“I don’t particularly like them.” That was it. That was the extent of James Faulkner’s supposedly outrageous and disrespectful ‘sledging’ of the West Indies last week.
It was hardly a harsh or crude comment yet it has been re-imagined as a vitriolic attack on the West Indian side by the Aussie all-rounder.
Many players have rivalries with other teams and have no fondness of those opponents. Faulkner was being honest that he doesn’t have a great rapport with the West Indians.
Directly after that above quote, which has been relayed ad nauseam since and often incorrectly, he said this:
“Good players are good players. You have to do things to get under their skin and try and irritate them to try and get them off their game,” Faulkner said.
“Players do that to me and I do it to other players. It’s a fact of the game. A lot of it is played in your mind. If you can do something to upset somebody and upset their team, it goes a long way towards doing well as a group.”
Again, the 23-year-old is being up front, rather than talking in pre-rehearsed media speak about what happens on the field.
The mind games to which he refers are practiced by every single international team. Even at amateur level they are commonplace.
In almost every match I have played in local competitions, an opponent has directed some kind of so-called ‘sledge’ at me while I’ve been batting or bowling.
It is part of the sport and is mostly just gamesmanship, rarely ever crossing the line into abuse.
Such verbal sparring is routine in every sport. I have experienced it in most matches I have played in local Australian football or basketball competitions.
When it comes your way, you grin and either ignore it or fire a jibe back. If you let it get to you then your opponent has been successful in distracting you from the game and you are, in my opinion, a mentally weak individual.
Make no mistake, that is the aim of sledging – to get your opponent to focus on something other than their role in the contest.
This is exactly what Faulkner referred to above. Sometimes it goes too far. Faulkner has been guilty of that.
When he bowled West Indies kingpin Chris Gayle in an ODI in Manuka last year he reportedly told the batsman to “F— off” amid his celebration.
That is a boorish thing to say to a foe on the field and Faulkner was rightly fined for his indiscretion.
Yet he has received perhaps an even greater backlash over his harmless comment revealing he doesn’t “particularly like” the West Indies team.
After Australia lost to the West Indies, with Faulkner conceding the winning runs, the Tasmanian was pilloried.
His comment was referred to in the lead paragraph of many reports on the match, with Australia’s loss framed as retribution for his supposed disrespect.
On sports forums, social media and in the comments sections of websites like The Roar, cricket followers were quick to chastise Faulkner.
His comment was held up by many fans as evidence of the “ugly Australians”.
No such criticism was levelled at the West Indies’ for their wild celebrations after Darren Sammy hit the winning six.
Their entire side rushed onto the field while Chris Gayle and Sammy in particular made repeated, angry and forceful gestures directly at the Australian players who were grouped together.
It didn’t bother me in the slightest. The West Indies players were elated and surging with adrenalin following the tight win which saved them from potential elimination from the tournament.
I can’t help but think that had Australia won and done the same thing, with the likes of Shane Watson and Faulkner dancing and gesticulating towards their foes, they would have been lambasted. Yet the West Indies behaviour was described as “colourful” and “great for the game”.
The Faulkner incident pales in comparison to the laughable hoopla prompted by Michael Clarke’s battle with England bowler James Anderson in November.
When the stump microphone picked up skipper Clarke warning the batsman Anderson that his bowlers would give him a “broken f—ing arm”, it upset weak-kneed people across the globe.
Anderson was painted by many as an innocent victim subjected to heinous workplace intimidation. Never mind that the Englishman is known as one of the mouthiest players in world cricket and had allegedly just threatened to clout Aussie fieldsman George Bailey.
Then in South Africa, the comedy factor was taken to a new level when Australia were criticised for barking at Faf du Plessis after he was dismissed in the recent Test series.
Again, soft-as-butter types rushed forward to slam the Australians for their alleged vulgarity. Yet the Aussies were not barking at du Plessis as a means of abuse.
It was an obvious reference to the fact he had days earlier described them in the media as being like a “pack of dogs” on the field. Their canine mimicry was humorous, not villainous.
The same way that Faulkner’s comments were honest, not disrespectful.
Why don’t we all calm down about the Australians until they actually do or say something that is genuinely inappropriate?
Don’t worry, that time will come. Inevitably David Warner will make an ill-advised comment in front of a smiling press pack knowingly leading him down a precarious path.
But until that happens, stop trying to morph minor incidents into scandals. Just shut up and watch the cricket.
Rowdy
Guest
Aus cricketers' "sledging" seems to consist entirely of abuse. It's hilarious when they get some back (e.g. Sarwan to Flapgob McGrath) and the Aus player goes off on one. There's a perception that Australians are pretty good at dishing it out, but just about the worst at taking it, and your sportsmen prove it.
NickW
Guest
I loved this summer, I loved smashing that particular England team. They deserved everything that came their way. I love our Aussie Test Side, I love their sledging. Keep it going, not abuse, just good sledging!
