read.
Obviously having just seen the exchanges between Graeme Smith, Michael Clarke and James Pattinson, this person decided to tweet “Typical Australian behaviour sore losers can’t win lets (sic) abuse everyone”.
What was disappointing for me when reading this was that once again the Aussies are being hung out to dry for their part in any banter on the field, with assertions that we are the only ones who exchange in verbal warfare.
It was a particularly curious comment given events that had transpired earlier in the Test.
In my mind I immediately asked – did this person happen to catch the start of day four at all? Did he happen to catch Smith walking past Ed Cowan and giving him a good portion of his mind, which was greeted with a warm smile by the Aussie opener?
I found this small piece of byplay to be fantastic and loved every second of it – a captain getting frustrated deciding to try a verbal bouncer, and a batsman smiling as if to say “bring it on mate”.
But why is it that there was no comment made about this? If the Aussies decided to get a bit chirpy people would be far quicker to criticise.
This is not something that is isolated to this match, but something that has been the case for decades and something that gets my back up.
Yes, we are quite good at the art of sledging and there are times where we cross the line. But we are far from the only team to do this, even though we seem to be the team most often criticised for it.
It boiled my blood for the Indian media and Virat Kholi to lay into the Aussie team for the banter flying around when Kholi was clearly nervous approaching a maiden century.
It was clear that they got in his head. The Australians were criticised by the Indian media and Kholi came out and made comments about it. Yet, in the same presser, he admitted that he and Ishant Sharma has taken great delight in chipping back and trying to “piss them off” in his own words.
As far back as the 70s, under the leadership of Ian Chappell, the tag of the ‘Ugly Australian’ has always lingered around like the geeky cousin in the room.
And yet as far back as then, every country has engaged in some sort of gamesmanship or ‘mental disintegration’. As Ian Chappell said, a weakness in character is no different to a weakness outside off stump and is to be exploited.
Now I understand there are lines that should not be crossed, and those that do cross these lines should be punished accordingly. There has been more than one occasion where the Aussies have been guilty of this – but once again, so has everyone else.
The mantra of ‘if you dish it out, you need to be able to take it’ needs to be adopted by many.
From all reports, the two teams in battle today are firm followers of this and had a much less intense get together in the rooms after the game. It is time for the rest of the world to follow suit.
The Barry
Roar Guru
soft serve... "we are the world, we are the children..."
pim
Guest
Well said WayneO. Don, you are sinking very low to bring up something that has nothing to do with the subject(I gather you really love Saffas!) If all else fails bring up the race card.As Wayne says racial attrocities litters the history of most countries with Aussies in a commanding position!
Don Corleone
Guest
I agree, ideally there would be no verbal or physical violence in sport, there's absolutely no place for it in the ideals and spirit of competitive sport. And if Australian sport was played in the right spirit optimistically there would be a flow-on effect to society (I have my doubts though). I don't see a problem with demanding that all players and teams conform to the game being played in the right spirit. If there is a rule for one and not the other...it achieves nothing in the long-run. But it's not exclusively cricket's problem...I dare say the verbal and physical violence exhibited in the AFL and NRL on a weekly basis makes cricket sledging pale into insignificance. This needs to be addressed also. Chris Judd's chickenwing armlock on an already prone opponent is an example of the mindless, unnecessary violence which needs to be stamped-out. Yet unlike the Australian cricket team, who are perceived to have a culture issue, Judd's behaviour was excused as being 'out of character'. There's no point in singling-out particular sports or teams as baddies and then making excuses for certain players...the issue, if it's going to be addressed...must be addressed across the board.
James
Guest
Can't take the criticism from many different people, from many different countires? So they are all wrong? Our hope is that Clarke as Captain can help restore our image from just plain nasty to tough and fair.
WayneO
Guest
Don, I bet several aboriginal people would have a point or two to make over the comment about South Africa's human rights record!!! I would suggest staying well clear of that path. You could end up with some pretty nasty Australian history being brought up.
langou
Roar Guru
There are plenty of things that concern me about Australian society. The high rates of bullying, intimidating behaviour at work ,the high rates of mental illness by young males often caused by the idea that men should be tough and should be able to hack it. These are all issues that we are tackling as a society. Teaching children that it is not okay to verbally abuse people, teaching people to speak up against those intimidating them, breaking down barriers and convincing males that there is nothing blokey and tough about not being able to hack verbal taunts. Sledging in cricket flies in the face of what we are trying to achieve as a tolerant and caring society. The pre meditated abuse that comes with the idea that anyone who can’t handle being abused needs to “man up”, the idea that if you are not winning by skill it is all right to “let the batsman know about it” and try and bully them. The lack of respect for others Looking inward at what is wrong within your own society in an attempt to create a better place to live is a positive thing and this is why people are more concerned about Australians sledging than they are about other countries. They want a national team that they can be proud of, not only for their skills but for the way they go about it.
