Can we get back to the cricket now?

By Dony Dalgliesh / Roar Rookie

Ready gentlemen? Play.

Yes. Please, let’s play. Often the ten-day break in the middle of a big Test match series leaves us salivating for that first ball of the next Test, and in this belter of a series between the world’s two best pace attacks the urgency to get things back underway is increased tenfold.

Since the now infamous exchange between David Warner and Quinton de Kock and the subsequent hostile reaction from the former, there’s been more drama and hostility than those rubbish ‘reality’ television shows they air on mainstream TV.

With the iron still scorching from Day 5 of the first Test until Day 1 of the second Test, we’ve had a childish ploy from fans to try and get under Warner’s skin, more fireworks and disrespect shown by both sides to departing batsmen and opinion on the remedy to the situation from every man, woman and canine.

The onus has been put on the players to cut it out, stop the chat and get on with playing cricket. While this is fair to an extent, the men out there are representing their country in the most torrid form of cricket there is, and I don’t agree on complete peace and quiet.

Bowling teams can be on the field all day and this isn’t a library, so any subtle edge the fielding side can gain on the batsmen should be exploited. South Africa’s opener, Aiden Markram, said after his dashing second-innings hundred in the first Test that chat on the field, “keeps me in the game and keeps me going, keeps me motivated”.

(Independent Media screenshot)

It formally worked for the Australian side against Daryll Cullinan but it never worked against the great Jacques Kallis, so it’s very much a double-edged sword.

What should not be encouraged and needs to be outlawed is celebrating a wicket over-exuberantly and screaming in a batsman’s face. Once a batsman is dismissed, they have only one place to go. They are defeated and have no comeback, so bellowing in the grill of the man is completely unnecessary and a cheap form of attack.

You don’t see a batsman stroke a gorgeous cover drive for four, charge up to Mitchell Starc or Kagiso Rabada and scream in their face. Good fast bowlers are intimidating enough; there is simply no need for it.

These are competitors, however, and ultimately human beings, all with different personalities, so more of the responsibility needs to be placed on the match officials, specifically the two umpires out in the middle. Some will say they have enough on their plate as it is, but this is their job.

They have the power to step in and curtail any signs of hostility that could lead to unsavoury events, yet too often in recent times mild-mannered umpires, like Kumar Dharmasena and Marais Erasmus, have not stepped in and been the forceful voice of reason that is needed, a la Dickie Bird and David Sheppard.

(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Moving forward, if the players need to improve their behaviour, than the umpires need to also improve their diplomacy skills. If players are allowed off the leash, more often than not they’ll run free.

Lastly, the onus needs to be on host broadcasters to show some discretion in what gets aired to the viewers both audibly and visually.

This is a tough sell to TV networks that really only care about ratings and entertainment, but the ICC needs to do more in conjunction with the host broadcasters to ensure content that is not related to the cricket itself is not shown as regularly. This includes turning stump microphones down once the ball is dead, as per ICC guidelines, and avoiding releasing footage that only serves to serve the gossip hunters.

It happened with the James Anderson and Michael Clarke exchange in 2013, and now more than four years later we were given access to Warner’s altercation with De Kock, which took place off the field.

This doesn’t mean cricketers then get to say and do as they please. However, a cricket field is hallowed turf, and hearing on-field talk and making an event out of it – with the way social media is nowadays – diminishes the on-field achievements of these wonderful entertainers.

(Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Speaking of these entertainers, did you hear about AB de Villiers’s wonderful century? It was quite something. On a pitch where most batsmen struggled, AB counterpunched brilliantly, cracking eighteen fours and generally making it look easy on his way to a hundred off just 116 balls.

With some late-order support from Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj he built a matchwinning 139 run lead which, with KG Rabada on fire with the ball, was always going to be tough for the Aussies to haul in and build a fourth-innings total to defend.

The multi-talented De Villiers legend continues to grow, and as is the case with Australia’s batting kingpin Steve Smith, is the prize wicket for their opponents. With neither side having posted more than 400 runs in an innings this series, both teams will be looking for a more even spread from their top seven

The Aussie contingent have all managed at least a half-century – apart from Shaun Marsh and Tim Paine – and are not as out of form as some people are suggesting. It’s the well-documented batting collapses they must avoid, while a well-timed captains knock by Steve Smith would be timely.

