When I was a young lad, my dear maternal grandfather used to take me to watch my heroes play at the SCG.
As a member, we used to arrive early and find a seat in the MA Noble Stand behind the bowler’s arm. These were great days.
Grandpa would point to the fieldsmen and explain how the bowler was trying to get the batsman out. He’d tell me stories of times past. And, as the long day wore on, we’d simply sit in silence and enjoy each other’s company, just as much we relished the action on the field.
But some of his lessons were hard learned.
On one occasion, an opposing fieldsman dropped one of my favourite batsmen. In my boyish excitement, I jumped to my feet and cheered. Suddenly, I felt a deceptively strong hand around my arm as I was being yanked back into my seat.
Grandpa – an eternally kind and gentle man – looked at me sternly and said: “We don’t cheer mistakes, lad. That’s not in the spirit of this game. Do that again and this is the last time I take you to the cricket.”
I was stunned. But I never forgot.
Which brings me to this.
What kind of snivelling, timorous, cowardly callow, cravenly crass, there-will-always-be-an-England, Rule Britannia, oh-so-superior, contemptuous git would jeer a man who has just been felled by a vicious bouncer?
And this from a people who famously used a brand of mints to achieve a preposterous level of reverse swing to win that epic series in 2005.
The only difference between sandpaper-gate and mint-gate is that the English were cleverer in both devising and executing their plan. I see no moral difference.
But I get why Steve Smith has been booed throughout this English summer. Some of it is motivated by a genuine disapproval of his role in the sandpaper affair. Most, I fear, is petty gamesmanship designed to (forlornly) distract an opposing threat.
But, surely, what happened at Lord’s on Saturday night crosses the line of common decency.
First, Smith was hit a savage blow on his forearm. Though clearly distressed, he batted on.
Then – in a sight that looked far too familiar – Smith was struck on the side of the neck, perilously close to his carotid artery, by a brutish bouncer. He collapsed to the ground. I felt sick watching it.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
I don’t know whether Smith was being brave or pig-headed, first in only reluctantly leaving the arena and then in returning to the battle at his first opportunity.
Either way, however, Smith’s unwillingness to concede defeat – through a body blow, if not by the taking of his wicket – deserved respect.
No matter what you think about Smith’s lack of fortitude in allowing the ball-tampering scheme to proceed, there’s a time and place to voice your disapproval. The moment a man walks back onto the field, after being poleaxed by a potentially lethal weapon, is neither the time nor the place.
That’s when a man stands up and applauds. Or, if he cannot find that graciousness within himself, that’s when a man remains silent.
I condemn those who booed Smith. It was a disgusting display of poor sportsmanship.
And at Lord’s, of all places.
Mon
Guest
That one was for Fallopian. No evidence required, he has provided enough already.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
Fantastic! You've made my day. And I do enjoy the banter, by the way.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Ah. Agreement. You cannot boo him in that instance. Huzzah!
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
It's a fair question Uglybetty. Has anybody withdrawn an appeal before when they saw the replay on the big screen? I'm not sure. I'm not suggesting Joe shouldn't have been the first, if that was the case.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
Ha! That made my laugh. Thanks Neil. Look, I don't know either Steve or Joe. From what I observe on TV, I don't warm to Joe. I am sure there are players you don't warm to either, based on what you see on TV. Some of your ambivalence may be rational - Smith & Warner - and some may be less rational. I have always warmed to Smith because I think, deep down, he's a decent bloke. I know his utter failure of leadership and moral accountability in Cape Town, suggests otherwise, but that is the way I see him based on all of the behaviour I can observe (without knowing him personally). As I said in an article just last week, I will never forget that failure. I also said I would not forgive him, before some Roarers caused me to question what it means to forgive or not to forgive. Ultimately, you can be seriously disappointed in somebody, but still have an underlying respect for them. If that were not the case, nobody would ever have a close friend. Nobody is perfect and nobody is just one thing. Ultimately, let's come back to the central point in my article. No matter what you think of Smith and not matter what he has done in the past, any person with any decency would choose not to boo him when he's just been hit in the neck by a bouncer, only to return to the field of battle. You can boo him all you like the rest of the time; just not then.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Not really. It seems you will continue to dislike Root for the crime of failing to seek out a good podiatrist. My pertinent question is, will you continue to at least dislike Smith for an act of base knavery towards his colleagues and cricket, while enjoying the highest playing honour a country can bestow? Or do vacant shoe inserts deserve greater longevity and scorn? Just asking.
