Australia is the World Cup champion, for the fifth time no less. We are the greatest one-day country in the history of the game.
We are a damn fine Test nation as well, especially over the last 25 years. We have twice accumulated record 16-match winning streaks, been consistently ranked world number one and produced names like Warne, Glichrist, McGrath, Waugh, Ponting, Hayden and so on.
Throughout that period the Australian Test and one-day teams have rightfully garnered immense respect from the cricketing world.
However, in many eyes, that respect has been purely centred on the physical and sporting prowess of the team and many of the individuals lying within.
In many quarters, both at home and abroad, cricket fans have failed to be enamoured with the way the Australian team has gone about its quest for victory.
In fact, many have prescribed to the theory that the team – although not specifically each of the individuals – is a boorish, arrogant and belittling entity.
Those very labels were again assigned to the side, and more directly its wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, following Australia’s landslide victory over New Zealand in Sunday’s World Cup decider.
Criticism was levelled on social media both during and immediately following the match by fans of the sport who derided Haddin’s send-offs to Black Cap players Martin Guptill, Grant Elliott and Daniel Vettori.
Haddin again failed to endear himself the next day when he said in a radio interview that he had determined in a pre-match meeting that the team needed to have a go at the Kiwis “as hard as we can” and further, said the opponents “deserved it”.
Allied to those comments and actions Haddin was also shown to a worldwide audience pouring a bottle of beer over the World Cup Trophy and looking like he intended to massage it in to the silver orb atop it.
That, of course, came in the wake of Shane Warne’s ‘insightful’ on-field interviews with numerous members of the triumphant team which centred on what would be consumed post-match and how long said imbibing would go on for.
Again, the blogosphere lit up with accusations as to the appropriateness of such a line of questioning in the 21st century – or perhaps in any century for that matter.
Whether we, as Australians, like it nor not our male national cricket team has some work to do.
Many have contrasted the outward attitudes of the two combatants in Sunday’s final.
New Zealand came out of the tournament with a dramatically enhanced reputation having reached a maiden final and done so throughout with exemplary behaviour.
Australia, it must be said, only once drew the ire of the match referees during the tournament when Shane Watson was docked 15 per cent of his match fee for his part in an explosive stanza of play in the quarter-final against Pakistan in Adelaide. He was put under the pump by paceman Wahab Riaz, who found himself 50 per cent lighter in the pocket at match end for his part.
Steve Waugh dubbed what most of us call sledging to be mental disintegration – a practice where verbal barbs and associated body language are used to breakdown an opponent’s concentration.
Australia has made it a concerted part of their armoury. And, in doing so, have earned the wrath and ire of many a cricket fan.
Australians play their sport hard.
We pride ourselves on it but so to do a lot of other sporting nations.
Unfortunately too often our cricket team, in particular, pushes the envelope too far.
Many times I have heard Kim Hughes speak of the fact that while the West Indies were terrorising Australian sides through the late 1970s and ‘80s, hardly a word was ever directed at the batsman.
A glare yes, but outright verbal sledging was not part of those team’s make-up.
Perhaps much of that was borne out of the fact that Clive Lloyd was the skipper.
Aside from the late Sir Frank Worrell, no West Indian captain has commanded such internal deference and worldwide respect.
West Indian on-field behaviour came from the top with the captain setting the example.
Post Mark Taylor, Australia has had three men who have liked nothing more than a good scrap – Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke.
All three were cut from similar cloth with respect to their upbringing and all three were never going to take a backward step.
If it was not themselves doing the verbalising it was their subordinates who seemingly acted without sanction from their skipper.
It is time that Australia moved to a different place on the cricket field.
It is time to abandon the clapping send-off in the batsman’s face and the nose-to-nose confrontations that require an umpire to intervene.
Steve Smith will likely ascend to the role of permanent skipper of the ODI team following Clarke’s retirement. He is the heir apparent in the Test side as well.
He has shown outstanding leadership qualities in his limited exposure to international captaincy to date.
Perhaps in the future he can be the one to rein things in and get the team playing winning cricket that is still ruthless in execution but done so without the verbals and histrionics that have characterised much of Australia’s recent performances.
After all, winners are grinners.
They do not need to be more than that, especially if they desire universal respect.
pinesh
Guest
please give me chance for dalent.