The same can be said for South Africa’s line-up, with Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla and the previously indestructible Faf du Plessis all showing signs but not going on with it while talented opener Aiden Markram cracked a smashing fourth-innings hundred in the first Test and looks a player of the future.

(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

While more runs are needed, the bowlers are living up to their end of the agreement, and both attacks are bowling well in combination. The Aussies’ awesome foursome – and Mitch Marsh – had the Proteas in trouble at 6/183 until De Villiers took over, and they will be hell-bent on bouncing back against the great man in Cape Town.

As for South Africa, there’s no denying the loss of Rabada – pending an appeal – will hurt somewhat, but they do have some depth despite Dale Steyn being unlikely to return just yet. Young tearaway Lungi Ngidi already boasts best bowling figures of 6/39, which included trapping Indian maestro Virat Kohli plumb in front, and they also have the experience and of the stingy Philander, who is bowling quite beautifully, as well as the dangerous spin bowler they’ve craved for years in Maharaj.

For Australia, they must win the series to regain the trophy, and you feel that, with Rabada and Steyn both absent, this is the time to make their move. They need to win another Test and prevent the home side from doing the same if they’re to claim a series win overseas, something that has been elusive of Smith’s men of late.

The South Africans will look to keep their cool and hope KG’s loss doesn’t come back to hurt them in the same way it will hurt the rest of this series for the neutrals.

We have two Test matches to play – Cape Town and Johannesburg – and up to ten days of enthralling Test cricket between these two great nations. Let’s hope they’re days to remember.

So let’s talk about the cricket now. The rest is just background noise.

The Crowd Says:

2018-03-19T23:59:31+00:00

Dianne Andrews

Guest


No Dexter, you are not alone. In the words of a wise old lady (my late grandmother) - "I don't care who started it, but it stops now or you don't get to play anymore"

2018-03-19T08:56:47+00:00

Linphoma

Guest


Dex, you are spot on.

2018-03-19T04:42:01+00:00

Rellum

Roar Guru


“Of course as usual CA has scheduled a Test match to be played at the same time. Your initial words. Not mine. As you have finally correctly noted, they scheduled the shield to occur at the same time, not vice versa.” Wow, yeah I was obviously arguing that the Test be moved. Where is the eye rolling emoji when you need one.

2018-03-19T04:40:09+00:00

Dexter The Hamster

Guest


Sorry DonyD, but I disagree with the first half of your article. I cant help but feel we have it all wrong with our views on the fielding teams ability to say things to the batsmen. To me, a bowler is out there all day working hard to get a wicket, when it happens, letting a bit of steam off should be natural. I don't mind them giving the batsman a word or two (within reason, and with no physical contact implied or actual). But the bloke at point or mid off just giving it to the batsman all day (calling them a bush pig etc) should be rubbed out. Feels like I am at odds with almost everyone else on this for some reason. Second point, you cannot be serious in suggesting it is the broadcasters fault for reporting misdemeanours? They need to, we need to see it, we want to see it. The players cannot claim it is all part of the game, and then complain when that part of the game is shown on TV.

2018-03-19T04:29:49+00:00

Paul D

Roar Guru


Victoria would have been at Junction Oval, surely I think state cricket organisations should now accept they are well and truly down the pecking order in terms of clout when it comes to choosing grounds, and smaller subsidiary venues are the only way to guarantee availability in March for home grounds Personally I think a lot more shield cricket should be played outside the main stadiums anyway. Didn't Victoria have something like 4 or 5 drawn games this season, mainly due to a stretch of highway being misplaced and inadvertently laid inside the MCG?

2018-03-19T04:22:04+00:00

Nick

Roar Guru


"Of course as usual CA has scheduled a Test match to be played at the same time." Your initial words. Not mine. As you have finally correctly noted, they scheduled the shield to occur at the same time, not vice versa. That the match is at the Allan Border field because of luck.The point still stands that CA are in a tight spot in that they can't just reschedule. They have very few ovals available to them at the moment. If it was NSW, SA, TAS or VIC, then CA would have had to locate another ground as they have handed the keys to their leases over to the AFL now. And let's be honest, it's only at the AB oval because CA no longer can use the Gabba. They need to finish the shield in February. March is ridiculous. It's very lucky that Qld are hosting otherwise they would have been forced to hold it in Alice Springs again.

