When Saturday's Hun ran the back-page screamer:
CHUCK HIM OUT EX-UMPIRE BLASTS MURALI'S NEW BALL
I thought: "Hello three times. What's all this then?"
FORMER Australian umpire Col Egar, the man who famously no-balled Ian Meckiff out of Test cricket, claims Muthiah Muralidaran's ungainly new delivery is blatantly illegal.
Now, there's a hint of ho-hum here. While I accept the "doosra" is a recent issue, it's not as if comments from regular critic Egar deserve a back page bellow. May as well shriek that Germaine Greer has something nasty to say about men.
The same goes for Bishen Bedi:
Legendary Indian spinner Bishan Bedi has also publicly condemned Muralidaran's action.
Old hat: Bishy's never been a fan of Bendy. Although I DID like Bishy's "no comment" comment:
"I don't want to talk about him," an angry Bedi responded when contacted by the Herald Sun.
"He is a thief."
Harsh. But fair.
Finally there's the Red Dot Claim - always a sign of hot scoop action - that the Hun have Pictures That Damn Spinner, but even that's a rip. Been there, done that.
It all adds up to one sad conclusion, not only is Murali stealing wickets but the Herald Sun is stealing my stuff.
NB: Before someone jumps down my throat, I appreciate I got the piccies from News but it was me set them together for comparison.
Yeah...Bishen Bedi was asked who the better bowler was, Murali or Warnie. "Shane is a great bowler" he said. "What about Murali?" his questioner probed. "Let him start bowling first" said Bedi.
As long as the 'cricketer' with the most suspect action of the dodgy clutch we have at present stays unchallenged, the problem will grow. Perhaps our main summer game will undergo a name change- to Baseball.
'Muchichuckalot' is going to finish with 800 test wickets and history will record him as the 'best' of his, and many a generation. His action belongs in a Darts match down the Pub. The administrators have drawn a veil over the whole thing and Umpires betrayed by the suits. The ICC will NOT satisfy those of us who see his career as one long Circus Parade. Muchichuckalot is a Clown and thus should be paraded under a big top with the Lion Tamers.
Many observers are tired of the controversy- their view being that no matter what they say nothing will happen- some reckon his action IS legitimate and others will say nothing so as not to upset the suits thus jeopardising lucrative broadcasting deals.
His action has grown increasingly suspicious over the years, despite the ICC saying he was born 'with a permanently bent arm' and ca'nt straighten it. So what- he throws it then.
The people who we think have the integrity of the game in their hands are just not cutting it mate. So if a bloke starting out now copies the cheats action do we assume he will be stopped at once? Why not? Precedent is on his side. Cheating is officialy IN it appears. Are the administrators, suits etc just sitting back and quietly waiting for Murali's career to finish and then forget the whole thing happened? Perhaps we will all wake up and discover the whole episode was a 15 year dream, only one with 800 wickets as its crowning glory. More like a bloody nightmare.
Posted by: Brett Pee | Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at 05:16 AM
Too right, Brett. The sadness -- and anger ... ness -- of the whole thing is that when Murali's finished his career, his unassailable record will sit there taunting all comers from now until kingdom come. A disgrace.
Posted by: Tony.T | Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at 02:19 PM