The state in which cricket is being played in Australia after the controversial and eventful day in a Test match in South Africa has left our game in absolute tatters.
Not only has it spoilt the game for the older generation with many Test icons unable to play the game resulting in humiliating losses, but it has affected the younger generation, the ones who will keep the game alive in the years to come.
In Australia, it is part of our culture to play cricket at a junior level just for the enjoyment of the game as well as being able to spend time with your mates.
This is lots of fun and is why I am still in love with the game. However, the recent ball-tampering scandal has put this extremely Australian culture at risk through the actions of our national players.
The severity and concern can be seen right through cricket’s governing body. There has even been a public apology written directly by James Sutherland, the former CEO of Cricket Australia.
The apology wrote: “I want to apologise to all Australians that these events have taken place, particularly to all the kids who love cricket and idolise the players”.
This clearly shows how concerned the governing body is with this despicable incident.
(AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
In essence, the main impact of this incident on kids playing the game is that they can no longer look up to the players that they had once idolised not so long ago, myself included.
This has a serious knock-on effect for the kids.
With some of the best players of cricket around the world – let alone Australia – not playing, the public but especially the kids no longer have these great players to look up to and even one day try and better.
It means for the kids playing the game, they no longer have those awe-inspiring heroes. Players that are on the verge of being unbeatable and inhuman.
It is this that has driven previous generations of inspiring cricket players. Kids looking up at the greats such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting.
This up-and-coming generation of players now lacks this, and even when the banned players do return, the whole of the public will know very well about their past and how they are cheaters and not the role models that we once thought they were.
The impacts don’t only affect us on a national scale as well.
Internationally, our reputation has been seriously tarnished, especially in the wider cricket community.
Prior to the ball-tampering scandal, Australia has always been known for their hard but always fair playing style. This applies to all the sports that we compete in worldwide.
It wasn’t just the cricketing community that heard about this incident. Anybody that turned on the news around the world in cricketing nations would see that Australia were cheats.
This reputation has now all but been erased because of this one incident involving three of some of our best cricket players.
People of all nations, especially our main cricket rivals like England and India, are calling us ‘dirty cheats’ and other colourful words because of this appalling scandal.
I was almost embarrassed to be Australian. We no longer have the respect of these nations and it will have to be earned back over time as a result of this moment of madness.
Although the players may not have realised the extent of the consequences of their actions, it will be down to the next generation of players to help resolve this very serious issue to do with the sporting culture in Australian cricket.
It is the belief that we almost have the right to cheat to get our way and win the match, which isn’t in the spirit of the game that we all love and enjoy that we must get rid of from our game.
Fortunately, from this incident, there have been some positives coming from it.
Although the Australian public has lost faith in the players involved in the scandal there have been others that have risen and proven themselves in the games since.
The best example of a player that has stood up under the weight of the public is the new captain and wicketkeeper, Tim Paine.
Although Paine hasn’t been in the Australian team for as long as the outgoing Smith and Warner, the outgoing captain and vice-captain, the level of leadership has been truly outstanding.
During these tough times in the Australian cricket team, he has stood up under the adversity.
He not only has guided the team to victory in some instances under his leadership, but he has also stood up as a role model that all people in the public should strive to be.
He has done his best to eliminate all brash and ugly elements of the Australians’ game and has created an environment that is still incredibly competitive, with the team always looking for the win, but we have cut out the antics.
This included the sudden realisation that bullying and verbal intimidation was no longer tolerated in the team under Paine’s leadership.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
It hasn’t only been up to Paine to lead from the front, though. Without a shadow of a doubt, Pat Cummins has been Australia’s star player in times since the ball-tampering incident.
He has been by far and away the best player in the team since, taking hordes of wickets as well as not being too shabby with the bat.
It is this type of player within the team, leading from the front, that makes the public proud to be Australian. Cummins is someone that goes above and beyond what is expected of them.