2018-03-19T04:14:18+00:00

Rellum

Roar Guru


No, my issue is that they scheduled the Shield final to clash with an Aus Test match. Don't put words in my typing. The Shield final could have started a week later or even a week earlier, they had plenty of time to work it out. I am not suggesting they move the Test match. FYI, Allan Border Field is run by QC and CA and is a cricket ground only, right next to the Centre of Excellence. It is not an AFL ground and no Aussie Rules team uses it so there is no need to worry about that. The ground is available 365 days a year for cricket.

2018-03-19T04:04:07+00:00

Matt P

Roar Rookie


Haha, touche. Although - I do recall reading on one of the reddit threads that Wade's conceded the least amount of byes for the comp. Didn't check it myself but thought was actually a bit interesting. Although I think it's still safe to say that he and Nevill are about as far from international cricket as you can get now.

2018-03-19T03:41:18+00:00

Matt H

Roar Guru


Well played. But I have to say Wade has added some real backbone and competitiveness to Tassie this year.

2018-03-19T03:26:08+00:00

AREH

Roar Guru


Not just that it's a shame it can't be at the Gabba! Also miss the times a few years back when the Shield final was televised on Fox Sports; heck even the whole comp used to be! As handy as CA live streaming is, I can't help think how much greater viewing it could have being televised even on Fox.

2018-03-19T03:08:06+00:00

Paul D

Roar Guru


Order of cricket relevance today in Australia Test matches > BBL > ODI > 20/20 Internationals > Shield > XXXX Beach cricket > grade cricket > Indoor cricket > jiminy cricket > matador cup

2018-03-19T03:04:49+00:00

Brian

Guest


It would be better if they move the ODI competition from October to March and gave the Shield exclusive time to run October-December with a Final the week before the BBL starts. A Shield Final in mid December would get attention. As irrelevant as the Shield maybe its still more interesting then domestic one dayers

2018-03-19T02:58:20+00:00

Ouch

Guest


It won't be hollow. South Africa are putting their best team they have available out there. Was England's victory in the last UK-held Ashes hollow because Ryan Harris was injured? Was their 2005 victory hollow because McGrath was injured? What about the most recent Ashes? We didn't really "win" because Ben Stokes wasn't playing? A victory wouldn't be hollow and a loss wouldn't be embarrassing. Disrespectful to both teams to say so.

2018-03-19T02:44:00+00:00

Nick

Roar Guru


Yes - wicketkeeping.

2018-03-19T02:40:59+00:00

Matt P

Roar Rookie


? Do his talents know no bounds?

2018-03-19T02:38:14+00:00

Brasstax

Guest


With both Steyn and Rabada out this gives us a great chance to complete another series win in SA. However it will be a hollow victory. Yes its not our fault and yes Raba da himself and Du Plessis are to blame for their own plight but that does not change the fact that their bowling attack has suffered a crippling blow. A series win will be hollow and a loss or even a drawn series would be embarrassing for us to follow a home defeat against a SA team without DE Villiers.

2018-03-19T02:37:48+00:00

JamesH

Roar Guru


Wade will open the bowling this time and 3-13 will become 6-26.

2018-03-19T02:24:34+00:00

Matt P

Roar Rookie


Sorry Tassie, but 2 from 2 this season is going to become 3 from 3 ?

2018-03-19T02:12:05+00:00

Ouch

Guest


Go Tassie!

2018-03-19T01:58:15+00:00

Matt P

Roar Rookie


Test cricket is still the pinnacle of the game, and every test-playing nation will be happy to tell you that. The Shield is the backbone of producing the test team. If we're happy to see the Shield take the back foot, then we shouldn't complain too much if the Test side suffers as a result. The Big Bash is fun and a nice, flashy, casual-friendly money maker, but are we really at the point where domestic hit-n-giggle is better than "irrelevant" international matches? Does that mean it's better to willingly send second-rate national sides to get embarrassed like our LO sides were for the past couple of years? Considering that half the standouts in the BB are either non-Australian or t20 specialists/mercs anyway. Having said that, I'm not especially bothered about the scheduling of the final. It was always going to clash with something, with how much international cricket is played nowadays.

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