Ricky Ponting should be sacked

[>Apocalypto<]

..there's only one IDIOT here. That be the person who thinks that Australia are top of the world in all forms of the game.

LOL

20/20 IMO is not really Cricket, fun to watch though........

But yes i am known for my Idiotic comments!

 

[Knobby22]

I would like to see a new captain.
Someone with a wider view of cricket rather than winning at any cost.
Don't like him.

 

[cuttlefish]

The whole intent of Australian sledging as I understood it was aimed to offend and rattle the opposing player - that involves saying things that are going to put them off their game - the more it bites and messes with their head the better. The reputation the Aussie's have (I don't know the reality, I've never stood on a field next to them during a match) is that they take it to the wire and will use whatever underhanded comments they can to get under the skin of the opposition.

What does that involve? I don't know, never heard it directly - maybe someone else could comment.
For example, does australia's sledging tacticis include things like:
* derogatory comments about a persons mother, sister, brother, father?
* Does it include comments about where they were born or how they were conceived?
* Does it include comments about what sort of sexual partners they like to have?
* Does it include comments about their personal hygiene?

I could think of all sorts of very nasty things that could be said to someone that wouldn't be classed as racism but would be very offensive and not in the spirit of any sport or positive human interaction. (I'll save everyone the use of explicit examples).

So where is the line drawn?

If you play with fire you get burnt. The Australian's (at least according to hearsay and legend - I've never stood on a field next to them) have had a reputation of playing with this fire for years.

I'd agree that sledging doesn't need to be part of the game. If the Aussie's want it to be part of the game thats their business but then keep it on the field. You can't have it one way and not the other.

If they're going to police on field language and verbal behaviour then do it consistently.

If you dish it out then you have to take it - and if its getting out of hand then the way to compromise is to approach your opponents directly and sort it out man to man - not go crying to a judiciary imo.

 

[professor_frink]

..there's only one IDIOT here. That be the person who thinks that Australia are top of the world in all forms of the game.

We have to knock you poms over in England to reassert our domination before we can go around bragging too much.

 

[Knobby22]

The Aussies don't use racist comments, they just call the Indians "bus drivers" and taunt them any other way they can. I am finding myself barracking for the Indians.

 

[>Apocalypto<]

We have to knock you poms over in England to reassert our domination before we can go around bragging too much.

we will just need to send Australia A to do that Frink. LOL

 

[Mazrox]

I think it’s pretty clear that in many parts of India “Monkey” is a derogatory term. A couple of Indian callers to ABC this morning confirmed this. Also the bits of “An Aussie Goes Bolly” (airs tonight on Foxtel 8.30 on Fox8) that were shown on the Cricket Show at lunch on Saturday look very ugly. I’ll be interested to have a look at the whole program

I have gone to the cricket for years and have to say as a 40-something woman who often goes alone (if I can’t persuade anyone else to join me! ), that loutish behaviour does not impress me much. But generally speaking, Australian crowds welcome supporters for the other team with humour and an appreciation for what they add to the atmosphere. And at least we cheer good cricket, no matter which side it comes from – Tendulkar’s ovation is a case in point. On the subcontinent a good shot or a wicket by one of our guys is met with deathly silence. Quite a contrast.

I do think the Symonds/Harbhajan incident could have been handled better. The question of sledging is a vexed one. Stephen Waugh used to call it “mental disintegration” and as mental strength is a big part of the game at this level, it will always be around. I think there is a big difference between passing a remark about a shot, or a good or bad ball etc and making personal remarks. I think for all their reputation re sledging, the Aussies generally are pretty careful to keep the comments to the performance or mindset of the players, rather than the players themselves, and this is where other teams who try to match the banter come unstuck sometimes.

And the question of poor umpiring has to lay at the feet of the Umpires and the ICC, not the players. At the moment the 3rd umpire comes from the host country – how long will it be until someone says he’s biased if the bulk of the decisions are referred to him? Umpires should have strict performance levels set. They should be regularly tested, and match performances reviewed (as I’m sure they are). If an umpire at the top level can’t meet the standards, they should go, regardless of age, country of origin, or politics. Better umpiring is the only answer. And technology? Mal Speed gave a really interesting interview on the ABC during the test match – listen at

http://blogs.abc.net.au/grandstand/files/malcolm_speed_iv.mp3

I do think the “hotspot” is worth using for catches, though. And stump mikes fed through to the ground umpires through an earpiece.

As for Ponting.. I think he does a pretty good job under difficult circumstances. He's just different from Taylor and Waugh, more passionate perhaps, but as with most things in life, that's both a good thing and a bad thing, depending on what day of the week it is!

Maz

 

[natashia]

The whole intent of Australian sledging as I understood it was aimed to offend and rattle the opposing player - that involves saying things that are going to put them off their game - the more it bites and messes with their head the better. The reputation the Aussie's have (I don't know the reality, I've never stood on a field next to them during a match) is that they take it to the wire and will use whatever underhanded comments they can to get under the skin of the opposition.