Although this ball-tampering incident has been a complete shambles for cricket in Australia, with some of the best players from the team banned for 12 months, there have been some good stories come from it in the form of our new leaders, Tim Paine and Pat Cummins.
They have dragged Australian cricket from its darkest place, into a thriving team competing against the best.
They have become the people that we idolise and strive to be. We couldn’t find two better role models to look towards if we tried.
With their help as well as input from the next generation, Australian cricket will be in a better state than it has ever been.
Neel
Roar Guru
Absolutely agree with James. Exactly what I wanted to say.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Ponting got into an argument in a pub over a woman and got punched in the face. Hardly a scandal and CA over reacted after the Warne/Waugh allegations earlier that year.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Was that directed at me or the author?
Stuckbetweenindopak
Roar Rookie
I reiterate again there is no place for Khawaja in the limited over format unless of course he is opening slot. Again today he was at his best inside 10 overs and there is always a huge difference in his strike rate before and after field restrictions. If I was cricket Australia I would make sure not to disturb his rythm by changing his batting order with the mega event so close. Hence my best xi for world cup would be (in batting order) Warner Khawaja Finch or (handscomb in case of a quick wk) Smith Stoinis Maxwell Handscomb (wk) Cummins Starc J Richardson Lyon For 15 I would add phillipe (wk), Christian, Coulter nile and zampa, as batting is already strong in playing xi.
Cigar Field Sobers
Roar Rookie
Good point. You are probably the person who has moved on the least. In another week, the players will have done their time, and we can all move on. Don't forget, the sandpapered ball in question was affected so little that the umpires didn't change it, so those blokes have been pinged for deception, lying and stupidity. In most cases ball tampering attracts a game's suspension or a fine of percentage of the player's match fee, so they have paid a big price, but in their absence the squad has got on with the rebuild, now we all have to move on. Dredging all this stuff from a year ago up for the umpteenth time doesn't help with the process. Surely, enough.
danno
Guest
'Kids looking up at the greats such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting'. Warne was banned for using a diuretic, text message scandal, betting on a game. Ponting got into a fight in a nightclub, McGrath verbally abused Sarwan and lost the plot. All 3 greats learnt from their mistakes like the 3 involved in the sandpaper affair will. Cricketers are a sample of a cross section in society, people make errors. I know young people are impressionable with their heroes but as Charles Barkley said, “I’m not a role model. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” The buck stops with the younger generations parents in educating them between right and wrong, mistakes will happen, even in cricket.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
I certainly think there was more than one parent out there having to explain to their kids that this was not good sportsmaship and used as an example of what not to do on a cricket pitch. Also can anyone deny that the reputation of Australian cricket took a hit. Congrats Besty on your maiden article.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
I know this is clichéd but that's because it contains a weight of truth but the 3 guys mostly let themselves down.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Also on the plus side loads of kids see a future in carpentry or french polishing.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Seriously, you think a young guy getting on the piss in his own time and getting clouted for being a knob is as serious as an organised plot to cheat, with senior leaders leading or aware of the plot that involved a neophyte doing the actual tampering? Other than that, I agree 100% with your general proposition that the harsh punishment having been served, it is time for all to move on. Everyone gets a second chance, or third if you are Warner.
Ashan D
Roar Pro
Children should be taught about a great human trait.. Forgiving. Keep that in mind before you write another article. ;)
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
I completely agree with this James. We have this romantic notion of ourselves as hard nosed but fair while most, if not all, of our opponents have a much less flattering view of us. The thing is, we shouldn't beat ourselves up over it. I think most countries see themselves as the good guys and everyone else as a bit on the despicable side. It's human nature and a consequence of immaturity imo.
