On the eve of the Ashes, talk and anticipation is building around Australia. But over in England, nobody really cares.
James Anderson suggested shelving sledging tactics for the duration of the series but a good dose of mongrel from the feral convicts is just what is needed to get the general public in England riled up and excited about one of the greatest sporting contests in the world.
Sports fans love to hate. While we appreciate seeing the greats like Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar grace our shores and can respect the gentlemen of the game, in equal measure the likes of Harbhajan Singh and Pat Symcox have added some spice to a long summer.
And Test cricket more than any other sport needs this element, no matter how absorbing five days of play can be for us tragics.
Forget about the gentlemen’s game, it’s not 1920. Gamesmanship, send-offs and trash talk are what the kids want to see. Sport is in the entertainment game these days. When was the last time you read an article that analysed an on-field sporting contest?
Controversy brings publicity, dollars and importantly for Test cricket, young fans. You can cry for the morals of society but this is the world we live in.
Cricket has been very proactive about moving with the times by embracing Twenty20 and the IPL with its mega contracts while trying to maintain the integrity of Test cricket. But the sport needs superstars to bring along the next generation of fans. Say what you will about Nick Kyrgios but Australian tennis is in the headlines. Nobody knows who Sam Groth and Thanasi Kokkinakis are.
Australian cricket has made it through the tricky period of replacing the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist while maintaining mainstream interest thanks to divisive characters like David Warner and Michael Clarke.
The general public don’t want to hear about hitting the top of off or textbook cover drives. They want characters and controversies. While Test cricket still has it diehard fans, at least for now, it is important to cater for the casual viewer.
The fact is that we don’t hear what is said out there unless the media beat it up anyway, so mind your sensibilities and let the players go about their business. Test cricket is fighting to stay relevant, afternoon tea breaks and cucumber sandwiches are not going to cut it.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
In my experience Australians can dish it out but not take it.
Joel
Roar Rookie
Test cricket isn't just about how well you can play... we all know you can play or you wouldn't get selected. It is very much a mental battle though and a few words here or there contribute to the mental aspect of the sport. Sledging on it's own is only terrible when it is done badly. Questioning a batsmans technique is no worries.. personal attacks not so much. It is a competitive sport, and there is always going to be something said at some point. As long as it's between batsman and bowler there's no problem as far as i'm concerned. When other fielders get involved.. well not so much. Either way, sledging in some form is and should always be part of the game as long as it is within the competitive spirit of the contest. That is up to the umpires to decide I guess.
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
Technical difficulties there. Was supposed to say, Not necessarily an opinion piece etc. Rightly or wrongly it's the media that blow up certain incidents and dictate what is topical. I have always loved Test cricket but grown men who can spend five days appreciating the finer points of the game can not sustain the sport going forward. We are seeing with the West Indies what a generational change can do to a sport which is progressing from a lack of young fans to a lack of young talent to the game becoming obsolete. It is critical that Test cricket remains engaging to the kids and the casual fan. When the dollars are gone the sport will die.
Cornish
Roar Rookie
Hmmmm, well I would beg to differ as to the factuality of the said piece. A list of opinions, no matter how 'snappily' written, are just that, mere opinions. Perhaps I am not a sports fan, the idea of hating the opposition as they endeavor to win is abhorrent. To be entertained by the greats of any sport is a privilege. Sledging, has become a tawdry and dismal footnote to the modern game.
Fadida
Guest
But with shorter attention spans comes a more rapid cycle of fashion and trends. With this cycle T20 will rise and fall much quicker than one-day cricket ever did. Therefore test cricket should stick to tradition and wait for the pendulum to swing back around.
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
This is not necesspiece. It's a factually based statement and a snappy piece of writing. Rig
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
Nice sledge bra, that's the spirit! I resisted T20 for a long time and I'm still not a big fan but the fact is it is going to be the format that keeps Test cricket alive. Unfortunately we are living in a modern, less intelligent, shorter attention span world. Adapt or die.
Mitcher
Guest
As opposed to your high brow generalisations Grahame.
Cornish
Roar Rookie
I completely agree with you, yet as each point became more and more outlandish, I assumed that it was written very much 'tongue in cheek'. Perhaps I miss-read the authors intention.
Cornish
Roar Rookie
I completely agree with you, yet as each point became more and more outlandish, I assumed that it was written very much 'tongue in cheek'. Perhaps I miss-read the authors intention.
JimmyB
Guest
I wholeheartedly disagree with every point made in the article.
Grahame
Guest
Australia is the worst at sledging and it's crudeness and sometimes vindictiveness seems to suit the Australian character down to the ground. Uncouth.
Donald
Roar Rookie
Well said peeeko.
Fadida
Guest
Agree. One suspects the author wears his hat back to front, and likes to call his friends bro/bra. I both know who Kokkinakis and Groth, and prefer them to their brash, T20-like colleague Kyrgios. Should Test cricket change to appeal to a more modern (less intelligent, shorter attention span) market? No. Did I love the Warne years because he was an outspoken character and controversial? No. I loved them because of the quality of his cricket. Let the casual fan go to hell, or give them free tickets to T20 cricket (same thing).
bigbaz
Roar Guru
You're more right than most will admit,but the pc crew are winning.Just read where Warner has given up the grog,the end of the world is near.
peeeko
Roar Guru
"Gamesmanship, send-offs and trash talk are what the kids want to see" i think you are speaking for yourself "Sport is in the entertainment game these days" what do you mean? its been entertainment for centuries i think you have a warped sense of what people like to watch. dont believe the hype
Cornish
Roar Rookie
Thanks Blake, nice article. Started of sledging the computer screen, ended up grinning. One of the great talking points of the recent NZ tour, apart from England's new found ability at the white ball game, was the spirit in which the games were played. Most refreshing. Unfortunately I doubt very much if we'll see a repeat during a hard fought Ashes series.
Frederick
Guest
The barbarians are at the gates.