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Roar Guru
Joined September 2018
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Like so many other Australian Cricket fans, I was mortified by the ball tampering scandal in Cape Town in March 2018. It made me question my life-long passion for Cricket and my steadfast support for the national team. And so, combining my passions for cricket, the law and writing, I embarked on a search for `The Spirit of Cricket'; one cricket tragic's attempt to define `the line'. Does Cricket have a distinct spirit? Can we define 'the line'? How are the values Cricket holds dear different from any other sport?
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If the period in world cricket from 1977 to 1995 belonged to the West Indies and the period from 1995 to 2005 belonged to the Aussies, then I fear the coming decade will belong to India. As others have written, the Indian triumph in this Australian summer was like nothing seen before. I can think […]
Calls for Tim Paine’s head are overblown, as are predictions from an overseas expert that his days as the Australian captain are numbered.
There’s a fierce determination in his dark eyes. They bristle with conquest; a malevolent desire to prove himself as the best against the best.
As the winning runs were scored, I glanced at Allan Border – his shoulders sagging and slumped in cold resignation – and I felt the chill of sadness rise within me.
Sitting in the MA Noble Stand on Sunday night, watching India’s valiant attempt to chase down Australia’s 389, I mused whether One Day International cricket – like India following Virat Kohli’s dismissal – had lost its way.
I’ve heard tale told of Balmain Tigers supporters who cannot bring themselves to even think about the 1989 league grand final, let alone watch the highlights of that harrowing ordeal.
Like every pandemic-weary, cricket pedant – starved of cricket with an avid audience beyond the deep point boundary – I have been reflecting on cricketing times past.
It may surprise some to learn that I have succumbed to the habit of spending most of my mid-summer evenings watching the BBL!
Sitting in the Noble Stand on the first day of the New Year’s Test match, my meandering mind wandered to SCG glories past.
Not so long ago, the Australian public was figuratively marching on David Warner’s home – pitchforks and flaming torches in hand – ready to seize him, tie him to the nearest tree and pummel him to within an inch of his wretched life.
The cricket world – or at least the nations of Australia and Pakistan – are suddenly having conniptions about the no-ball rule and its application in practice.
They are images that will remain scorched into our minds for as long as this epic English summer of 2019 is remembered.
Quite some years ago, while sitting under the green roof of the members stand at the SCG, my wife and I watched as an Australian wrist-spinning understudy stood at the top of his mark, flipping the ball belligerently from hand to hand.
It is probably one of the more difficult things to achieve in sport.
Is it possible to simultaneously feel elation and deep despair?
When I was a young lad, my dear maternal grandfather used to take me to watch my heroes play at the SCG.
Social media is suddenly awash with a mash-up of Steve Smith’s uniquely exaggerated technique when it comes to leaving balls outside his off-stump.
When cricket tragics wax long and lyrical about great Ashes moments, they typically cite the same epochal events.
Although hardly singing a solo, I vocally condemned Steve Smith for his role in the ball-tampering abomination in Cape Town 15 months ago.
Nice! That’s a really well-balanced and thoughtful message.
Does India's triumph herald a decade of dominance?
Agreed DaveJ…and Sundar took some wickets…
I’m a big fan of Green – and I’m excited about his future…but his inability to take a wicket in four Tests is concerning.
Does India's triumph herald a decade of dominance?
Thanks Riccardo, I agree that each of the top tier cricketing nations have cause for optimism, including Australia by the way. And your point about the unassuming Kiwis is well made.
But I come back to the subtle point in my article. The fact that India can call upon a guy like Washington Sundar – who must have been at least third pick for his specific role in the team – and he performs with such distinction under pressure… wow! That speaks to the depth of talent in the Indian squad.
Does India's triumph herald a decade of dominance?
I agree, d’Athena, that an era where no team dominates can make for some thrilling contests. But there’s also something alluring about an era where one country forms a dynasty. Some of my best memories of cricket occurred when the Windies were the kings and even competing with them was worthy of celebration. If India become the dominant team of the 2020s, I will look forward to our contests with them even more than I do now. I can barely wait for the Australian tour of India in October 2022!
Does India's triumph herald a decade of dominance?
It’s a point well made Targa, but I wonder whether we’ll see an improved Indian performance in those venues on the back of their experience this Australian summer.
Does India's triumph herald a decade of dominance?
I take your point Hades, although I was talking more about Test cricket than other formats. And I not sure there is an over reliance on a group of stars when India won this series on the back of some relative unknowns when the stars were either not available or injured.
Does India's triumph herald a decade of dominance?
Thanks WillowWiz, I agree with all your points. I would add that I think we are seeing the positive impact of the IPL and other T20 leagues on Test Cricket; players with limited (or no) Test experience, performing with a clear head under pressure because they’ve been there before.