Todd Shand
Guest
Last year, Warner (clearly Australia’s worst behaved player) was the only Aussie to be reprimanded by the ICC for on field behaviour. Look at the list of players reported by ICC for on field behaviour last year (not including slow over rates fines): SL (5) – Kumar Sangakarra, Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Malinga, Thisara Perera England (4) – Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad, Ravi Bopara, James Anderson South Africa (4) – Morne Morkel, Faf du Plessis, Vernon Philander, Dean Elgar India (4) – Ravid Jadeja, Kohli, Dhawan, Ishant Bang (2) – Shakib al Hasan, Al Amin Hossain Zimbabwe (2) – Chatara, Mazakada New Zealand (2) – Tim Southee, Adam Milne Pakistan (1) – Misbah Afghan (1) – Dawlat Zadran Pakistan (1) – Ajmal Windies (1) – Darren Bravo Australia (1) – David Warner So Australia had ONE player reported for on-field behaviour last year compared to 5 for SL, 4 for each of SA, England and India, and 2 for NZ. That kind of challenges the narrative that many cricket followers push of Australia being by far the worst behaved side.
Prosenjit
Guest
Good thing's steven smith doesn't have much to change.trying to alter the attitude and approach of the side will be foolish and smith's no fool, thus things will remain as it is and as it should.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The one bloke has a bat mate.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
The Australian team is known for sledging because they keep winning. Which is when it is brought up. You know why some Australians themselves bring it up? It is less analysis then an actual performance of a team. Easy to criticise, hard to analyse. Easy article, hard article.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
They had beers with some of the NZ players afterwards. Oops...
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Also, being stand-in skipper would have felt like there was little he could do to stop them. Doesn't want to argue with players in first series as captain.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
That's different. The West Indies of those days always just look so cool that even after they are finished beating you black and blue you just wanted them to come back next year and do it all over again. That's why they were so constantly touring Australia during that period for 5-test series. There was such a coolness about it that Aussies would love watching even if their team was getting smashed. Not too many teams can pull them off. That incredibly brief stint England spent at the top of the rankings, nobody like them much either!
Prosenjit
Guest
Funny that people like graeme smith who was a hard,proud cricketer and a sledger himself acts slightly angelic and chooses to blame australia.every time india toured there, graeme's side dished out volumes of chatting and noise which used to seem pretty heavy n boorish even on tv.to go with that, time to time blokes like steyn, hall, andre nel(even philander last tour) extended the followthrough to give pleasantaries,with the cherry on top being those polite send offs provided by nel and even paul harris,the tweaker. Few days ago andrew flintoff gave an interview describing the worst sledging he ever faced, that was in his maiden Saf tour,by daryl cullinan and few others.he called it 'filthy' and unacceptable in any culture.to be fair though freddy himself was a little hot headed n foul mouthed at times.
Robert Donovan
Roar Rookie
All family men would prefer that. But perhaps the bigger issues in cricket should be addressed first. Changes to the lbw rules to make it fairer for bowlers, stiffer punishments for time wasting (one of the bigger issues in cricket for me) and eradicating all forms of match/spot fixing. As well as raising the associate nations (particularly Ireland and Afghanistan) into the upper areas of the game to avoid any disasters like Kenya and Zimbabwe. I think those issues are far greater than whether or not people like Brad Haddin (who may have retired from ODIs and hopefully will soon be out of the Test Team) give people ridiculous send-offs. Wouldn't you rather than your son has every opportunity to legitimately take a wicket rather than worry about whether he is using naughty language? Honestly I doubt that most cricketers would carry on like Haddin, but a more pressing issue is giving bowlers a chance. I hope that your son enjoys cricket as much as my family and I do. And if you are looking for role models, Steve Waugh might be a sledger but he has been deeply involved in charitable work in India. I am unaware of whether Brendon McCullum has done the same. Wouldn't you rather your son was a good man who cares for others like Steve Waugh rather than a quiet man who doesn't help others? Again maybe McCullum does charity, but Waugh's contribution is well known and legendary. And he has motivated others to do the same. I hope at least that in your next article, you acknowledge that.
