The past ten years or so have witnessed some ugly encounters between India and Australia.
There was the Sydney Test match and ‘Monkeygate’, which left a dreadful taste in everyone’s mouth. This has been called the moment Andrew Symonds stopped wanting to play for Australia.
From India’s point of view: “only one team was playing in the spirit of the game”. Australia has since been thrashed 4-0 in India. India has been thrashed 4-0 in Australia.
We’ve seen Gautam Ghambir and Shane Watson shoving each other at the SCG and just recently this tour seems to have started to turn sour.
On blogs all over the cricketing world there are high levels of vitriol being poured into debates about umpiring decisions, the practice wickets at the GABBA, aggression, fines for Warner and Ishant Sharma, racism and Rohit Sharma’s sledging of Mitchell Johnson.
Virat Kohli is either someone who has attained batting nirvana or is a very angry young man with a motor mouth, depending on who you talk to.
Not so long ago there was a sort of truce as the Australian players recovered from the loss of one of their own and a dear friend.
Of course that grieving process is still underway and is liable to be something the Australian players are dealing with all summer.
I don’t mention this as any form of excuse just to put some of this into context. It is one thing to complain about food and another to be overcoming the loss of one of your best friends.
Before your trigger finger itches, I’m not here to point the finger at either side or absolve one side of any of its duty to uphold the spirit of cricket. I’m not even so concerned with the players.
But I would appreciate your thoughts on why India-Australia matches seem to bring out the worst in us, the fans?
The simple answer, some suggest, is that racism is at play. India is a new pay-master and will not tolerate being treated without respect.
Some bloggers seem to think this is what’s going on, that Australia may not like this new status quo so much. But I personally don’t believe this is what fires the players in the middle when they clash.
At times they genuinely seem at each other’s throats, but if MS Dhoni is not afraid to raise the practice wickets and Gabba food as issues of concern, there is absolutely no doubt racism would be called out if it were in play.
Racism is more a problem for the fans than for the players. To my knowledge, no Indian or Australian players have accused each other of racism during this series. For the fans, there are examples of it everywhere, particularly on blogs.
Another argument is that there is resentment between the “haves” and the “have nots”. MS Dhoni earns a bucket-load more than Pup. An IPL cricketer can earn more than a Big Bash player could ever hope to.
Maybe it’s jealousy? Or on the flip-side, maybe some players are flashy prima donnas who are out of selfish and out of touch?
But in my view, the players appear to be clashing more over an interpretation of what are acceptable levels of “aggression” and how aggression may be demonstrated in a Test match situation.
As a starting point, most people find aggression a negative psychological characteristic. Some Australian commentators were shocked when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were having a go at Steven Smith following a hopeful LBW appeal in Adelaide.
Rohit could be heard distinctly shouting out “what, what?” Whereas, David Warner goaded Varun Aaron after he bowled him off a no-ball and shouted at Warner “come on” – a call which is so benign it’s fine at the tennis.
Did Rohit need to get involved when there wasn’t any reason to? Did Warner need to retaliate and needlessly mock Varun?
There have been plenty of other spats involving players from both teams. Australia traditionally uses psychological aggression. India now seems determined to match them. In my view, that’s perfectly fine.
Outside of war, sport is the only place where aggression is not only encouraged, but cheered on by the supporters.
It is a Test match after all, pride is on the line when two countries go head to head. India and Australia are both justifiably proud nations. But aggression, to its detractors, also can be interpreted as bullying, petulance, frustration and uncalled for anger.
I’m sensing, in the lull up to Christmas where there is no cricket to distract them, that some fans are not very good at processing what the players ultimately seem comfortable with.
Both sides here seem more than capable of dishing out and taking aggression so long as no one steps over the line (and if they do there will be more fines).
This is good, hard Test cricket between two sides with strong home records and rotten away records. Whether we like it or not, Australia versus India is going to pop up on the calendar more often than not so I’d implore some fans on blogs to breathe, understand the aggression is being doled out on both sides and enjoy the cricket.
What do you think Roarers – why do India versus Australia contests seem to bring out the worst in us?
Harish
Guest
Spot on.