Does India's triumph herald a decade of dominance?
Thanks Pierro. There is certainly a risk of that…but I challenge your cause / effect analysis. Do you give any credit to India for winning the last series and playing with such resilience in this one?
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
Thanks Andy. And he’s playing another critical innings today (Day 2 Gabba). Great character.
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
He’s earned the right to be forgiven for one Test where he made captaincy errors and dropped some catches.
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
My wife is Chinese, Elvis, so I’ve heard plenty of remarks on the street of a similar nature.
Re `brown dog’, I was going from media reports that that is what Siraj heard.
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
Interesting what Faf said.
But I think there’s a comfortable middle ground between pretending to be a meek and mild, “yes, sir, three bags full sir”, cricket team and, as Peter Roebuck colourfully described, `a pack of wild dogs’.
Whilst somewhat unfair, the Australian team was closer to the `pack of wild dogs’ end of the spectrum pre-sandpaper.
In my view, Paine’s team had the balance about right prior to the recent SCG Test. They played tough, uncompromising cricket without letting their behaviour steal the headlines. I don’t think the Paine / Ashwin exchange was that bad – certainly not the behaviour of a wild dog – but I understand why some in the cricket community view it as the Aussies heading in the direction of the wild dog days.
As I said in response to another post, I don’t condone what Paine said, particularly given that he doesn’t even condone it himself.
But let’s look at the bigger picture before we crucify the bloke.
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
That’s interesting Redbackfan.
I don’t particularly warm to Ashwin. As a viewer, I don’t particularly like him.
Before anybody flames me for that remark, it’s not because he’s Indian or an opposing player. I really do like Bumrah, Jadeja, Rehane and Pant and I freaking love Virat. See my recent article on him:
But I don’t like Ashwin.
But I agree with you. If I met Ashwin, I wouldn’t tell him that with a view to getting under his skin. I’d keep it to myself.
Whether Tom Hanks has ever told somebody who is competing with him for a part that nobody likes him, I don’t know.
😛
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
WillowWiz, I think we have to be very careful about conflating the Paine / Ashwin exchange with the totally separate issue of Siraj complaining about racist attacks from the crowd.
The two articles you’ve linked are about the latter, not the former.
If Siraj was called a `brown dog’ – or anything else which mocked his race or identity – then that is reprehensible and we should all condemn it
But there was nothing racist in the exchange between Paine and Ashwin.
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
Thanks WillowWiz. All good! I was using `admonished’ for enhanced effect too.
We’re all passionate about cricket, so there’s nothing wrong with a forceful tone, in my view.
(Although your reply to Elvis may have headbutted that mythical line… 😊 )
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
Great post Real News!
Your point about Paine looking forward to the Gabba when the SCG Test was still there to be won is a very good one…and one I had not considered. I agree that was a tacit admission he’d run out of ideas. I also agree that his dropped catch in the next over was our last (remote) chance and it was a terrible look when juxtaposed so closely with chirp.
I’m surprised there is a section of the media opposed to Paine. I really can’t fathom that. He’s done a fine job in the last 3 years.
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
Thanks WillowWiz, those are some very interesting comments.
This video from the last Indian tour suggests both sides were chirping (although I accept it’s edited so who knows whether there was an equal amount of lip from both teams):
That said, I accept your point that just because others do it doesn’t make it okay. I feel appropriately admonished.
I don’t really accept your anglophone point though. The Pakistanis talk to each other in Urdu, the South Africans in Africaans and the Indians in Hindi. That would be just as distracting from an Australian (or English…or Kiwi) batsman, particularly if the words are spoken in a particular tone and/or followed by peels of laughter.
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
I totally agree Marty. I’m not condoning Paine’s conduct on Day 5. He doesn’t condone it himself.
All I am urging is that critics look at the big picture, rather than condemn the man for a bad day.
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
Nice! Whilst I acknowledge the clever joke, it does put Paine’s conduct into some perspective.
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
“…all the Paine haters”? Really? How can anybody not like Tim Paine? He’s the Tom Hanks of cricket…
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
Thanks Paul. I always look forward to your comments.
In addition to Paine’s contributions in Sydney, before the final day calamity, he also played a critical innings in the First Test at Adelaide.
I agree that Paine as at least 12 months left in him as the Australian captain and keeper. I’d love to see him retaining the Ashes this time next year.
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
Whilst I agree, Nick, it’s not just the traditional media. There was a groundswell against Paine on social media as well.
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
Thanks Peter. I completely agree with you above JL’s past contribution and current role! I was impressed that he’s standing up for Smith as well.
Give Tim Paine a break – he's earned it!
CSKERD, if that means cricket thrives across the globe, then that makes me very happy!
Does India's triumph herald a decade of dominance?