Open mike: Cricket controversy

Another chance to talk about a subject of your choice.

First comment sets the topic for debate. Be sure to give your views on any subject you raise, even if it's in a subsequent comment.

ace asks: "Was the removal of our National Team from the field in Namibia the right thing to do?"

Comments

[ace on 02.11.05 at 08:13]

Was the removal of our National Team from the field in Namibia the right thing to do?

[loki on 02.11.05 at 09:03]

Speaking as someone who is far from a cricket fan, I would have to say that it depends on whether there was a genuine and unjustifiable danger to the players, coupled with a failure or refusal on the part of the officials to intervene and reprimand/remove the player or players acting in a dangerous manner.

[ace on 02.11.05 at 09:16]

Well, I am torn as to whether or not it was the right thing to do.

On the one hand I think the reported behaviour of the Namibian players was disgraceful, but on the other I am concerned that if our team faces sledeging and "short" deliveries in the World Cup and we fall apart as a result we are going to look foolish in front of the whole world.

One thing that struck me when I read Saturday's paper was that for an African team the Namibians sure had an awful lot of white-boys on their team. Is segregation alive and well over there?

[hotspur on 02.11.05 at 09:21]

Interesting to read their complaints about racial sledging. Didn’t the BCB inadvertently support this by not taking action against Herbie Bascome during Cup Match?

Kettle, Pot etc etc.

[Tiger Bay on 02.11.05 at 09:58]

Paucity of comment seems to demonstrate that few people really care much about our national $11 million commitment to cricket.

Bermuda sports in Namibia? Who da fcuk cares when we can barely stage a major sports event here without drugs or violence.

[SmokingGun on 02.11.05 at 10:10]

If this is how we handle ourselves on the world cricket platform I can't wait till we go Independent.......

[jake on 02.11.05 at 10:17]

I agree. The abuse levelled by our players at each other speaks more. I would have never written a check for $11mm to a sport where we cannot demonstrate a level of professionalism to justify it.

That we were on the receiving end of same tells me there is karma, or whatever in play.

Our drug and violence culture is well documented Tiger, and there really is no answer to your comment. Well said.

[automatic on 02.11.05 at 11:21]

Hotspur,

You hit the nail squarely and firmly on the head. The BCB turned a blind eye to all the shenanigans that went on at Cup Match, but now are all up in arms cos the boot is on the other foot. Pathetic.

Sledging is part of the game, get used to it. By showing everyone that they can't take it, they are making it much worse for themsleves. The teams in the World Cup are just going to do it even more now, as they now it rattles us.

Same goes for short deliveries...if we can't cope with a few short balls bowled by a no-mark player from a team that didn't even qualify for the World Cup, how on earth are we going to cope with the world's best hurtling balls at us at 100mph plus.

International cricket is not a playground knockabout, it's serious business and if we don't grow up fast we're going to be totally humiliated in 2007.

[ace on 02.11.05 at 11:27]

It IS a sad commentary on the sport of cricket to assume now that "sledging" is a part of the game....PARTICULARLY racial sledging.

I suppose the old saying "That is just not cricket", when communicating the fact that something isn't fair or right, is defunct now.

That is a shame.

[thisgrassman on 02.11.05 at 11:37]

These guys need a session with Shawn Goater and Clive Best - both who were on the recieving ends of racial taunting when they played professional football. Both coped with it and did not allow their opponents to use it to disrupt their game - this is a mark of a true professional sportsman.

Regarding sledging in general - seems to be part of the game so we better get good at it.

some samples from the internet:

Rod Marsh & Ian Botham:
>1. When Botham took guard in an Ashes match, Marsh welcomed him to the
>wicket with the immortal words: "So how's your wife & my kids?"
>
>2. Daryll Cullinan & Shane Warne:
>As Cullinan was on his way to the wicket, Warne told him he had been
>waiting 2 years for another chance to humiliate him. "Looks like you
>spent it eating," Cullinan retorted.
>
>3. Glenn McGrath & Eddo Brandes:
>After Brandes played & missed at a McGrath delivery, the Aussie bowler
>politely enquired: "Oi, Brandes, why are you so fat?" "Cos every time I
>f**k your wife she gives me a biscuit," Brandes replied.
>
>4. Robin Smith & Merv Hughes:
>During 1989 Lords Test Hughes said to Smith after he played &
>missed: "You can't f**king bat".
>Smith to Hughes after he smacked him to the boundary:
>"Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can't f**king bat & you can't f**king
>bowl."
>
>5. Merv Hughes & Javed Miandad:
>During 1991 Adelaide Test, Javed called Merv a fat bus conductor. A
>few balls latter Merv dismissed Javed: "Tickets please", Merv called
>out as he ran past the departing batsman.
>
>6. Merv Hughes & Viv Richards:
>During a test match in the West Indies, Hughes didn't say a word to
>Viv, but continued to stare at him after deliveries. "This is my
>island, my culture. Don't you be staring at me. In my culture we just
>bowl." Merv didn't reply, but after he dismissed him he announced to
>the
>batsman: "In my culture we just say f**k *ff."
>
>7. Ricky Ponting & Shaun Pollock:
>After going past the outside edge with a couple of deliveries, Pollock
>told Ponting: "It's red, round & weighs about 5 ounces." Unfortunately
>for Pollock, the next ball was hammered out of the ground..
>
>Ponting to Pollock: "you know what it looks like, now go find it."
>
>8. And of course you can't forget Ian Healy's legendary
>comment which was picked up by the Channel 9 microphones when Arjuna
>Ranatunga called for a runner on a particularly hot night during a one
>dayer in Sydney... "You don't get a runner for being an overweight,
>unfit, fat c**t!!!"
>
>9. Can't remember the player or the exact details but went something
>like Mark Waugh standing at second slip, the new player to the crease
>playing & missing the first ball. Mark - "Ohh, I remember you from a
>couple years ago in Australia. You were sh*t then, you're f**king
>useless now". Kiwi - (Turning
>around)
>"Yeah, that's me & when I was there you
>were going out with that old, ugly sl*t & now I hear you've married
>her. You dumb c**t".

[SmokingGun on 02.11.05 at 11:41]

I agree with you Ace. There is no place for any sort of Racial Slander on the field. If a person wants to have a little fun, fine. But if they are not smart enough or witty enough to come up with a one-liner that isn't derogatory then kick them out of the club, they shouldn't be there in the first place.

For a little morning amusement check out:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/3068365.stm

[Lost in Flatts on 02.11.05 at 12:14]

Is it not the new Bermudian way? If things aren't going your way, close up shop, take your ball home and blame the other people. My lord, short bowling is a tatic used consistently thoughout world class cricket. I guess the reason our players were so shocked was because they've played virtually no world class cricket. All credit to them for qualifying, but if you can't take a few brush backs or a bit of heckling, how the hell did you get into sports in the first place?

All I can hope for is that Bermuda play the Aussies, because 9 times out of 10 the Bermuda team won't even understand their heckling, so hopefully won't be offended and walk off.

[Rev. Goat on 02.11.05 at 13:17]

I bet it happened because they didn't say "good mawnin".

[SmokingGun on 02.11.05 at 13:17]

Reality is cricket can easily become just one long boring dull session of un-athletic postering. No wonder they've got all the time in the world to yak. Either stuff a strawberry in it and drink your tea or put mics on all the wise guys so we can have a little more entertainment. But whatever you do get rid of the ugly looking uniforms and bring back the classy whites.

[Terry on 02.11.05 at 15:19]

Thisgrassman,

Thanks for the laugh!

[Nicolette on 02.11.05 at 17:11]

I guess $11 million makes some people quite "precious"... the only thing more boring than this thread is the game of cricket itself, so maybe becoming a contact sport will liven things up¡

[Andrew on 02.11.05 at 19:28]

I saw my first cricket match at Cup Match last year. I arrived just in time for the slapping incident. I watched the game in stunned disbelief. I thought cricket was civilized, but it was worse than a damn hockey game. The lack of professionalism and sportsmanship was appalling. I was disgusted, really. Their behaviour abroad doesn't surprise me.

[ace on 03.11.05 at 07:52]

Hang on Andrew, the Bermuda team, as far as I know, were not badly behaved on this tour in Africa, it was the Namibians who demonstrated the lack of sportsmanship you speak of.

I am surprised at the attitude about cricket I see here. I can understand those that have never played the game stating it is boring, but that is more due to ignorance of the game than the game itself. Cricket is a great game.

[Tiger Bay on 03.11.05 at 08:19]

But is it $11 million worth of great? I don't think so. That money should have spent HERE where it would have broader impact on the development of athletics and team sports.

[ace on 03.11.05 at 09:13]

Probably not 11 million worth, but before this announcement of the government "grant" I read in the paper that a very wealthy American who attended a cricket match and was impressed by the effect the game had on the community was going to donate a ridiculous amount of money to further cricket in the Caribbean and that Bermuda was going to benefit from this also.

I have a feeling that these funds, when received, will "set off" at least a chunk of the 11 million, but I could be wrong.

My first thought was that this "set off" would probably be done quietly so that the present government could take the credit for supporting cricket to the tune of the full amount of 11 million.