Harish
Guest
On monkey gate, it was Mother F**** in Hindi which Bhajji called Symonds and in India we consider our Mothers higher than Race. It will be childish if an Indian calls another Monkey. Also Mokey is a revered God(google Hanuman) for Indians. Aussies might swear by God but Indians don't and that is a cultural thing. Happy Chrismas.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
I agree that these two teams have a strong history of respect for each other, and I have seen it in the first 2 tests. India has been well and truly dudded by the umpiring,especially in the first test ; Australia has had some bad decisions go against them. They are men who earn their living at being the best, and they come into conflict, but they have played in great spirit. Culturally there are some differences. Most Indian players are bi-cultural at least, so are used to vagaries of cultural differences. Australian players seem to play as if their world view is correct and other teams should accommodate it. I don't see this as racism. It's hard to see one "race" as superior to another if that race can beat you at cricket, soccer, basketball, etc. For me, the classic example is the Australian tradition of "not walking" when a batsman knows he has been dismissed ; having been brought up in Australia, I understand the rationale behind it. However, it means that if Australians complain about throwing, slow over rates, gambling, etc., opposition teams are unlikely to be sympathetic, since their cultures are often based on "not losing face" -- they cannot understand why a person would accuse another of cheating, as this is causing the player, his team and his family to "lose face". They would seek an alternative solution to the problem that would be more "gentlemanly" -- yet the Australians, by not walking, admit that they are not gentlemen. Sledging also springs to mind. At the same time, the Australian fondness for the underdog may not be shared by cultures where each person must get ahead (using any means possible) in order to survive, without regard for those left behind. We see the same sort of conflict on soccer pitches, where Australian fans are outraged by diving, whereas fans from Italy, Spain, Portugal, South America and France are more likely to see it as a skill to be cultivated, in order to trick authority (the ref in this case).
Johnno
Guest
I don't think the jealousy off the IPL Vs Big bash thing is an issue. Remember lots of aussie cricketers the good ones, play in the IPL too, and cash in on the IPL riches. I don't think they begrudge Dhoni earning more than them, they know he is a local and locals usually earn more coin. The aussies make good cash out off the IPL. The issues are other things. 1 is I reckon a mutual insecurity, of both being hopeless away from home on the other team's pitches.
Tristan
Guest
That game would have the DRS - the DRS will be in play for all WC games.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I think a tour of Australia is probably regarded as the ultimate challenge by most overseas teams, so it stands to reason that they're fired up more than usual. You've got two sides, neither of which will take a backward step, so it stands to reason that there is clashes. Lot of egos out on that field.
formeropenside
Guest
Who cares? Australia is winning, that's enough for me.
Golden
Guest
These two teams definitely don't bring out the "best from each team". For example, the DRS. If India are playing the Word Cup Final at the MCG versus Australia later this year and India have one wicket left and just need two to win... there's a small part of me kinda hoping Kohli is given out LBW after smashing an inside edge.
Darshan Kawar
Roar Pro
I would rather say that India vs Australia always brings out best from each team. Current lot of players be it Kohli, Dhawan, Warner, Smith are all young, competitive and want to stay ahead of the game. Their commitment not only is limited towards batting or bowling, but even while fielding, they keep coming at you. Kohli and Warner are best examples of fielders when they don't shy away from giving a look or stare to outgoing batsman. A bowler never like to get hit by a batsman, as they try to come hard on batsman every time. Similarly, batsmen like warner and Kohli don't like to be tied down by good bowling and hence when they hit a four or six, gives a stare back to the bowler which also upsets the bowler. This causes some exchange of words and results in war of words. Every player wants to perform to the best of his ability and make country proud and their style of batting, bowling and aggression brings out best.
Golden
Guest
Mitcher, thanks for reading. You're right the R-word is a bomb and I for one don't want to lob that anywhere, anytime. Like I said, it's not an issue with the players but there is a bit of it amongst the fans, e.g. - the guardian's website is a decent place to start if you cared to hunt for it. Seems there are a lot of Indians and Aussies in England not co-existing happily over there. Whether that is R or not I don't know but I felt i had to consider it given the subject of the post and the history of Monkeygate etc.
Mitcher
Guest
I feel there are flash points in most evenly matched test series. Especially when we (Australia) are involved (no apologies, that's how we approach it). Difference is the Indians have genuine backing from a huge fan base and dominant board. Every little spark is magnified. I appreciate the author absorbed the complexities of these incidents. But I personally think throwing the R word (racism, that is), ignites a situation that is much less sinister than such a word suggests.
kevin dustby
Guest
Very different cultures that clash over many things. these differences carry over into the business world, for instance in my work we have had many problems dealing with Indian business man whilst trying to start up a business there. they simply have a different way of conducting themselves and they probably find our ways strange as well