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Walking. A contentious topic if there has ever been one.
The issue of walking has plagued the game of cricket and the idea of sportsmanship since the humble beginnings of the sport.
There are two sides to this argument.
One of them is sportsmanship, the basic idea that if a batsman is aware he is out, he does not wait for the umpire to make his decision, he simply leaves the playing arena.
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The other argument remains ever present. It is the claim that an umpire has a job, and he is standing out with his wide brim and a counter in his hand for a reason.
The umpire’s decision is the final, especially in park cricket terms, so why walk when you may get away with it?
The debate over the controversial topic was reignited on the hollowed turf of Lords.
Jos Buttler, edging a catch to debutant Peter Nevill off the wily off-spin of Nathan Lyon, was given the benefit of the doubt by umpire Kumar Dharmasena.
However, Buttler, not waiting for a decision, turned his back, tucked the bat under his arm and marched his way back to the Long Room.
Immediately, every cricket fan watching became an analytical expert on the topic.
Opinions rose from all corners of the cricket world, some ranging from that Buttler was wrong, chastising him for walking at such an important time in the match.
Others defended the English gloveman, claiming that Buttler’s sportsmanship was healthy for the game, and a fantastic example for the younger cricketers, calling for a greater number to partake in walking.
Walking, simply, is one’s choice. Both sides of the argument are sound and reasonable, but it is the up to the batsman to decide what he does.
Personally, I don’t walk.
Why? Because, as Craig McMillan once said to Adam Gilchrist, “I’m not good enough to walk and still make runs”.
To me, walking is simply giving away that slice of luck you may have.
Nearly every batsmen needs a bit of luck in order to make runs. Sometimes it’s a dropped catch, a chop on that goes for four or a plumb LBW appeal turned down.
Sometimes, that luck is the form of being given not out when you indeed are.
The fielding team will not halt their appeal if they realise that the ball has in fact brushed your hip, and not the edge of your bat.
“Hold on lads, hold on! The ball took the hip boys, no need to appeal there!”
Cricket is a funny game. Claiming a catch when you know it has bounced is seen as deceitful and cheating.
However, appealing when you know the batsman has inside edged it, or he has hit his pad while playing a shot, it is perfectly within the spirit of the game.
It seems as though walking is in that grey area, everybody has a different view on it.
Playing school cricket, my opening partner seemingly played and missed at a ball.
The keeper barely even asked “how is that one, sir?” when my partner had walked off. He had feathered it, and when the next batsman came out, he remarked how good it was to see sportsmanship alive and well.
I replied that he better not walk, as we couldn’t lose another wicket. This lost its effect however, as I ran him out three balls later.
At the end of the day, walking is entirely up to the batsman. It’s a personal choice, and the judgement should not be met with disdain or critical eyes.
It will remain apart of the game for as long as cricket is played.
Personally, I’m not a walker. Some of my teammates are.
It is simply a batsman’s choice to whether he marches off, knowing he is out, or stands silently, waiting for the umpire to make his decision.
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