South African batswoman Graeme Fuckin' Smith reckons we're nasty:
"Brett Lee threatened to fucking kill me."
But Robert Key thinks Graeme Smith's a whining shit. That's no spoonerism:
"It wasn't particularly nasty, most of the stuff they said was quite funny."
As usual Conn, Coward, Baum et al were all in a tizzy over how terrible it was that precious young Smithy had been grievously maltreated by those hideous Aussie ruffians.
Ubersportingpundit sums it up well:
It's the professional journalists that do this. Malcolm Conn and company. You don't hear these reproaches from the Channel Nine crowd; populated as it is by folks who know how hard Test cricket is.
Even Doyen Benaud has been heard to comment on how much sledging went on back in the good old days. In fact he regularly displays it in the commentary box.
Back in 1993 when New Zealand played a series here, Mark Greatbatch managed to drop every thing that came his way. However, in the last test he fluked one at first slip, rolled off his belly and pointing up to the commentary box screamed "Stick that up your fucking arse" to which Doyen responded, "Jussssst reminding us he�s dropped a few already this year." Eat that, Lardbatch.
On the flip side though, I'm not too sure the Channel 9 gang don't exhibit a tendency to talk up their product. This would entail talking down sledging. And it may seem just a teensy weensy bit hypocritical for Tony Greig, Ian Chappell and Ian Healy to complain about sledging.
Anyway Ian Healy wrote the best piece I've seen on sledging last year in The Age. Unfortunately I don't have a link, but it was a ripper. Basically he said there was plenty of swearing but heaps more comments between the fielders where they make mention of batsmen's weaknesses. Things like Marcus Trescothick not being able to move his feet or Craig White being a rat-shit hooker. These are both true and with any luck they'll play on the batsmen's mind. Interestingly the Aussies never seem to have a go at players they respect. It's just a matter of trying to unsettle players they consider vulnerable. And let's face it if you�re susceptible to a bit of gamesmanship you shouldn't be out there.
Looks to me like Key's got the right attitude and Smith's a blancmange. Umpire Rudy Koertzen seems to have the right idea. When Smith looked at him for intervention:
Koertzen shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "I know it's rough, kid, but that's the way it is."
What he should have said was:
"Grow up kid."
PS: If anyone's got any good sledges, send 'em this way. I especially love the nasty ones.
Comments