The story goes that the great Dr WG Grace, upon walking to the crease one sunny day, was immediately bowled by some presumptuous young upstart of a bowler.
Turning to his stumps, he carefully replaced the bails, turned back to the bowler and growled, “These people have come here to see me bat, not see you bowl.”
With that, the doctor continued his innings.
This was heroic behaviour on Grace’s part, because he understood the fundamental truth that though technically a batsman who misses a ball which then strikes the stumps, dislodging the bails, is out and must leave the field, there is something that matters more than the ‘rules’ – the good of the game.
It was true that the punters had stumped up their sixpence to see the mighty beard bat, rather than the callow nonentity fling his leather, and so there could be no doubt that the good of the game had been advanced by Grace’s refusal to bow to so petty a consideration as the Laws of Cricket.
WG Grace
Sometimes it seems as though Grace’s noble spirit has gone out of the game. It was therefore refreshing to see this week that it lives on, in the hearts and minds of Kagiso Rabada, Cricket South Africa, their multitudinous legal team, and the ICC’s judicial commissioner Michael Heron QC.
And, of course, the many fans and commentators who lauded Heron’s decision to slash a couple of demerit points off Rabada’s sentence for misconduct, thus allowing him to play in the third Test at Newlands.
How wonderful, they cheered, that Rabada has been let off and therefore can play, allowing us all to see the world’s best bowler in action. What a wise decision the learned Mr Heron has reached, and how beneficial it is for the good of the game.
Just as Dr Grace understood that the technicalities of the rules paled into insignificance compared to the good of the game, so we lovers of cricket understand that although technically, the umpires and match referee of a Test are tasked with disciplining players and ensuring there are consequences for bad behaviour; and although technically, achieving an improvement in player conduct is unlikely without a genuine deterrent for misconduct; and although technically, before the Rabada verdict the entire cricketing world was wringing its hands wondering how ever we could put a stop to the obnoxious boorishness of cricketers, while the same cricketing world now considers trying to put a stop to the obnoxious boorishness of cricketers the act of officious prigs trying to ruin everyone’s fun…
AP Photo/Themba Hadebe
Although technically all that is the case, the good of the game must come first. And the good of the game can only be served by Rabada playing. As ICC chief executive David Richardson said:
“This is perhaps an opportune moment to remind all players of their responsibilities to maintaining a standard of behaviour which sets a good example to players at all levels of the game, especially the young players.”
How right he is: now is the perfect moment to remind all players that they have a responsibility to maintain a standard of behaviour that includes hiring expensive lawyers if there is a chance they might be punished for their behaviour. Hopefully, players from both teams will set an example to young cricketers that they, too, should fight tooth and nail against any attempt to punish them for violating a code of conduct.
After all, young cricketers must be afforded the opportunity to watch Kagiso Rabada bowl, and if they were deprived of that opportunity for two Test matches, it could harm their development irreparably.
That is why Heron’s decision was such a magnificent one. He examined the evidence, weighed the competing arguments, thought deeply on all the complex issues involved, and once it was clear to him that if Rabada missed the rest of the series, he would be really bummed about it, realised there was only one course open to him.
And so the bails have been reset, for these people have paid to see Rabada bowl, not to see Jeff Crowe suspend. With such reverence for the good of the game, Doctor Grace must be smiling down upon us all.
I remember when swinging both ways was something you would best keep to yourself ☺️
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Infantile is what Connie, and coincidentally Quinny, does best!
Simoc
Guest
Are you telling us Heron is a fool? Or does he pay your wages.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Why ? he didn't shoulder charge anyone
Ouch
Guest
Infantile indeed. But this person has spent the most of his day also deriding Jeff Crowe as well. Apparently a former NZ captain knows nothing about the game. Not a cricket fan. An insecure individual who is shouting from the rooftop to make sure everyone knows that he was right. I work with someone like that. No one likes him.
Connolly
Guest
I was born in Port Melbourne not Port Elizabeth. Sorry it was weak humour. But a bowler like Rabada who is very lively and can swing it both ways will expose Sluggo's defective technique. I was suggesting Warner would be worried about losing his wicket cheaply when the kid bowls to him not his life.