James Butcher
Roar Rookie
Yeah maybe, normally it’s just cheering, jeering and laughing isn’t it?! Simon Jones’ injury comes to mind.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
The next injured player that Australian crowds boo will be the first.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
That's a pretty good list of great cricketers right there. I've met all with the exception of Root and I'd say they are not only good cricketers but very decent blokes. Whilst JR does come across as a little arrogant most cricket captains do, possibly a trait they need to be successful. I also agree that he'd have thought he caught the catch but he also saw replays from the field and had the opportunity to withdraw his appeal once the replay showed it had bounced. He didn't, he choose to keep up the charade. Which leads to my next question. Did the 3rd umpire have a stroke in the middle of adjudicating on that one?
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Not really. I mean unless poor old Joe seeks inserts or a good podiatrist, it seems you will continue to dislike him, but I'm not sure if you are forgiving of real acts of complete cricketing and moral bastardry, or whether you will continue to dislike Smith for a similar period? That's my pertinent question.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
I said it was unfair and irrational, Neil. You'll notice I give Root the benefit of the doubt over the catch my dislike for him notwithstanding. And yes, I was furious about the whole sandpaper affair. I was also disheartened, disillusioned and discombobulated. After a lifetime of loving cricket and supporting the national team, it was like waking up one morning and not knowing who I was anymore. I wrote several damning Roar articles, including this one: https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/11/02/the-cost-not-counted/ Does that answer your impertinent question?
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Wow. If all it takes is an awkward gait to dislike someone, how do you feel about someone else holding national captaincy who coerced a junior player to cheat for him and then form part of the cover up when discovered, throwing other team mates under the bus by inference? You must be furious?
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
Thanks Mon. You can't just post a comment like that and not expand upon it. What was it about my post which convinces you I have no knowledge of cricket history?
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
Ha! I stand by that James. He has this, for me, an irksome habit of rolling his shoulders from side to side as he walks - especially after he's hit a boundary. It almost seems to be modeled on Viv Richards and it's so out of place given his choir boy looks (whereas Viv could have been a boxer). That said, I know my assessment is unfair and irrational and totally personal to me. You like some people and you dislike others.
James Butcher
Roar Rookie
Jeff, I believe that I was the poster who condemned the booing and I didn’t offer any excuses, except to say that it was clearly a minority. My caveat was that if the tables were turned that the same or worse would be heard from Australian fans. Judging by most of your posts and your visceral antipathy towards the English, I don’t doubt that you’d be the guy in the Bintang singlet down on the boundary rope hurling abuse whilst trying not to spill your mid strength swill.
James Butcher
Roar Rookie
Arrogant swagger??? I wish he had some of that swagger but he has none, maybe he could borrow some of Jason Roys’.
Mon
Guest
This comment proves without a doubt that you have no knowledge of the history of cricket.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
Hi UglyBetty, Joe Root - with his arrogant swagger - is one of my least favourite players, but I give him the benefit of the doubt on the catch. I have heard it said before - and it rings true - that it feels like you have caught it when you scoop the ball up as it hits the ground. And before I get flamed by other Roarers for my dislike for Joe Root, it's go nothing to do with him being English. Botham, Gower, Randall, Flintoff, Atherton, Broad; all amongst my favourite players. I even have a soft spot for Brearly and KP.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I'd say it must have been a tiny, tiny minority that couldn't be heard at the ground itself. Otherwise good ol' Captain Root would have gestured to the crowd to desist (hello Virat), or would have said something the post-day press conference, or after the match, or..... I think I've seen maybe one comment from an England supporter stating the booing was inappropriate (although even that was full of excuses), the rest are making plenty of comments but none are condemning it. It says so so much about the English football hooligan sports bogans on that island.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
Agree 100% on the booing and two wrongs don't make a right. However we shall agree to disagree about the catch. Respectfully.