keith hurst
Roar Pro
Far be it for me to discourage new authors but you seem to be on the wrong track. I know of no junior cricketers who are as disillusioned as you claim. Look at NRL wingeing that all of this bad behaviour is ruing the game for our children. Rubbish. What evidence is there of that? Kids play cricket for many reasons. They won’t stop because some idiots try to affect the ball. Culture is not why we were playing badly; culture will not be the winner when we play well.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hello JamesH. The ‘players’ think of themselves as ‘hard but fair’, a good percentage of Australian fans thought ‘hard’ maybe, ‘fair’ not really. Fans from others countries didn’t. My feeling my from international player interviews is that they didn’t exactly always use that.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Besty, you are clearly passionate about this but I think you only need to look at the redemption that two of the three greats you mention went through. Ponting in Kings Cross and Warne continuing to this day to realise that we are pretty forgiving and that in time this will be just an event and not necessarily the only thing we think of when we think of these players. We've already seen the team start holding themselves to a better standard. If these guys return and score a mountain of runs having learned their lesson then people will forgive them. We'll still have to take the banter and sledging over being cheats but hey, we come from convict stock anyway, we are all criminals aren't we?
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
My love in Cricket never decreased after the ball tampering. It decreased after Phil Hughes passed.
Paul
Roar Guru
Besty, thanks for your thoughts about this problem. It's clear from the wording you feel passionately about this issue. There's just one part I want to make comment on; " the whole of the public will know very well about their past and how they are cheaters and not the role models that we once thought they were." I think it's incredibly important parents, coaches, cricket team officials, etc, ALL help to manage this issue so kids gain a balanced perspective about the South African incident. You clearly have a bias, if the words you use in this article are an example of your feelings; Australians are cheats, despicable scandal, appalling scandal, etc. Kids will take the lead from what adults feed them verbally. You must take the time and explain in an unbiased way that 3 players made a mistake, have been punished for it and are now seeking to make amends for their actions, that will go a long way to re-assuring kids these guys a) are human, b) make mistakes but c) we as Australians have the capacity to let justice take it's course and allow these guys a chance to redeem themselves. Remember idols like Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting also brought the game into disrepute, Warne by using illegal drugs and Ponting with his antics in Kings Cross. In my view, both incidents were as serious as that in South Africa, but we showed compassion to allow these guys the chance to come good and this is exactly what we have to do with Smith, Warner & Bancroft.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Everyone has their own impression regarding the tampering saga. I think it's been blown a bit out of proportion but you do you. One thing I will say, though, is that you're vastly overestimating the way other cricketing nations feel about it all: Internationally, our reputation has been seriously tarnished, especially in the wider cricket community... Prior to the ball-tampering scandal, Australia has always been known for their hard but always fair playing style. Hate to break it to you, but our reputation wasn't crash hot before the scandal. 'Hard but fair' was an exclusively Australian description when it came to our cricket team. Other countries pretty much saw our national side as loud and arrogant, particularly for a middling squad. India had (somewhat laughably) accused the Australians of cheating the DRS system not 12 months earlier. None of that really bothered me personally, although the over the top sledging did get a bit much. But you need to understand that most cricket fans outside of Australia probably weren't surprised that our players finally lost sight of the so-called 'line', even if there might have been some initial shock at the way it happened. Many apparently thought the whole thing was hilarious and have taken great joy in the fallout. Put it this way - when Smith and Warner line up in the Ashes this year, it won't matter in the slightest that the game was allegedly brought into disrepute. As far as the English fans abusing them will be concerned, the sandpaper is simply going to be a big stockpile of ammunition for their banners and taunts.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Besty, I'm not sure how old you actually are, but judging from this you sound quite young. As you age you might come to realise that people are just people regardless of what they do for a living and so it is with sportsmen and women. We're all human and prone to the usual human imperfections. That's why hero worship is pointless, futile and sometimes downright dangerous. What these guys did was disappointing but don't let it get to you. There are a lot worse things a person can do than take to a cricket ball with some sandpaper. A lot worse.
Max power
Guest
Over dramatic, over reaching and untimely