Some believe that if you pay your hard-earnt to get into the ground, then you suddenly have the right to say what you want and act like a yobbo.
Not true, I say. Not true!
Australian crowds have a long history of verbal banter from the sidelines. But like sledging on the field, where is that magical line?
As always, the answer may not be as easy as we think.
Because of events that transpired at the SCG, we have a distressed Indian team. At time of writing there seems to be an ongoing investigation into allegations of racial abuse from the crowd, some of whom have been dubbed the ‘Sydney six’.
At the same time we also have members of the crowd pleading innocence. There is a balance of believing the Indian players and respecting their right to the truth, but there is also the principle of being innocent until proven guilty.
Mohammed Siraj (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
Whatever the case, I think we can or at least should all agree that racism has absolutely no place in the game (and in society for that matter) whether on the field or in the crowd.
But what about heckling that borders on abuse and then becomes verbal abuse? As of now, there are allegations of verbal abuse in Brisbane directed at the same player who copped it and something much worse in Melbourne.
From a personal experience, what seems to happen at the cricket as the day goes on and the plastic cups pile up empty on the concrete floor is that the heckling can at times nudge on and then become abuse. They become words that are used to demean. Sadly I have heard this from time to time.
Things then become uncomfortable for those trying to sit, watch and enjoy the cricket. For mums and dads at the cricket it can take the joy away from what should be an exciting family day out with the kids. For those working at the ground, when heckling becomes abuse it automatically becomes a more challenging work environment, as security guards et cetera are charged with stamping out this type of behaviour.
So when we are talking about the mark of respect, it’s not just for the players; it’s for our fellow spectators and those working at the ground.
And spare a thought for the players. They are trying their best to play cricket, in this case for their country. They are used to a bit of heckling and banter and these days almost expect it, but abuse is not something they neither deserve nor should expect.
Imagine a person working a desk job or on one of the many tradie sites in Australia and having people on the sidelines abusing them. How long would that last? Some will say that the players are well paid and signed up for the job willingly – but they didn’t sign up for abuse.
This is where the mark of respect should come into it. Speaking purely about the Indian team here, let’s have a think about some of the things they have experienced on tour.
They lost there inspirational skipper after one Test, who understandably went home for the birth of he and his wife’s first child. Keep in mind this is a gentleman who averages over 50 in Test cricket.
Then players start going down one after the other in what seemed like a steady stream of broken bones, strained hamstrings and battered and bruised limbs, leaving players stretched out on dressing room floors that resembled an emergency room.
There have been other internal challenges. Mohammed Siraj lost his father at only 53 years of age. It’s a heartbreaking experience, but here he is putting on a show for Australian punters.
The Indian team deserve our respect for the way they have gone about their business of putting on a wonderful spectacle of Test cricket sustaining injuries, disruptions and tragedy, all the while existing in a COVID-19 bubble.
This is real Test cricket, even five-day Test cricket, which was once thought to be lost to the history of the game in this country. This has been a Test series of ups and downs on the field, of great theatre and intrigue. This has resulted in some of the most exciting cricket seen on these shores in recent memory, resulting in happy and rejoicing fans.
But let’s leave out the abuse and just enjoy the spectacle. Whether it’s racism or abuse, the mark respect should be evident. Just leave it out!
Hats off to India. You’re welcome anytime.
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
Also, I understand that monkeys, snakes, and elephants are culturally revered as being representations of deities in India. You're right in that it appears to be a cultural disconnect between two VERY different societies. Australian and English societies are shaped by Anglo-Saxon cultural values and, at least in the case of Australia, the relative lack of global awareness can sometimes prove to be challenging when looking to understand people from other parts of the world. I've been trying to explain this idea to my mate Jeff (as well as others) on these forums with little success :laughing: Congratulations on the win. What an epic series it has proved to be! Ranks up there with the greatest ever.....
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
Well said, KL - too bad so many fail to understand that sledging is not normal, and that it is a form of abuse (disguised as "banter").
Rob
Guest
It was Clarke to Anderson. It was pretty stupid from Clarke, because telling the batsman what your intending to bowl to him is just dumb. I suppose it would have been unsportsmanlike to say that and break his toes I guess. I hate when people dishonesty talk nice and then whack ya cold Salmon style. Just can’t win.
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Cricket_Council#1909%E2%80%931963_%E2%80%93_Imperial_Cricket_Conference.
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
“In India they can cut a kids fingers and hands off in the street if they believe they steal something. They assault and incarcerate women for having a miscarriage? They punch the foreign coach in the head and they call for him to be burned alive in the street”. From what I understand about that country, none of that stuff happens in India – and if any of it did, it would be extremely unusual. Are you sure you’re not thinking of Saudi Arabia there :laughing: Greg Chappell – an Aussie no less – was the head-coach of the Indian mens cricket team for several years and there have never been any reports of him ever getting “punched in the head”. Lol. I am happy to accept that there are obnoxious people everywhere, including in NZ. I’ve never said that Kiwis are necessarily “better” people than Aussies. I have, however, said that the Black Caps are much better behaved than the Baggy Greens. I reckon most people around the world will concur with that. I really do think that most Aussies are really nice peole – especially the ones I’ve spent time with. It’s unfortunate that some bad apples influence the perception of the wider group. Speaking of which, I can’t wait for the next three Test series between the Baggy Greens and the Black Caps down in Aotearoa-New Zealand. I reckon that’ll be one for the ages too – just like this Border-Gavaskar series has been ????
