Cricket needs a little bit of sledging, says Australian Cricketers’ Association president Greg Dyer.
The former Test wicketkeeper says retaining a little bit of sledging is in the best interests of the game despite it being a major issue during the prickly and ill-spirited series between South Africa and Australia.
On Tuesday, the ACA called for a far reaching and comprehensive independent review into the culture of the game in Australia.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last week called for an end to sledging, but Dyer, who played six Tests and 23 ODIs for Australia in the 1980s, insisted there was still a place for the practice.
“A degree of sledging I think is great fun and part of the game and important to the character of the game,” Dyer said.
“I had a rule that said never say anything to another player on the field that you would regret, or which would prevent you from going to the other changing room and having a beer after the game.
“That was the line in the sand that I enjoyed and I never did, and frankly I never had anything said to me in response which crossed that line.
“Players don’t seem to have beers after the game these days for physiological reasons, which I think maybe is a bit of a shame and maybe that goes to the culture of the game having changed.
“A little bit of banter, a little bit of sledging is in the best interests of the game frankly, because it preserves that degree of competitiveness.”
Dyer was adamant the culture of the game hadn’t disappeared and the concept regarding its spirit would return
“The game of cricket has been running for 140, 150 years and it will run for another 150 years beyond our lifetime,” Dyer said.
“The spirit of the game will endure throughout that process, regardless of the amount of the commercial value in the sport, in my view.
“A return to those concepts of the spirit of the game is achievable and I’ll go out on a limb and say it will be achieved.”
South African opening batsman Dean Elgar had no issues with Australian verbals through the series.
“It’s only human nature for guys to potentially say words to each other, but that’s fine as long as it’s not personal and it just has a competitive edge, I am OK with that,” Elgar said.
Superba
Guest
Dave.SA when I played rugby at school in the old days , the player who got Punched was sent off by this one ref who figured it was retaliation for something he had missed !
Superba
Guest
It goes further than that . A few years ago a friend of mine's son played U19 international cricket against Australia U19 . They were sledged incessantly and unashamedly by the Australians. Clearly this is deeply embedded in Australian cricket culture . The rot goes down a long way .
Superba
Guest
Warner saying insulting things about de De Kock's mother and sister - calling her a bushpig - clearly over the line .And then he haranged de Kock as they walked off the field . De Kock then returned with an insult regarding Warner's wife . Warner started it .
Paul
Roar Guru
how did you come to your conclusion from my comments? I wrote, just in case toy missed it, that Dyer's remarks should be given to CA through the review they're conducting, not put out there to stir up public comment
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Having a strong personality should not be an excuse for overstepping the mark. The problem has been that the "line" is a vague concept rather than a clear behaviour code. Fix that, enforce it and the gamesmanship over sportsmanship problem will be fixed. Of course, some strong personalities will need to be suspended if they continue to behave like petulant children but i can live with that.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
The "don't cross the line" theory is all well and good until it is evident that nobody really knows where the line is or even what it looks like. How much sledging is too much? Which words are acceptable and which are not? What offends one player may not offend another. The line needs to be transparent and tangible without need of interpretations. If it needs to be explained then it isn't clear enough.
Brasstax
Guest
How is making leud comments about one's family or friend sledging? That is weak. Mercilessly point out to the opponent about the weakness in his game, how he is lucky to be selected or on the verge of being dropped or how he does not belong to this level. That is sledging. Making snide remarks about the opponent's wife/sister/mother/father/brother... that betrays weakness showing you cannot win playing cricket which is what both of you are there to try and do in the first place.
Rats
Guest
Sledging is over rated. Simple...
I know what was said between the two of them, unfortunately I can't share it.
Dave.SA
Guest
No argument... that de Koks response was an over-reaction to Warner's over the line comments Then Warners reaction to de Kok was over the line The both deserved demerit points.. It shows how easily these things escalate.... I dont want to use the argument "But he started it" Rugby has the right idea with punching.. You punch someone you get punished ~You retaliate - you get punished
Rats
Guest
This is what some of the international ex-players have been saying. there has always been sledging from Aussies. But it was more like banter and most of the days you would finish the day, shake hands with them and have a beer with them in the evening. This has changed recently. Thats the problem. Like Vaughan said, previously Australian cricketers used to belittle opponents only in the ground, and now they belittle opponents in public as well. Mocking players in press conferences..
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Sure. Always loved a bit of banter. An emotional outburst. It's a long day without it. But when it's incessant and becomes a relied upon strategy to help win a game of cricket, it's just another form of cheating.
Clyde
Guest
Smith and Warner asking for the stump mics to be turned down in the Durban match didn’t ring any bells in CA, so to them sledging is part of the normal culture of the Aussie team. Warner being the attack dog having a go at de Kock’s mother and sister was not crossing the line, it was just sledging. But getting headbutted back that was crossing the line.
Big Daddy
Guest
If CA decide sledging has to be toned down without consultation with player's and aca they will set down rules they expect to be adhered too. There will always someone who till step over the line,so what do they do then. Suspend someone if they sledge. The umpires are the people who need to take control of this. There's a fine line between good natured banter and sledging.
Razzar
Guest
“Just don’t cross the line”. Easily said, until you get two strong willed personalities.
Dave.SA
Guest
Such a tough thing to manage. I loved the banter on the field.. I even remember laughing at some of the clever chirps when the opposition chirped my opening bat abilities. I banked some of the chirps to use in the future... (blatant plagiarism) I do think sometimes that Aus believes it owns the line. For example, Warner went at de Kok and others...and he got back something that was clearly over the line. However, why is it assumed that Warner was not over the line? The reason why it gets tricky is different cultures and values are at play. I am not offended by a few swear words or blasphemy... I know people that are and it certainly seems that such language in some countries is over the line.. It needs to be in good spirits even if the intention is to put the person off.
Johnno
Guest
okay so should there be silence now and no banter or sledging. How exciting and sanitized and boring. Nothing wrong with some aggression and heated verbal aggression and intimidation. just don't cross the line that's all or make physical contact..
Clyde
Guest
Sledging is a nice way to hide what is obviously abuse. Call it what you will Dyer abuse is abuse and there is no excuse for it.
Paul
Roar Guru
Greg Dyer, you've exactly summed up the situation Australia has created over the past decade or more. A bit of sledging is okay, a bit of swearing is okay, the occasional sendoff - no problems. Where do you start and stop? Who decides when "a bit of sledging is in the best interests of the game"? By all means, Dyer and the Players Association should have input into the review of culture in the game in Australia, but he should leave these sorts of comments until then. Throwing this out now only stirs up a situation which is slowly settling down.
Lara
Guest
Dyer, nobody will deny you good fun, but please grow up and listen to yourself.