Glefty
Guest
Not a cricket fan but played in school. 100% on the mark, Paul, I'm embarrassed by our national cricket team trying their best to be NBL trash talking wannabes in a supposed gentleman's game. Maybe at 50 I'm an old fart but I greatly respected our Aussie code of honour & fair play, now it's just about the $. Welcome to the USA.
dave
Guest
Sledging is fantastic in any sport. I enjoy it almost as much as the game. Some are no good at it (ie Clarkes broken arm) and he woulda looked a fool but Anderson saved him by being a bigger fool. Now I play a bit of pool and sledge depending on my opponents reactions . When someone sledges me i dont show it but I know ive got the game won. In another circumstance I was playing this little 12yr old and he had me down 2nil in best of 5 so I started sledging the little punk(If he wants to play with the men then he's gotta get use to it). Mate I won next 2 but this kid ended up smashing me, sledging and imtimidation had no effect on him.Good on him. There is is so much diversity in the way way different people handle it its probably safest to say nothing.Maybe just play the game and the most skilled wins. Nah that would take all the fun out of sport. P.S. If you think golfers /tennis players /lawn bowlers/darts players/ladies badmington players dont sledge YOU ARE DREAMING
BrainsTrust
Guest
I assume Greg Chappel never swore on the field as he was complaining about a Pakistan player saying the F word to the umpires when he was caught by a player who just happened to be called Faqih. Wasn't Hookes the one who said something along the lines of there being 10 thousand people at a Tasmanian cricket ground but there would be 20 thousand heads.
expathack
Guest
Lads! Its just a bit of top bants mate. Yeah. LADS! (Just don't give it back to us because we'll go crying to the umpire like Jimmy LAD!!!!!)
expathack
Guest
Seem to remember Joe Root being a gobby little prat from the off in that series, despite having achieved zero internationally either. Your fans and media seemed to think it was hilaire.
expathack
Guest
Perfect summation of the situation, Ronan
Danwain
Guest
I agree completely Ronan, but for other countries to begin complaining about our behaviour again is music to my ears, obviously we are winning again. To be honest I don't think the other countries care how we behave, they just don't like to see Australia winning, the whole sledging stuff is just a facade to bring us down.
Peter
Roar Rookie
The West Indians don't even play for a country. Maybe that's why they are more apathetic about their team.
Elma Dudd
Guest
I've worked with quite a few Indians both in oz and overseas and trust me most of them are well aware of the racist remarks they make towards co workers And I personally would put them in a class if their own when it comes racist insults I would also put them in a much higher class if their own when it comes to being thin skinned about such comments being directed at themselves and seeking retribution for such comments being directed at them ... The other point here us everything an Australian says is in English so the whole world understands ... Who knows what some of the other nations are muttering in their provincial tongues .... Seems everyone loves Aussie bashing ...
Paul Miles
Guest
As an Australian and a cricket fan. The two in my case do not go hand in hand. I remain embarrassed by the behaviour of the national side. It began under Ian Chappell reached it's nadir under Steve Waugh and they remain Yobs. They talk of what a gentleman Matthew Hayden was. Is that the same Matthew Hayden I saw break a window at the SCG when he got out. Once people knew how to behave. Australian cricketer's seem to only know how to win. Who cares any way , these spoilt rich kids only interest a minority for a few weeks of summer now. It's not the national past time anymore. It's India's game now.
Simoc
Guest
I have spoken to ex WA state, club players who migrate to England for the winter months. The one I know stopped playing in Oz because he made enough money playing in England and said it was easy going , that is to say no sledging (this was 20years back). In NZ sledging wasn't part of the game but in Australia it is. I really like the sledging and as an opening bat it made me certain I wouldn't lose my wicket to certain bowlers. I especially loved it when the bowler tells you how he is going to knock your head off and presents you with four successive long hops for boundaries. Then of course you can say how disappointed you are that he has been replaced in the bowling lineup.
Simoc
Guest
The silly part about it was if Australia had been playing NZ Faulkner would most likely have said 'I don't particularly like New Zealanders' and nobody would care except if NZ won. Then it would have been a story.
Simoc
Guest
Yes The Truth, The Poms prefer outright cheating like sand in the pocket and jellybeans for the ball, then pass it off as par for the course. But how they squeal when the talk gets tough. Sweet useless petals. But Cooks bravest move in recent times is to sack KP. That is an English loser for you.
Dizzy Tangles
Guest
" I can't understand why Faulkner doesn't like the West Indies " I can. They are apathetic when playing for their country , and their players are the first to sell themselves out to Mickey Mouse T20 tournaments, and just don't seem to care about test cricket. A far cry from the West Indies of old we all knew, loved and respected.
tomjas
Guest
I have to agree with Faulkner as there are a few WI who aren't particularly likable (e.g. Pollard) and their "celebration" simply reinforced that view Says a lot about the hypocritical attitude of many cricket observers when Faulkner is castigated for his comments and the WI actions are largely ignored
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Dwayne Bravo is still whingeing about Aussie "sledging". Funny that because I remember on Australia's last Test tour of the Windies he was extremely vocal in the field. http://www.sportal.com.au/cricket/icc-world-twenty20/icc-world-t20-sledging-australians-deserved-to-go-home-says-bravo/6unf0r6unq0i159mm608sl5g5
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Yet many people would have you believe that (contrary to their opponents recollections) the great West Indian sides never said a word on the field. To this day many people believe the West Indians can do no wrong which is why we heard zero criticism of their exorbitant protestations on the field after beating Australia. What other side could have done that and escaped scrutiny?
Graeme Smith
Guest
Personally, I don't particularly like the English rugby side. Not in the least. I hope this doesn't get me into hot water.