Richard
Guest
What a bunch of Pansies! You blokes have no idea about cricket. As a batsman, the banter is all part of the game. If you can't take a bit of mental heat with good humor in the middle. Then you are unlikely to stand up to a fiery spell from Stein or Pattinson or any other spirited bowler. The sledging is what you should use as a batsman to concentrate. Let your bat do the talking and they will soon shut up. What a dull game (as a player) it would be without the banter!!
Don Corleone
Guest
Good points, but I would argue that it's not just the local media who drive it. In particular I read an article by Firdose Moonda of Cricinfo (or CricIndiafo would be more accurate) who, despite Smith and Amla playing the verbal banter down at the press conference, resorted to speculation and dredging-up a list of Australia-specific sledging incidents from the past. The local media, who love 'ugly Australian' stories, get into it too and then the critics jump on the bandwagon.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
The first test, where he tried to call the racism card about unruly Australian fans was my favourite bit. He looked like the D*ck he is when rightfully called out on what language he was being abused in... Hindi! The footage also showed the fans in full India kit too. What a dope. Ishant is another. If you're going to open your gob as a bowler, at least be a good one. He is the most overrated test bowler running around right now. I don't mind blokes like Anderson and Steyn because at least they can back it up with wickets. This is probably a good example of backing it up from Anderson (Johnson being a bowler who like Sharma should shut up)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtxnfqDJUWg
Sandy
Guest
I think Razza is just having a laugh...yes he must be...there is no way he can be serious. Made me laugh anyway!
Max
Guest
Loved a contest, I loved his energy and when he dished it to the fast bowlers you couldn't wait for him to be on the receiving end. Now there is some very entertaining cricket viewing right there!
Rhys
Guest
Ah Haydos, an orator of rare distinction.
Rhys
Guest
Now there was one angry, angry bowler.
Simon
Guest
This is an all too common pattern. 1. Australian cricketers involved in some verbal sparring with an opponent (ie: 50% involvement) 2. Australian media highlights it and takes the moral high ground (won't someone think of the children etc) 3. Australian fans defend #1 and highlight the hypocrisy of the Proteas/Poms/Indians, perhaps even raising unrelated matters such as apartheid, dirty rugby, general inability to win, importing foreign players, massive disparities between upper.lower classes in the opponents' cultures, deep seated racism in opponents' cultures etc 4. Australian media changes tack and talks about storm in a teacup (thereby implying that the issue was actually raised by the opponents) and includes instances where the shoe was on the other foot (Smith breaking the "players code" and having a public opinion about sledging including what was actually said, "monkey-gate", etc etc) 5. Australian media continually pose questions during press conferences to the opposition players regarding their thoughts on Australian sledging (implying that the opposition actually has a problem with it) until eventually the player responds with a juicy soundbite which can be repeated ad-nauseum for the remainder of the series (and reraised in future series). Note: in the current situation, at no point did any South Aftican player or any part of their entourage raise the matter... it has been completely driven by the local media and fans.
JohnB
Guest
Plus he (Kohli) is one of the ones who when he's back home looking for excuses comes out with the nonsense about the pitches in that series having been juiced up. In his heart of hearts he must realise that is simply completely untrue, but that doesn't seem to matter.
Don Corleone
Guest
Thanks Kristin for your refreshing article and comments. But I think we just have to face it, there are different rules for the Australian cricket team and other teams. 'Monkeygate' was a prime example where a racial slur targeted at an Australian player could be manipulated by Indians and the media and people like Roebuck to make the Australians look like the perpetrators. There are also different rules for Australian cricketers, especially Michael Clarke, and other sportsmen. After all, Clarke used to be young and naive and had bleached hair. Unforgivable.
Australian Rules
Guest
Harbi is another that absolutely cannot take what he gives.
Kristin Carville
Roar Rookie
So tell me Farmerj, what would you call the verbal barrage that Smith dished out to Cowan? This is the point I am making! There is no difference in the two yet Smith's verbals were just called a part of test cricket, while Jimmy P giving it back to Smith is somehow called abuse.
Kristin Carville
Roar Rookie
Two very good comments there, agree totally with both of them. And Brendon, old mate Jimmy did have the advantage that he was making our batsman look like club cricketers during that series! Only thing that made me angry with his sledging was that none of our batsmen were good enough to take the fight back to him and the English attack - you simply cant get thrashed by the Poms at home!
Australian Rules
Guest
2 words: Andre Nel