First up, congratulations to both sides for an absolutely wonderful Test Series.
It received a tremendous amount of coverage over here in the locked-down UK and not just because Australia came second.
The only complaint I have about it is my complete frustration with the way the game is umpired nowadays. At every Test match we now have four umpires and a match referee and yet the same issues come up time and time again. Instead of talking about the magnificent cricket being played we still have far too much talk about sledging, time-wasting and excessive short-pitched bowling.
All these issues could be resolved simply if the umpires actually do some umpiring.
Firstly, sledging. I umpired for four years in the Brisbane Grade Competition a few years ago and one of the first things I was taught by my vastly more experienced colleagues was when the chatter ceased to be funny, it’s our job to put a stop to it. Tim Paine should have been told to shut up and get on with the game about ten seconds into his third Test rant instead of being allowed to carry on.
He was quite clearly wound up and either the on-field umpires or those off the field should have been aware that it was only heading one way. Also, all those fielding around the bat should be told (not asked) that as soon as the bowler starts his run-up, shut up. It’s not hard.
Secondly, time-wasting. Again, I was told that a fast game will always be a good game. If the players are getting on with it, they are far less inclined to chatter and chirp. How many times do we see now that after one of the ridiculously long drinks breaks they have? .They did it two overs after drinks the other day. The umpires simply have told the 12th man thanks but no thanks, see you in an hour.
There are more than enough stoppages in a days play without adding to them. Also, it’s totally ridiculous for the captain and bowler to insist on a team talk at the start of every over. The umpires should be all over that and tell them to get on with the game. Instead, the game grinds to a halt which then gives the chatterboxes time to start their nonsense.
Thirdly, short-pitched bowling. I could not believe how poorly the Australians bowled against the Indian lower order. It was quite clear that a couple of them had no idea, yet the supposed best bowling attack in the world continually bowled short to them. It was terrible cricket but the umpires didn’t help by letting it happen. Whatever happened to a good fast yorker to 9, 10, Jack?
The great fast bowlers of the past must have despaired watching it. Also, whatever happened to calling a wide if the ball sails over the batsman’s head? How is the batsman is expected to play the ball when it sails three feet over your head?
Test match umpires today have never had it easier. DRS has made it much easier. They don’t even have to call front-foot no-balls anymore, that’s done from the umpire’s box. Surely it’s not asking too much of them to keep a reasonable standard of behaviour on the field and to keep the game moving?> That could only benefit us all in the end.
Tom
Guest
Well it depends, do you want to change people's opinions, or do you just want to troll people for a response? You here describe Starc and Hazlewood's tactics as 'despicable', neglecting to mention that the Indians employed the exact same tactic, even in tour matches. I'd tend to agree that bouncing tail enders should be eliminated from the game, particularly in light of what we now know about concussions. Surely it shouldn't be too hard for you to understand why people might object to you describing Australian players as 'despicable' for employing a tactic used by every test playing nation? If you had just said it's a bad tactic and the umpires should enforce the law, without singling out individual players, I can't see how anyone would have a problem with that.
Tom
Guest
OK, point to where you have EVER criticised the behaviour of a non-Australian player? And yes, it did happen: https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/australian-harry-conway-third-concussed-player-ahead-of-test-against-india-after-will-pucovski-cam-green-ng-b881746402z
Andy
Roar Rookie
Umpires were quite good on actual decision making but I agree they needed to step up and get on top of all the time wasting and sledging that was going on by both teams.
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
Please refer to my reply to your other comment regarding this. I honestly don't care if some people consider my opinions insufferable. That's entirely up to them. Might help if they were a lot less one-eyed too.
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
Didn't watch that game. If it did happen though, it shouldn't have been permitted. THat's the umpire's responsibility though. Not Saini's. Similarly, it's not Starc's fault that he was permitted to bowl bouncers at Natarajahn - it was the fault of Oxenford and Wilson for having permitted it. There's no narrative that's being expressed here other than the obvious facts.
