Dear Australian Cricketers,
Posted on 03 Feb 2008 under Rants
You deserved it. All of it.
For too long now, we’ve read about Australian sledging and saying unnaceptable phrases and getting away with it. Glen McGrath’s exchange with Sarwan is probably one of the worst sledging exchanges in the history of cricket. I say “probably” because I’m basing this on a few lists of the world’s most (in)famous sledging incidents. But that’s just one incident. Given at the end of this post are a couple of links you could check out. Notice how most if not all incidents involve Australians.
And I also encourage you to read the third article which, admittedly, has been written by an Indian. It does make some valid points, which I’ll state in my own words:
- It appears that as long as they’re the ones sledging, they should be allowed to get away with anything, including calling the Sri Lankans “black monkeys” or “black cocks”, but if they’re sledged at, they run to the authorities.
- Why is it that calling others “bastards” should be allowed internationally if it’s not such a big deal in Australia, but calling others “monkey” should not, though it’s less than an everyday insult here in South Asia?
- The Australians claiming to have played the 2nd test in “the spirit of the game” is pure bullshit. Cricket is a gentleman’s game, Mr. Ponting. Not one where you claim grounded catches and celebrate.
Anyway, here’re the links:
Hey. Thanks for the comment. And introducing me to the fun world of having a blog. I’ll be sure to check yours out all the time.
You’re welcome! Have fun blogging
Well, I am not sure to whether Glenn McGrath’s and Sarwan’s sledging incident should be rated the worst. The worst sledging can get is when a sportsman involves himself/herself in a racial slur and also in a verbal abuse of the loved ones.
I followed that “Ten Most “Hilarious” Sledging incidents in World Cricket” link, it missed out on a very popular and probably the funniest batsman-bowler sledge-strife. I am referring to the Shewag-Akthar incident. It was something like this:
Virender Shewag, the Indian opener is batting very well, Shoaib Akthar comes in to bowl and takes his chance with a different strategy to get him out, when all others fail. He places 2 fielders in the mid-wicket fine-leg area and keeps balling short balls to the centurion, to which the batsman simply ducks, every time, Akthar loses his cool and asks Shewag to hit the pull shot if he had the guts. He says something like “Dum hai toh pull shot marna”, twice “If you have the guts, play the pull shot* to which Shewag calmly replies “Arrey tuh bheek mang raha hai ya ball dal raha hai” *Are you bowling or begging ?*
I am not sure to whether this incident comes under sledging, but it is indeed very funny.
Hehe… not bad.
But in my opinion, I still think that the McGrath-Sarwan incident is one of the worst.
Oh your just being a sook…just because we kick your ass in crciket…anyway Tid, I sent you an e-gift, couldn’t find a sled though.
Riiiiiight
Why is calling someone ‘a monkey’ an insult? Monkeys are very agile. Any Australian cricketer who is called a monkey should feel complimented.
Gorilla Bananas, it’s not that simple.
Apparently, they look upon it as an insult because calling someone a monkey is like equating them with apes, which apparently is like saying that they are one step behind us “humans” in the evolutionary cycle, and are consequently backward and primitive.
IMO, bollocks. But whatever. Different poisons for different people.
Sledging is Ozzy thing (although the South African’s aren’t too far behind) and it’s one of the few exports from their glorified prison complex which has been taken up rather to often in the English Game.
I’m not so concerned about the top levels of the sport, but on a weekly basis, (I play in the Derbyshire League) even in Village Cricket, you get some load mouthed yob who thinks he’s dead smart for giving a load of verbal – usually from the slips. (Although they do tend to shut up once they let a few chances fly them by!)
Play hard, play fair and play to win. But giving some 50 something year old bloke a load of abuse because he’s played and missed a few times isn’t on. People want to enjoy their saturday/sunday afternoons, whiling away there last few years of playing in a relaxed atmosphere.