Those flightless cricketers can flock off:
Slinger Shaun Tait brands New Zealand a disgrace
STUNNED paceman Shaun Tait has branded New Zealand "a disgrace" for questioning his action ahead of the Chappell-Hadlee one-day series opener at Adelaide Oval today.
Black Caps skipper Daniel Vettori shocked journalists by speculating on the merits of Tait's slinging action during yesterday's pre-match press conference.
Vettori inferred coach John Bracewell had concerns about aspects of Tait's action, saying: "Braces is a better man to comment rather than me, but whenever someone bowls fast I think those questions are asked."
"I think people are going to speculate on it. Whenever someone bowls fast it's the first thing people look at and it's up to people who are able to comment on it, to comment on it.
"He bowls fast and over 150km/h so whenever somebody like that steps up into the game of international cricket, people take notice."
[TT: No one ever "took notice" of Thompson, Lillee, Roberts when they stepped into international cricket and bowled fast and over 150km/h. They took cover.]
Champion off-spinner Vettori was responding to what appeared to be a prearranged question from a New Zealand journalist.
Ok, tin tacks here.
Tait's action is not pristine; if by pristine you mean Thommo. Nor are Lee's, Akhtar's or Malinga's. (And I don't mean Laslinger's low arm.) Each of them, at times, has had a kink in the action - Tait's is by far the least kinky. But if you are prepared to accept that "were Ian Meckiff playing today, he'd be fine", then you must also accept Tait, Lee, Akhtar and Malinga are also fine. The 15 degree rule has seen to that. Whether you agree with the rule is another thing.
Naturally, there will be a whole heapin' helpin' of what's good for the goose... "You bin Murali, but you refuse to bin Tait. You, Sir, are a double-dealing swine." Well, I categorically reject (pompous enough for ya?) any suggestion the kinks of Tait, Lee, Akhtar or Malinga are in any way similar to the structural travesties of Murali, Harby or Johan Botha. The former are fast bowlers with occasionally wobbly arms, that latter are blatant throwers. If an Aussie bowler came on the scene chucking offies like Murali, I would be the first person to jump up and down. And apart from anything else, Murali and Botha have botha been cited as chuckers, Tait hasn't.
(To my knowledge the only fast bowler with a hideous action is Jermaine Lawson.)
So, where does that leave the Kiwis. Well, either they ARE NOT aware of the rule change, which makes them dumb cvnts, or they ARE aware of the rule change, which makes them sly cvnts. Which do you think it is? Keep in mind John Bracewell is involved, so it's probably a bit of both.
Former Test spinner Bracewell added fuel to the fire by instructing journalists to ask match referee Roshan Mahanama about the legality of Tait's action.
Like I said - sly. And devious.
Now, it could be a Mundine: an outrageous statement to drum up excitement. But I doubt it. More likely, after copping a hiding on Tuesday followed by a snipe from Tait they were scared, UnZud decided to pull a Sheedy: say something outrageous as a smokescreen.