Tom
Guest
OK that's your opinion and it is perfectly valid, the problem is you have nowhere that I've seen condemned Navdeep Saini for launching a barrage of bouncers at Harry Conway (who averages 5 in first class cricket), culminating in him getting a concussion, in a tour match of zero import no less. If you had ONCE criticised any other country's players people might not think you were so insufferable.
Tom
Guest
Harry Conway (a genuine number 11 if ever there was one) was concussed by a Navdeep Saini bouncer in the Australia A - India match...but of course that doesn't fit your narrative that Australians are the only cricket team that push the limits of the rules.
Tom
Guest
Billy was the Hollywood Bill Harrigan of cricket. Umpires need to realise no one is there to watch them.
Sunshine Tiger
Roar Rookie
But the umpires did get involved in the short pitched stuff, oxenford warned the Indian bowlers twice when they bowled one short ball at the Aussie tail, yet no warnings against the Aussie bowlers. The umpires need to be fair and unbiased
The Late News
Roar Rookie
My team usually take the pi$$ out of each other. There is no time to worry about the opposition!
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Another really funny variation of the be the umpire’s best mate routine is the bowler in the middle of his spell will field at square leg next to you in the in between overs and will chat you up the whole time in between balls. Only encounter this in finals, as for most of the season I just do bowlers end with batting side providing square leg.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Jacko. Batsmen need to ‘move’. Cant take that fear/or strength out of game. Intimidation, surviving it is part of the good batsmen. Which team first is going to stop bouncing 9/10/11? The umps just need to count them.
Paul
Roar Guru
There were two kinds of players who really annoyed me when I was umpiring. The first group were those who were trying their best to get in the good books. You know the ones who say "good decision" when it's obvious the player was out or not out. They also seem smarmy, trying to be your best mate. The others are the ones you mention who lose the plot when they are given out. They simply made me angry. It makes no sense to me to upset a decision maker, after all, they might take revenge - not that I did ( certainly not intentionally).
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
"No Australian calls our team “the Baggy Greens”" Well, there's more than just Aussies on this planet though - especially with globalisation becoming more of a thing. I don't pretend to be able to "save" Australian culture - most of which I have no issues with. What I do have an issue with - is the problem of toxic masculinity in 'Strayan sport. I reckon that stems from cultural factors that are deep-seated. There have even been research studies conducted on the culture of confrontation, and intimidation in Australian cricket - such as this one in the Journal of Sociology (2019): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1440783319833466. https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1181098/the-ugly-australian--the-evolution-of-a-cricket-species. https://indaily.com.au/opinion/2018/03/26/antidote-australian-crickets-toxic-masculinity/. One-eyed supporters are probably always going to reckon that you're biased. Can't be helped though :( But, hey, that's why we love the Roar, hey? You're entitled to yours, and I'm entitled to mine - just as much as you're entitled to mine, and I'm entitled to yours! :laughing:
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Players do definitely try that sort of sh-t. And the ones that find it hardest to take being given out are often the ones that try these kind of tactics. They think we're silly.
Paul
Roar Guru
That was great Bernie. Many thanks for passing it on. I was thinking about the great umpires we've had in Test cricket and it seems to me we're in a generation now where, thanks to a combination of factors, they've all but disappeared from the game. Go back a decade or so and we had some great umpires but guys like Billy Bowden started the rot with his antics and the current crop are way too busy being mates with the players. Really sad IMO
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
Well said. That incident looked dodgy-as!
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
I reckon sledging is never okay. Sledging is often used to mask verbal and psychological abuse, sadly :(
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
Correct on all counts. The law concerning Unfair Play explicitly disallow using diversionary tactics such as the ones deployed by Paine against Ashwin. The umpires didn't do their job on that occasion!
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Check this out for some light hearted entertainment Paul. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNX7JRH2P_c