[Tiger Bay on 03.11.05 at 09:27]

Point remains that having a glamour national team is pretty empty when Bermuda's youth programmes need help, our sporting events are plagued by drugs and violence, and our facilities need investment.

In my view, its better to have a good sports programme for everyone than great funding for one team - most of whose games will be played elsewhere.

Ego rather than impact.

[Onion on 03.11.05 at 12:08]

Lost in Flatts says,

"Is it not the new Bermudian way? If things aren't going your way, close up shop, take your ball home and blame the other people."

Good heavens man, ease up on yur national team.

"My lord, short bowling is a tatic used consistently thoughout world class cricket. I guess the reason our players were so shocked was because they've played virtually no world class cricket"

No, you are only allotted 2 short pitch deliveries in one day internationals per over. Anything beyond that especially against the 11th man is not acceptable. being that this was a friendly, I agree with Logie it was not worth the risk. Also, racial sledging, although not uncommon, is not tolerated - certainly not in today's cricket.

You would think some of you would be more supportive of your own national team. Par for the course I guess.

[SmokingGun on 03.11.05 at 12:21]

Onion, in keeping with the thread, I think pulling the team off the field was a little over-board. It implies a great deal more than what might have been intended. In Baseball you often see the Team Manager's go onto the field and approach the Umpires if they feel that something is being done untoward their players. Could this not have been handled similarly? Or is it not the proper way to do it?

I'm all for our National Team if they play hard and handle themselves professionally. Was this the proper way to handle the situation though or could Logie have lodged a complaint instead. Pulling people makes them look a little bit like woosies in my view, that's all.

[ace on 03.11.05 at 12:38]

I am a HUGE fan nof our National Team. I am concerned that we may look foolish during the World Cup if our guys cannot handle the sledging then and also if they cannot handle short deliveries.

Gus needs to import some FAST bowlers and get all of the team in the nets. Get that bowler to make short pitched deliveries constantly...for a few weeks. Get the lower order batsmen to face him. Have every single member of the team LEARN how to knock those deliveries for four or six and not to be intimidated by them.

You can BET that if the bowlers from the other World Cup teams find out our batsman can be intimidated they will see lots of them. Bouncers can be turned into easy runs. One thing they cannot do is get you out (unless a batsman mishits and is caught).

[automatic on 03.11.05 at 12:52]

Ace,

Well said. Couldn't have put it better myself.

I am massively proud of the Bermuda national cricket team, but fear that this incident will tip off the world-class opposition that we will face in 2007 that Bermuda "doesn't like it up 'em".

The obvious result = more sledging, more short deliveries. In short, we've shot ourselves in the foot.

It would have been much better to weather the storm on the pitch and complain about it afterwards.

Will Gus lead us off the field in the World Cup if it happens again? That will result in one thing and one thing only, world-wide shame and humiliation. At least this was only a game between us and Namibia, imagine if he did it against the Indians in front of the world's media!!

[Onion on 03.11.05 at 13:08]

I think this was the culmination of many off the field unsavoury incidents that occurred on this and the last tour with respect to Namibia. This was a friendly match. They would not walk off the pitch in a competitive match. Gus Logie was a batsmen who played in the West Indies team of 80s and 90s, one of the greatest teams of all time, if not THE greatest. I think he has enough experience to know accpetable protocol in these situations.

[SmokingGun on 03.11.05 at 13:11]

"Gus needs to import some FAST bowlers and get all of the team in the nets. Get that bowler to make short pitched deliveries constantly...for a few weeks."

And some Googlies, Flippers and Top-Spinners.....

[ace on 03.11.05 at 13:16]

That's a good point Onion...although I would have put quotes around "friendly". ;-)

[The View on 12.12.05 at 12:20]

I am a frequent visitor of this website but very rarely a poster and was off-island when this incident/post occurred. I should state up front that I am on the Bermuda Cricket Board, I am also fully aware that now that we are a month on, some of the posts above may not stand true.

Having worked with Gus my personal opinion is that he is very level headed and he does not strike me as the sort of man that would take any decision he makes lightly. In addition Gus has wealth of experience to draw from having represented the West Indies at the highest level and played cricket for and against some of the true legends of the sport and consequently his cricketing calibre and pedigree are without question.

The BCB's position on the incident is that we stand behind our coach, it is impossible to put ourselves in the situation the national team were in by reading a report in the newspaper and the BCB trust the coaches judgement and support him. I can understand why people would question what the coach did but nonetheless he has the full support of the BCB.

I suspect that this is of little interest to anyone now so long after the fact and I certainly do not want to raise a dead issue but I also disagree with large portions of the posts above.