- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
James Anderson walked to the crease knowing the Test match was over. Not even the greatest rain dance of all time was going to save him from the fiery chin music set to hail down from Mitchell Johnson.
Naturally, the Australians let him know about it.
George Bailey piped up from his position close to the bat, and that prompted the No. 11 batsman into a response, which in turn drew the umpires and Michael Clarke into the equation.
Clarke’s response – seen in the video below at around the 44 second mark – has now made headlines right around the world.
The British tabloids are no doubt labelling him as a villain and a classless individual given the fact the Aussies were about to win the Test.
There’s probably a fair share of Australians who would echo those sentiments.
Yet what’s most interesting is the large portion of Aussies who watched it, had a laugh and a clap and then enjoyed the post-match celebrations that followed.
The sledging (and dutiful follow-up on the sledge) was applauded more than it was criticised, which is an intriguing context to find ourselves in.
Australians have never been shy of giving a bit of lip, with many wearing that tag-line with pride.
There are always going to be those who wish we were classier and would refrain from a comment like Clarke’s, which isn’t clever nor insightful.
Their point is certainly valid – but their feelings are, more often than not, simply not heard.
And if they are, they’re just laughed at dismissively.
For me, Clarke’s comments are a non-story. They shouldn’t take away from any part of the result and, if we’re going to be brutally honest, are by no means the worst thing that’s ever been said out in the middle.
And it’s a little rich for a country that invented Bodyline to think otherwise.
But the notion of the way in which Clarke’s comments are being celebrated is by far the more intriguing story.
Australians have become masters of the ‘psychological approach’ and many have celebrated that fact, but at the same time, there’s also a sense we’d like our professional sportspeople (who are still meant to be role models) to refrain from comments usually heard in the playground.
What do you think Roarers? Are you proud of Australian sportspeople and their sledging, or do you wish they were just a little classier?
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.