Sledging must be eradicated from cricket

Because i think that sort of behaviour is pretty poor and way out of line and I think it shouldn't be allowed on a cricket field ,you may feel that's it's fine , in fact from your comments it seems you do think it's all a bit of a laugh and part of the game . May be where we just differ totally .

I guess it comes down to what you consider to be poor behaviour , I think it's all poor and the excuse to say it's part of the game is no justification .If you think the content in those articles is lame ,ho hum and no biggie than we think totally differently on what is acceptable behaviour from one human being to another ,whether that be on a cricket field or on the street of Sydney. In fact you wouldn't say rubbish like that on the streets of Sydney because you'd get a smack in the chops . And the physical violence is the bit you don't like but it seems that everything is ok ,but if someone is telling you to get f$&&d all day etc ,perhaps at some stage you may lose your cool and get in their face .Think this may be where Chappell is coming from saying that someone will end up with a bat wrapped around their head. I mean does it really not strike you that the behaviour of the Australian team towards Smith on debut was pathetic ? Is that really what cricket is all about ? Or do you think that ,the behaviour of those guys is all good?

Yes John, I thought the swearing was getting close to breaching the communication guidelines, that is until I realised that you were providing a specific example of an ugly sledge. :)

Yes, nice link. I see that nasty little Paki Miandad was threatening our wholesome Dennis. Simply unacceptable. They should all be made to attend anger management classes while the Aussies retreat to the Pub to refresh themselves after playing against such violent cads. This horrid display of role modelling by Miandad must be the same awful, ugly behaviour that Kohli reminds john/John of. Oh blast I bit my tongue :P

Thanks john, I did as you asked and read this one also. I thought it was dated and lame. Mind you I thought the crossword from that edition was brilliant and I'm disappointed I didn't finish it before the solution appeared in the next edition ;)

Thanks john, I read the article via the link you posted with great alacrity. I was hoping to see smoothing staggering that would alter my view and persuade us all that Australia are ugly and the Indians are simply manning up for a change. I note from the article that the umpire, a solid and experienced campaigner thought nothing of the gratuitous taunting of SA's wet behind the ears debutant. Imagine my shock and disappointment when I couldn't find a single reference to mothers or wives. I'm sorry old bean but you'll need to dig a little further. Your case for the alternative is yet to be made. :P

sorry mate I'm taking it to 250 myself. I think this one sums it up beautifully Ryan and JMW,your thoughts . http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/15/1052885347018.html

BTW Ryan I think Steve Waugh was captain when this witty banter was directed at Smith .

Ok JMW you still haven't answered my question ,what do you think about the abusive language of the current and former Australian test players,as in the description Graeme Smith gives in this article .Is this sort of thing what you classify as witty banter or should it be penalised . http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/29/1022569795699.html you can take it to 250 mate with your reply mate

"When Johnson hurls a ball in spite, striking a batsman at the crease, that is poor form." What game were you watching? Or have you simply bought into Kohli's whinging? Johnson hurled a ball at the stumps when a batsman was out of his crease, something his is entitled to do. The ball hit Kohli because he got himself between Johnson and the stumps, had the ball not hit Kohli it would have knocked the stumps out of the ground. It was unfortunate Kohli got hit, but Johnson did nothing wrong. On the first day at the SCG Rodgers hit the ball back to the bowler while out of his crease, but instead of falling in front of his stumps, he backed away from the stumps while making his ground. A good lesson for all batsman, if you don't want to get hit by the ball don't stand between the fielder and the stumps.

Wow, 246 comments (now 247)...can we post the 250 before tea? Is this a Roar record?

Ok Ryan ,thanks for clearing that up. I'm the John that didn't write the article ,but now am clear on where you are coming from and the distinctions you have made. I think the banter is niether here nor there .i think the outright abuse swearing at players involving bringing up their wives and family is off and needs to go .If you read the article I posted about Graeme Smith's first test against Warne ,Waugh,McGrath and company and what they said to him ,my initial thoughts about those guys and what they said,cricket legends,but what dickheads. And that is what I'm referring to regarding what's happened in the Australian cricket culture ,that sort of rubbish is pathetic.and it ain't witty :-) I think the post by the other John wasn't stupid and was a valid perception that reflects many Australians and how they feel about the way the test team plays at the moment .Maybe you can pick him up on the laws of the game and yes Johnson was entitled to throw the ball at the "stumps " or Kholi but I think it was the build up of simmering hostility that brought about both the throw and the reaction from Kholi .Anyway you can argue that anyway you like ,it's more the general feeling of the vitriol that I think the other John was think of. I also posted an article by Bruce Laird describing what it was like playing in the team with Chappells ,Marsh Thommo etc and the very different environment he described ,sounds totally different to the last 20 years of Aussie cricket . Interested to hear your thoughts on that,and I still think the abuse,(I won't call it sledging) and I'm pretty sure Steve Waughs team was the worst at it and set something in motion that need to stop . Lastly I think it should obviously be controlled by the umpires and applies to whoever decides to act like an imbecile no matter what cap they wear . Have a great time at the cricket !

Great article. Thanks for sharing.

Snap!