What does that involve? I don't know, never heard it directly - maybe someone else could comment.
For example, does australia's sledging tacticis include things like:
* derogatory comments about a persons mother, sister, brother, father?
* Does it include comments about where they were born or how they were conceived?
* Does it include comments about what sort of sexual partners they like to have?
* Does it include comments about their personal hygiene?

I could think of all sorts of very nasty things that could be said to someone that wouldn't be classed as racism but would be very offensive and not in the spirit of any sport or positive human interaction. (I'll save everyone the use of explicit examples).

So where is the line drawn?

If you play with fire you get burnt. The Australian's (at least according to hearsay and legend - I've never stood on a field next to them) have had a reputation of playing with this fire for years.

I'd agree that sledging doesn't need to be part of the game. If the Aussie's want it to be part of the game thats their business but then keep it on the field. You can't have it one way and not the other.

If they're going to police on field language and verbal behaviour then do it consistently.

If you dish it out then you have to take it - and if its getting out of hand then the way to compromise is to approach your opponents directly and sort it out man to man - not go crying to a judiciary imo.

I totally and utterly agree 100000%

 

[Knobby22]

Good reply Mazrox.
I would like to have you on the Australian Cricket Board rather than some of the present members.

 

[Sean K]

Australian Football has the shirtfront (practically outlawed)
Rugby League has the coathanger (slap on the wrist)
Union has the king hit (part of the game)
Soccer has the b!tch slap (declaration of war)
Cricket has the sledge (name calling????)

Golly.....:

 

[doctorj]

What about the 'catch' Ponting tried to claim which actually hit the ground? Or where he raised his finger to signal to the umpires that Ganguly had been caught out?

I believe he believed he caught it. Looking at the replay, I’m not sure – but there’s no doubt it hit the glove.

He appealed for the Ganguly catch – big deal? He heard a sound and saw a deflection. Lets not get too righteous here, how many dodgy appeals did the Indians make for LBW in particular. I don’t think any less of them for asking the question – if you have the slightest grounds for thinking something is out, you should appeal because it’s the only way a player can be given out. And lets face it, unless you’re front and square on and not too far away, you’ll be making your assessment on an imperfect and incomplete data set. It’s very easy to be sitting at home and be an armchair critic after watching a dozen replays with hawkeye, hotspot and snicko. Trying doing it from an acute angle, in real time after you’ve been standing in the sun all day for 5 days straight! You’re going to appeal for things that are not out all the time because you have it on a different angle.

Leave the sulking to the Indian players, staff and cricket board. They’re doing enough for everyone already. Even suggesting going home is very very poor form as far as I’m concerned!

 

[ithatheekret]

Less sticks and stones , more bat and ball ....... and beer

 

[Broadside]

The sub continent can only get the umpires sacked - not Australian Captains!

Punter did a great job, they won, he showed good sportsmanship (remember the catch he didn't claim) and fantastic leadership for the boys on the field.

What a load of sooks! I read in the paper they're considering going home. I thought people grew out of sulking before they were 10. They lost, they need to move on and fight a good fight at the WACA.

Good sportsmanship? where did he give credit to the Indians in the post match interview? did he not throw his bat and show dissent when given out in the first innings? yes that was a poor decision but it followed a poor decision 20 runs earlier when he was out!

Ponting is a great player but I don't respect his sportsmanship and the example he sets.

As for the umpires, they utterly crucified India.

I don't blame the Indians for spitting the dummy. That Dravid decision was a disgrace as was Symonds when out for 30 in the first innings which cost India a chance of winning the match.

As for comparisons with Federer and Tiger Woods, they are great sportsman who are also humble and show great sportsmanship. Ricky Ponting has a lot to learn. :bad:

 

[Sprinter79]

I wonder if people are getting 'gamesmanship' mixed up with 'sportsmanship'?

Let me get the record straight, racism has no place in any part of life, sport included, so if it was decided that Singh did make a racist remark, fine, let him suffer the consequences. The precedent has now been set however, and because racism is very much a perceived thing, depending on context, the Aussies now have to be very careful. Calling an Indian player a 'bus driver' for example, is a derogatory term, and if it is perceived to be a racist remark, well, then it is.

The problem I had with the umpiring during the test, and in any sport really, is that the umpires had too big a part to play in the final result. The best umpiring displays often go unnoticed, because, that's how it should be. Yes there are swings and roundabouts, but that doesn't change the fact that there were far too many mistakes, not evenly spread, that had an impact on the final result.

As for Ponting, its like the pot calling the kettle black. If things go against Australia, he's the first to complain. Anyone remember Glenn McGrath's problem with the West Indies? He gave it out, and couldn't cop it back. Classic case of the bully-boy.

This has now opened a can of worms, and the Australian behaviour will now be highly scrutinised for the slightest misdemeanour.

 

[Dukey]

I wonder if people are getting 'gamesmanship' mixed up with 'sportsmanship'?

.......