Robert Donovan
Roar Rookie
Okay, I am going to say what I have wanted to say for ages. So what? They have the behaviour of thugs, but that is not going to change. If they aren't using prejudicial language and don't act violently, then so what? I remember when Ricky Ponting tried to bring in good behaviour. The result was loss after loss for the team. The biggest issue for the Australian Team is renewal, something that has been an issue since at least 2001 (That's how long I have been banging on about it). Too many players over 30 amongst the three national men's teams, not enough opportunity for young players and we still are still in a rebuilding stage since Langer, Martyn, Warne and McGrath left us after Ashes 06-07! We need Haddin to have a young successor who can last at least 5 years (so not Paine or anyone over 30!). That leave Vic Matthew Wade who turns 28 on Boxing Day this year and 24 year old Pommy-born Sam Whiteman. Shane Watson, Fawad Ahmed, Chris Rogers, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh are all over 30. Peter Nevill is turning 30 at the end of October. So who is in the squad who is under 30? Smith, Hazelwood, Starc, Mitchell Marsh, Warner and Lyons. No Burns, Cummins, Pattinson, Wade, Faulkner, Maxwell, Maddinson or Silk. Now fitness may be the reason for some of them. Form may be an argument. But honestly, with such a wealth of experience, we couldn't drop a few guys to put in some youth? Let us not forget poor Phil Hughes, who was never given an opportunity. How he shall be missed as he always will. I hope his family are doing ok after their horrific loss. What about Usman Khawaja, who was dropped enough that he is now too old and out of form to be back, turning 29 around the end of the year? We need renewal to avoid the West Indies fate! If Steve Smith leads an aggressive team and wins, then great! I would rather he did that, then captain a team of weak, good two shoes and lose badly! Cricket is not now nor in its history (read about the early NSW gambling schedules or the 1926 Deciding Ashes Test) been a gentleman's game even with the odd King, Lord and gentry amateur cricketer playing. I just want a sport where my country can win! Especially after enduring our economic woes thanks to 8 years of mismanagement (please don't reply to that)! Go Steve Smith, you ripper!
Kingo
Guest
That's not too subtle Ryan it's actually not answering the question which you now finally have ,well done ! It's fairly obvious that your pretty keen on the mind games and the sledging so we may have to agree to disagree on that ,I don't like it you do.fair enough. What I would say though Ryan is that although you give your examples of other teams sledging and Australia being not that bad and maybe just need to tone down a touch, they are notorious abusers and sledgers on the field whether you like admitting it or not. They have been the champs for years (self proclaimed mind you ). So you can put whatever spin on it you like,but from the Waugh era in particular onwards it's been full on . Have a look at what AB De Villiers wrote about the abusive personal insults from this team ,and there are many other examples ,Graeme Smith on the Waugh team with McGrath and Warne ,Haydos etc. Point being the Aussies have been at for a long time and proud of it . Is it any wonder now they are so scrutinized for it,maybe just maybe they are the biggest baddest sledgers around and the poor little Aussie team getting "singled out" as you call it because of their terrible track record . They didn't get called the ugly Aussies for being fantastic sports now did they. Just find it interesting you keep defending stuff that they are quite proud of. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/australian-sledging-is-personal-says-south-african-captain-ab-de-villiers/story-e6frg7rx-1227038355556 http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/29/1022569795699.html
lisa woods
Guest
Hi I agree with brad haddon. If New Zealand fans cant handle the heat in the kitchen, they should go home. Australia has always played there cricket hard. Cheers lisa cricket fan from canberra
Prosenjit
Guest
Going a little further back, i think bodyline was worse.
Prosenjit
Guest
If you don't care about what other teams do, no point making repeated futile,one eyed, lengthy attempts here whinging cuz your kids watch cricket.hollywood won't wipe out all 'f' words, kissing scenes n violence from action movies cuz your kiddies watch 'em.save them from movies, cricket etc. and get them into 'gentler' games like soccer, rugby,ice hockey..they are fully devoid of bullying,abuse and physical contacts,,unlike cricket.
Bee bee
Guest
They were hilarious. Check the tape.
Bee bee
Guest
Birdy. Please. England invented the term soccer hooligan. It's Rugby team has its own list of dirty laundry. There are just as many boorish louts in the English cricket side. I'd argue there have been more in recent times. I also didn't know they had a popularity contest at the Olympics. I think you are confusing the Olympics with Ms Universe. My screws a very loose. That's the way I like them. Thanks for asking though.
Tony Lee
Roar Rookie
Aussie arrogance at their worst when sledging. Oh sorry I forgot the underarm incident was the worse!!
Birdy
Guest
Hi Chris; April 1 was the day before yesterday. Don't know if you have April fools jokes in Australia. My first reaction when reading your comment was that it was a satire on Aussies self-image - you know the honest; larrikin; working class heroes bringing down the upper class poms a peg or two. But then I remember I talk to a lot of Aussies who talk like this and just when I'm waiting for them to laugh at their own joke I realise they're serious and we all have to giggle behind our hands.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I did answer it. "To that point, the Australians could/should clean up their act. A touch. I’m not a fan of send offs and think they look ugly. I’d prefer no cricketers did them, and I’d prefer my son didn’t either." If that's too subtle for you, here: I'd tell my son that the best send-off is simply taking the wicket in the first place, and there is no need to carry on afterwards. And then we'd have a laugh at how Haddin behaved.