Wow, is this still going on?! I purposely removed myself from the conversation, because it appeared to be going nowhere. To be honest, it still seems that is hasn’t progressed very far, but seeming as I’ve been called out, I better reply one more time. It’s worth mentioning, I generally always reply to a comment directed at me, and never shy away from any ‘heat’. I’m sure regular Roarers will happily back-up this claim. I’m also more than happy to admit when I’m wrong. For this particular thread, most of the comments directed at ‘John’ were based on the assumption that he was ‘John Cooper’, the author of this piece. Seeming as they shared the same name, opinion and writing style, it was fair assumption to make. I’m not completely convinced they are different people, but if they are, this confusion explains much of my previous comments. I had an major issue with the original piece, as it contained some gross inaccuracies, and opinions based on extremely flawed logic. Virat Kohli never complained about the practice wickets. Mitch Johnson’s behaviour wasn’t excused because Kohli did complain. The Australian’s never said Kohil was ‘spoilt’ because he retaliated to their sledging, nor did they say the Indians played against the spirit of the game. Additionally, Johnson could never, ever be fined for attempting to throw the ball at the stumps when the batsman was out of his crease. And overall, on the general premise of the piece, sledging could never be eradicated from cricket. I find both those last points very silly to even suggest, and not based in reality. In my opinion, the incorrect facts and the silly suggestions were embarrassing for the site, and The Roar community, and said so. I still stand by that today. If I’m being brutally honest, yes, I did find the article ‘stupid’, and that was the basis for my own sledge, in the form of the Mark Twain quote. In hindsight, that was irresponsible, immature and incorrect for me to do. Not to mention, (apparently) largely directed at the wrong person. However, it’s how I felt about the piece, and some of the subsequent conversations that were being had. I think a lot of this debate comes down to the loose use of the word ‘sledging'. It seems ‘sledging' has been used to describe both witty/clever banter, AND abuse. I don’t have an issue with witty banter, or a bit of chirping, and that is what I’ve always called ‘sledging'. I don’t think ‘abuse’ should be categorised under ‘sledging’, personally. For the record, I don’t have an issue with the Australian team being called out for personal abuse, or if they cross the line with their sledging. I’ve found some of this behaviour over the years embarrassing. What I do have an issue with is the belief/notion/attitude that it’s just the Australians that do it. Whether they’re the worst is completely subjective (unless you have every sledge, by every team, recorded for comparison). It’s also irrelevant. After all, you don’t pardon someone from manslaughter, just because someone else is up for murder. Be that as it may, I find the notion that India can be excused for their identical behaviour utterly ridiculous; I really do. All in all, if things are out of control and lines have been crossed, then it’s up to the umpires and officials to do something about it. That was Chappell’s point as well. But I’d hate for all ‘talking’ to be banned, and I can’t see it ever happening anyway. Anyways, hopefully now my opinions are all out in the open, and everyone is 110% clear on my stance. I’m off to the SCG to watch some great cricket, and hopefully witness some quality sledging. Cheers Ryan

Did you actually read the articles ,don't think I've overstated how much sledging goes on . Probably time it was knocked on the head ,(no matter what colour cap you wear )

Also JMW I'm not trying to make this personal and you are entitled to your opinion and I actually enjoy that people have other opinions and want to debate them. But at the bottom of it all what I am saying is I'm Austarlian and I don't think some of the way our test team has played over the last 20 years is very becoming . You know that team with Warne,McGrath,Waugh brothers is probably one of the best in history.I don't get why they had to carry on like such arrogant dick heads and swear and curse and insult the opposition ,I think it's poor sportsmanship ,and also poor as a person to act that way .They would've won anyway . Our cricket team is hated by other countries ,not because they win but becUse they play ugly and act ugly . Th All Blacks have beaten everyone for years and I've hated them beating The wallabies over and over ,but you have to respect them they are a great team .And when McCaw gets penalised you see no bitching or carrying on,he takes the decision in his stride and gets on with it. He doesn't need to sledge the All Blacks are just too good . They also have a no dick head policy ,anyone who is an arrogant ass seems to get weeded out . Great culture in their team .

BTW I'm not sure if saying we have feeble minds,or Ryan saying I'm stupid are within the guidelines of this forum ,not sure what you mean about getting close to crossing them .Maybe because I asked you to be sincere rather than a smart ass.

He also states don't expect us to be friends after the personal insults

You still avoided the question JMW,you called sledging harmless witty banter but what about the personal insults that AB De Villiers is talking about ? What do you think about that ? What do you think about Chappell and Laird both saying they worry that the personal insults will soon led to physical reply ? You seem happy to say that if someone loses their cool after having disgusting things said to them over no over that it's their fault ,but I feel you are avoiding the point Laird and Chappell are making which if the level of ugly sledging continues it will get physical. They are also saying that if this BS had happened when they were playing it would pave got physical,and actually I can't say I'd blame them . You seem to say it's manly to sledge ,I think it's pathetic.telling someone to F$&k of c$&t over and over shouldn't in my opinion be allowed ,there certainly is nothing witty about it ,it's actually emabarassing . I also said the Austarlians have been the worst at it over the last 20 years ,don't think you can argue with that.The Indians have had enough and are now giving it back. But I think it doesn't matter whic team does it ,it needs to go. And I think childer copy their heroes ,monkey see ,monkey do,that's also surely beyond argument. I don't mind witty banter,it's the ugly vitriolic rubbish tht I have seen occuring from the Aussies that I object to .