WHAT DID YOU SAY!!!!!!!??????

A fair bit is being said about the revamped, tougher talking and walking Aussies at the moment, and why not? Self belief and attitude are such integral parts of a winning performance in sport.

Firstly i'll start that Hey-dids has spoken out in the media saying England should, "Get over it!"
I don't know if he is that correct in doing this. I have read both KP and Cook saying it ok, not out of control, part of the game and basically expected from Australia so they aren't upset. Maybe that is their return of serve, "Doesn't worry me!" to counter any benefit that it seems Australia get from being lippy. But i don't think so.

Many a commentator laments the lack of, 'going into the oppositions change rooms for a beer after the game'. Be that as it may, many were not professional or played the later parts of their careers in the very under-paid professional era. The Ashes is the closest thing to war for our countries and the media and public glare are intense- positive results are paramount and socialising can come after the series or careers.

If England expect Australia to go verbal out of habit, they must have been stunned at the timid attitudes they received in the first 2 Tests. CA's wrist slapping and finger-waving after the heated Indian summer brings into sharp focus how little they understand the needs of their own team.

India were bloody big sooks that tour, prepared to let their players mutter barbs but threatening to take their bat and ball and go home when said player should have been pulled into line. Instead, we have our players dragged over the coals and subsequently their standard MO of playing affected; NOT GOOD ENOUGH CA!

Sure we are renowned as verbally hard when it comes to 'gamesmanship', and i'm not saying stepping onto the turf permits carte blanche remarks, but even professionals normally have a pretty good idea of where the line is, and if India and CA don't like the way we play- TUFF_TITTY!
CA have done SFA of late and India can hold their top ranking (after RSA, do they still) another way, sans pissing and moaning.

To their credit, i have not heard Poms carry on about it in the media (maybe a bit on the field but that just looks like them trying to play the same game) -correct me if i'm wrong- and if it lifts our guys MORE I SAY!

We here so much about other longer established nations "cultures", well this is clearly part of ours. i have experienced it at every level and type of sport i've played, and quite frankly it has no effect on me. i don't dish it out only because i'm slower than a slug on rohypnol and would only embarrase myself and then loose my cool and concentration... but i don't care what anyone else says.

this has been another session of
stoph verismo
for
down the wicket

IPL - spectacle or sport?

Well the IPL is in full swing on South African soil with plenty of colour, clean hitting, scantily clad cheer leaders and ignorant owners. Somewhat more subdued owners in some cases. Seeing retired players belting inexperienced youngsters reminds me of family bbqs in public parks - ah childhood.

There has been some change in the format: with players tiring after a long 10 overs there is a tactical break to regroup and alter strategy where necessary. Obviously from a batting point of view this has at times changed from trying to hit sixes alot to trying hit more sixes. Teams have retained theatric uniforms and batting helmets. Owners are still told by their body guards when they are on camera so they clap at the appropriate moments. This seems to be a slightly farcical element to me.

One aspect I've loved to see is players from different countries playing alongside each other and demonstrating friendship and comraderie. I watched Kolkata Knight riders play Punjab 11 the other night: Gayle's first over was awful and when Channel 10 went to a break straight after it I heard Gayle apologise to McCullum (Kolkata captain) with the words, "sorry skip". I think it shows great humility for a National team captain who is one of the most damaging players around to handle the situation in the way he did. While there are definitely cocky, arrogant twits (yes you Ganguly) the tone overall has been very respectful. When you read comments by players referring to teammates they use nicknames and other affectionate terms. I thought Hayden was meant to be one of the most despised players going around: it doesn't appear that his team mates feel this way (probably helps when you're the leading run scorer in the competition).

You may detect a dramatic shift in my tone when discussing the IPL. Well, I've changed my tune. While areas such as the mid-innings break and commercialising of the sport I love infuriates me to some degree: I've chosen to concentrate on the inclusiveness and togetherness that sport as a medium can offer. I've always thought one of soccer's greatest strengths is that players from countries who don't get along (politically speaking) can function well within a team dynamic that the game allows. Watching players swap gurnseys after battle is, to me, one of the most beautiful things to see in sport. I couldn't care less who wins the IPL but perhaps all of us can appreciate the non-cricket related aspects while admiring big hitting.

Obviously there are many areas I've not mentioned here: the fact it is being played in South Africa most notably. Hopefully all of you can address such things. However, just to throw 2 cats amongst the pigeons, I feel the change in wickets has been a great things for the IPL. I reckon the tournament should rotate around the world each year (maybe not Pakistan for a while) - although I realise since the IPL is viewed as an Indian league first (perhaps only in India!) this is very unlikely to happen. And my other cat? It is this - goodbye 50 over cricket: you've served us well but you are dead in the water. All the power plays in the world can't save you now.

"are you being sarcastic?"

What is sledging and what is verbal abuse?

There is no doubt that you can sledge someone without abusing them, but isn't just out and out verbal abuse just abuse: and should be dealt with under that title.

The ICC is on a mission to get sledging out of the game once and for all it seems: this is going to open a whole can of worms to be sure when semantics come into play. It will make the sub-continentals happy though, as it is mainly their disdain for the practice (honourable, as long as they live up to it) that has brought it to a head with the ICC- which of course crumbles quicker than an Indian dust-bowl pitch! This is all a bit hypocritical when India threatened to take their bats and balls home in the 07-08 tour of Australia when Harby got pinged for sledging.

How are the ICC going to govern such an undertaking?
There are already regulations regarding racial vilification- (page 217 of the ICC Playing handbook)


3.3 Using language or gestures that offends,insults,humiliates,intimidates,
threatens,disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person’s
race,religion,gender,colour,descent or national or ethnic origin
ICC CODE OF CONDUCT
FOR PLAYERS AND TEAM OFFICIALS

So what exactly are the ICC going after? To me, the above extract reads like it would cover any of the complaints i've heard/read from players that have genuine grounds to take issue over what has been said to them out in the middle.

If the ICC are out to remove every type of on field talk- short of, "Good shot, old chap!" (could that be said sarcastically and not be sledging?) they are removing an important element of sport- GAMESMANSHIP.
Graeme Thorpe recently stated, 'In my third Test match, we were eight down. I'm on 60 not out, batting with the tail. Ian Healy says, "Boys, watch this guy play to get a not out." The pride inside me said, "Stuff this, I'll show you." I charged out to smack [Shane] Warne for a six and got stumped. That was gamesmanship.'

While abusive sledging can be outright vile stuff, another definition of sledging is "verbally distracting to break a players concentration" , and in my opinion this is done best with humour.

Are the ICC out to take away all non play related conversation between sides? Or are they going to expand the rule book to define EXACTLY what players can get away with?
I can see long nights in mediation or tribunal for mere utterances... ridiculous!


stoph verismo
downthewicket