alfie wrote:Yuppie is suggesting "any regular player" would see no problem with it . Bit sweeping , eh ? I've played for over fifty years and I would neither accept it from one of my team nor approve of it from another. Others may well differ and that's fair enough. But let's not pretend there is a black and white answer, please
Dare I suggest that differences in age might have a real effect on what we consider normal here? I started watching cricket around the time of the dirt in the pocket scandal in my early teens, so I never grew up with any pretence that cricket was a nice and fluffy, gentlemanly thing. And I really remember by the time Adam Gilchrist came into the Aussie team (1996?) that he was famous for being pretty much the only guy left in cricket that would walk if he hit it, or would take a fielder's word on a catch not being grounded. I can't remember if Gilchrist maintained that throughout his career, but to begin with his was "the last of the walkers". And then a few years later, Waugh introduced his "mental disintegration tactics".
For me, the default setting has always been teams playing to win at all cost. I would argue that is "normal". Maybe to someone from another era who has been round long enough to remember when it wasnt the case, would consider it abnormal.
As I said when Smith got caught cheating, I didn't really understand the outpouring over it. It seems tough for many people to acknowledge that a side, any side, irrespective of where they are from, would do everything to win. Of course when people cheat they should be punished, but I think cheating is a realistic result of the pressures of modern sport. Nowadays there is a lot of money and status on the line, so while there is a difference between playing hard and being aggressive or out of line, I certainly wouldn't question that winning at all costs is against the spirit of the game - One could argue that such a mentality is the central tenant of competition. Seeing two sides doing everything they can to beat each other. That's what's special about test cricket.
I for one have an acute respect for that in Australian sporting culture. As I have said recently, and several times in the past, Australian's have an inbuilt determination and quality under pressure that I think is far superior to other sides, there is a streak of ultra-competitiveness that seems inherent. England fired some light salvos at Australia after the first test, Australia responded by giving England a lesson in the fine margins of winning, and reminding them they aren't here for hugs and to be friends.
You are free to disagree Alfie, but in my opinion that is the spirit of test cricket - asking for nothing, giving nothing. Outfoxing your opponent and punishing their errors. Of course, there are limits. I am not saying that condoning everything. I like to see players shake hands at the end, and share a beer, leave everything on the field - but on the field, the rules govern what is fair.