This has now opened a can of worms, and the Australian behaviour will now be highly scrutinised for the slightest misdemeanour.

And so it should be I think - particularly regarding racist slurs. ....
Having said that - its a shame that some of the fun seems to have gone out of the game.... some of the sledges I found here are just hilarious.
Best Cricket Sledges site

For umpires - seeing there are 3 already - why don't they rotate on and off the pitch - so each can spend a session in the shade, watching the TV monitors everyday???? might just help to take some pressure off.

more

 

[doctorj]

The problem I had with the umpiring during the test, and in any sport really, is that the umpires had too big a part to play in the final result. The best umpiring displays often go unnoticed, because, that's how it should be. Yes there are swings and roundabouts, but that doesn't change the fact that there were far too many mistakes, not evenly spread, that had an impact on the final result.

As long as you have humans making the decisions, the outcome will always be imperfect. Umpires in any sport will always do their best to make the right decision, because, lets face it, it’s much easier to get things right than deal with the fall out. On top of that, officiating is competitive in itself. These guys want to get a better ranking, a better review and ultimately the best appointments possible.

So if you’re getting stuck into an umpire, you’re not questioning his ability (he’s been appointed to the game by someone else), you’re actually questioning their integrity. You have to accept as a given that umpires will strive to achieve a 100% accuracy, because frankly, they personally have a lot at stake. Particularly the modern cricket umpire – officiating is their livelihood, it’s what they do to put food on the table. Without it, having spent years on the field, they really have a profession to fall back on.

So then, everyone here is questioning Bucknor’s integrity. Did he care if India or Australia won the test? If so, why? If not, it’s a mistake and we should all move on and look at the next match.

As for Ponting, its like the pot calling the kettle black. If things go against Australia, he's the first to complain. Anyone remember Glenn McGrath's problem with the West Indies? He gave it out, and couldn't cop it back. Classic case of the bully-boy.

Ricky Ponting didn’t make the umpiring decision. I don’t get how this is relevant. He appealed some times where replays showed the batsman wasn’t out, but who doesn’t? Ricky Ponting isn’t the one bringing the game into disrepute by abusing umpires like the Indians are. He’s won the test and he’s happy. And he’s certainly not focusing on the umpiring decisions that went against the Aussies during the test.

This has now opened a can of worms, and the Australian behaviour will now be highly scrutinised for the slightest misdemeanour.

They are already. This thread is the product of it.

For the record, I don’t see the term ‘monkey’ as inherently racist. I call people monkeys when they screw up all the time and certainly not in a racial context! But then, context is important, and something that you and I are not privileged to. If the Match Referee is satisfied that it was meant racially, then I’m for the suspension.

 

[Broadside]

Ricky Ponting didn’t make the umpiring decision. I don’t get how this is relevant. He appealed some times where replays showed the batsman wasn’t out, but who doesn’t? Ricky Ponting isn’t the one bringing the game into disrepute by abusing umpires like the Indians are. He’s won the test and he’s happy. And he’s certainly not focusing on the umpiring decisions that went against the Aussies during the test.

I bet he's not...considering they went about 80% in favour of the Aussies.

Any objective observer could see that. Symonds in the first innings was out in the 30s....as for Dravid yesterday? did you see those incidents? I am just fed up with Ponting and a couple of others who clearly dish it out but go running to mummy when they get whacked back. I would say calling an Indian a bus driver is as racist as calling Symonds a monkey.

 

[prawn_86]

And so it should be I think - particularly regarding racist slurs. ....
Having said that - its a shame that some of the fun seems to have gone out of the game.... some of the sledges I found here are just hilarious.
Best Cricket Sledges site

LOL they are gold Dukey!!

 

[doctorj]

I bet he's not...considering they went about 80% in favour of the Aussies.

Any objective observer could see that. Symonds in the first innings was out in the 30s....as for Dravid yesterday? did you see those incidents? I am just fed up with Ponting and a couple of others who clearly dish it out but go running to mummy when they get whacked back. I would say calling an Indian a bus driver is as racist as calling Symonds a monkey.

97% of all statistics are made up!

I do agree that more than par went to the Aussies. Who knows what will happen next match?

Remember the last ashes in England? It went against Australia there and to a similar degree as it went against the Indians this match. The Aussies didn’t threaten to pack up and go home though – they battled it out, right down to the last ball. And then they came back to Australia and addressed their own short comings.

It’s easy to blame the officials for costing your team the game. The reality is, you should look at your own performance and change what you have control of. Train harder, run faster… whatever it is that let you down during the game. And next time, put the game beyond doubt so the umpires can’t influence the result.

 

[jonojpsg]

I don't think Ponting should be sacked - but I definitely think that 2nd test was a farce. When the Aussies 1st innings was basically supported by two innings that should not have been (Ponting & Symonds), and then the umpires are looking to Ponting to check whether Ganguly was out!!! (what is that????) How would he know if Clarke had caught the ball or not.

In my opinion, India won the test hands down, and the Aussies are a bunch of arrogant ............