Connolly
Guest
He should be disqualified.
David
Guest
In my view the series is much better with Rabada playing. However, to suggest that an opening batsman (justifiably ranked in the top 10 in the world) is frightened to face any bowler is quite infantile on your part. I made an attempt at humour which derided no one - you have now exposed yourself simply as a one eyed South African. Had Mr Heron found differently, would you be listing his credentials and singing his praises so loudly? I think not. As a cricket fan, I was embarrassed by the conduct of Warner in the first test - he was the cause of the incident with de Kock and I believe the umpires and Steve Smith should have stepped in a long time before they got to the tunnel.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
What has Warner got to do with this?
Ouch
Guest
This so called holiday camp operator was Captain of New Zealand's cricket team. He knows more about cricket than a suit with a good vocabulary. QC's are just good at twisting words.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Read the title of the piece and thought if that's not an oxymoron, nothiong is.
Connolly
Guest
Crowe;s decision was a legal decision. Sports rules are contracts. This one just happened to be conducted by a legally unqualified amateur who didn't understand the meaning of the rules.
Connolly
Guest
I wonder who Warner will hire to challenge his decision. The little champ might now prefer to be suspended for the rest of the series than face the kid where his bat has to do the talking.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Not much. The camp operator scored a test century against the West Indies in the 1980s.
David
Guest
I wonder who Morne Morkel will hire to challenge this decision - it is likely to have robbed him of a chance to have a send off test match.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I think the law has a place, but it is a slippery slope when it comes to arguing in sport about these types of things... Not to say all bannings etc are correct or justified either, but I hate when legal arguments are used... seems pretty clear he could have avoided the contact, he didn't need to scream at the batsman three times running down the pitch at him, and with what? 5 incidences over the last year? He has issues that need ironing out.
Connolly
Guest
Satire? More like an unwitting argument ad absurdum. You can post your apology to me later at your convenience champion.
Connolly
Guest
Spot on. The main instigator of the targeted bullying now has to face him with a bat and pads. OMG.
Connolly
Guest
Michael Heron's CV. Michael Heron QC | Barrister Qualifications BCA, LLB(HONS) VICTORIA UNIVERSITY [1990] LLM (HONS) CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY [1991] SOLICITOR, ALLEN & OVERY LONDON AND TOKYO [1991-1994] SOLICITOR AND PARTNER MEREDITH CONNELL [1995-2007] PARTNER RUSSELL MCVEAGH [2007-2012] SOLICITOR-GENERAL OF NEW ZEALAND [2012-2016] QUEEN’S COUNSEL [2012] michael@mhqc.co.nz 0274 367 517 Experience Michael has conducted significant legal matters and litigation in the regulatory, commercial, public law, health, media, sport, tax, treaty and intelligence/security areas. He has appeared as lead counsel in all New Zealand Courts including the Privy Council, and has conducted significant commercial arbitrations for both the Crown and corporate clients. Michael’s experience as Solicitor-General included advising on a full range of legal matters to Ministers and Chief Executives, amongst others. He appeared before Select Committees and in a range of Tribunals including the Waitangi Tribunal. Michael has been a board member and Chair of a Crown Entity (Drug Free Sport NZ) and a member of the Council of the Auckland Branch, NZLS. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors. He has been a judicial officer for SANZAR since 2012 and has advised sporting bodies on a range of integrity and legal issues. He has conducted significant reviews in the sporting and healthcare fields, including the review of the All Black campaign in Rugby World Cup 2007. Read the report here. His governance and organisational experience provides him with a unique insight into the workings of government and legal business. What would he know? Compared to a holiday camp operator?
Paul
Roar Guru
Sorry Ben, liked the story but I don't think the analogy fits. The decision Heron came up with was one that could easily be made to fit the facts and it was. He wasn't "comfortably satisfied" what Rabada did was naughty enough to justify the original decision. Sad days, the Australian tactic of baiting this guy out of the series hasn't worked (yet), so let's see what happens this Test.