Rob
Guest
In India they can cut a kids fingers and hands off in the street if they believe they steal something. They assault and incarcerate women for having a miscarriage? They punch the foreign coach in the head and they call for him to be burned alive in the street. Seriously everyone can conduct themselves better through common decency but I’m curious to know why Australia leads the world in obnoxious behaviour? Watch America, China, India, England, Brazil and South American nation supporters. The most demeaning thing you can do is say your better than someone else. It’s very much what you are constantly saying about NZ. Yes be proud of yourself but please don’t call people from other teams or a nations culture lower class, weak, pathetic, arrogant and ignorant IMO.
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
Are you suggesting that the Indian board had something to do with the preparation of Australian pitches :laughing: Oh boy, that's a new one. The scheduling of venues had everything to do with covid realities - and that's why the Gabba was picked for the final Test. Also, India runs the show? The ICC was literally called the Imperial Cricket Conference until 1963 and it used to be run by England and Australia until the same year. The ICC is now a far more democratic organisation today - despite the fact that India alone accounts for more than 70 % of global cricket revenue. I've never said that the Aussies are a "pathetic mob of cricketers and supporters". I love Australia, Australian people, and of course Australian cricket barring the obnoxiousness that comes the fore on a, sadly, consistent basis. I've always hoped for Australian cricket to stay strong and to keep getting better. I've loved the performances of men like Allan Border, Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, and Glenn McGrath over the years. I've never supported any of their poor behaviour though. Ever. I've often pointed to Australian arrogance and disrespect towards the opposition, and highlighted the facts that these behaviours stem from deep-seated cultural factors that need looking into. I don't think any of these assessments have been either unreasonable or malicious. Most global cricket-watchers would likely agree with these observations - as would many fans of Australian cricket. Oh, and I've watched Rocky several times. It remains one of my favourite movies, and I can safely say that India were Rocky this series while Australia were Apollo Creed :)
Rob
Guest
Isn’t Australia (Rocky) and India (Apollo Creed)? Australia is the low down ranked opponents from the gutter up against the all powerful opponent who set the rules and run the show. Otherwise the pitches wouldn’t be slow and low Australia would have started in Brisbane and finished at the WACCA with ODI at the end. You have been telling everyone we’re just a pathetic mob of cricketers and supporters with no class on a regular basis (Rocky). Anyway if you watch the move we’re Rocky in this instance.
Rob
Guest
Cry me a river. It was part gamesmanship to stop the bleeding at the SCG IMO. India’s players used the rule book when given the opportunity. The crowd atmosphere? Barmy Arm, South Africa, India, West Indies are all subjective abusers of visiting teams. How bad is the abuse of Tim Paine after the Test loss. The fact many decry weak or shockingly bad and don’t acknowledge India beat us by play out of their skin is the definition of disrespect to India. It happens all the time and it isn’t racist.
Nimitz
Roar Rookie
We beat pitch & sand paper invaders faire and square. 2018 on wards it's a routine to thump Aussies. Next in line Cow Corner Poms.
Ravi
Guest
Hi Bill., Beautiful write up., the world does not know the real situations., which you have covered nicely & that too for a lay man to understand., particularly, The Spectator with Family., the maintenance crew of the stadium., importantly the situations & state of mind of the players., kudos., Keep it Up & Keep Going... you have a well wisher here.
matth
Roar Guru
Do you understand how insulting your continued condescending use of "Straya" is? You are actually being racist, making fun of our accent and using it as a term to demean Australians.
matth
Roar Guru
I'm thinking that comment was pretty condescending and insulting to two countries at once. Well done.
matth
Roar Guru
Do you live in Australia WillowWiz? Do you have enough experience of attending cricket here and of our society in general to provide this lecture? Maybe you do, I honestly can't tell. I do know that I would not be qualified or presume to lecture India and its culture from here in Australia.
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Morsie
Roar Rookie
You'd be put to death for serving alcohol in Bangladesh or the UAE.
Kiwilion
Guest
Sometimes I'm not sure people understand about sledging or banter. It doesn't matter if it's the Aussies, Kiwis, Indians, Poms or whoever, it's not needed anytime. If a player, team or spectators feel they need to sledge or abuse someone it obviously means that person is beating them. Sometimes, just sometimes it's actually ok to applaud the opposition for playing well and doing well, not all the time. But it doesn't need to be abusive or rude or nasty when you don't applaud them. Many times being quiet can be more intimidating, which some commentators have said about the Irish when the crowd goes almost silent when the opposition are taking a kick for goal, this is in Rugby Union it happens at Lansdowne rd in Ireland
Morsie
Roar Rookie
Particularly in an elevator. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Morsie
Roar Rookie
Someone made it up in an attempt to make us look better, bless 'em.
Morsie
Roar Rookie
So winning doesn't mean as much in other countries, they play for the pure love of it and each other?