Ricky Ponting should be sacked

Ponting's complete arrogance, what a knob
I play the game each week myself for a grade side, and have played since I was able to walk almost

The game is now boring to watch, I used to get excited by it but no more

Ponting could have diffused it, what a joke, wrap them in bubble wrap, gee getting called names, how ever would they get over it???

What a joke, grow up boys, play the game and rib each other along the way - thats cricket!

Australia has been at the top of international cricket for so long and unfortunately it's become bad for the game. It's a fact that our cricket team is considered very arrogant abroad and as they are on show this taints Australia and Australians in a very bad light in general. I think it's just over confidence and the win at all costs attitude thats interpreted as arrogance.

It's no secret that we are the worst sledgers and I would bet my bottom dollar that some comments have racial tones. Ponting turning around and complaining to judiciary is a little pathetic.

I think Ponting is our best batsman but basically a Tassie bogan and was never really up to the job as captain anyway. I agree ... bring on a new captain who leads the team by example who is respected for more than his cricket to try and change the team culture and team perception a bit to keep the great standard of cricket and play fair without all the BS.

Either that or hire a PR firm

well said rocket man

well I don't have any serious problems with the players - just with the umpires .
They play hard - no sin there.
True the sledging is probably a bit over the top - (even Gillie encouraging the bowlers gets pretty loud). - probably much of a muchness on both sides. (imo).
But gee a warning to all sides there should have been enough (you'd think. ?)

PS (now you mention it, some of the Aussie appeals are a little unappealing too I guess )

Question: Assuming we are mostly agreed that sportsmanship has taken a dive in recent years, do folks think that with respect to wider society, this is symptomatic or causative?

In other words, does our team win at "all costs" because society in general is turning this way, or is the team an example that society is following?

Australian cricket is at a crossroads who is there better than RP too lead them
Micheal Clarke too young jury still out on his performances.
Micheal Hussey umm not much younger than RP.
Whoever leads the side from now on will have too change the culture and win games on merit not sledging.

wayneL said:

Question: Assuming we are mostly agreed that sportsmanship has taken a dive in recent years, do folks think that with respect to wider society, this is symptomatic or causative?

In other words, does our team win at "all costs" because society in general is turning this way, or is the team an example that society is following?

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Wayne,
I reckon society is getting so cutthroat in all aspects - at least cricketers and tennisplayers usually congratulate eachother at the end -
but the likes of Gillie walking is just so damned refreshing - I'd reckon it was pretty unique! (not that it isn't damned controversial).

But - take tennis
What a nerd McEnroe was !! - worst sportsman I can recall
Against the Bjorn Borgs (even the Agassis) of his day etc -
which example are you gonna follow?

wayneL said:

Question: Assuming we are mostly agreed that sportsmanship has taken a dive in recent years, do folks think that with respect to wider society, this is symptomatic or causative?

In other words, does our team win at "all costs" because society in general is turning this way, or is the team an example that society is following?

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I don't think its because Society in general is turning that way, society now, in general is that way !

Most folks think they are Better, faster, smarter, more equal etc than the next, and its not just a Western Phenomena it appears to be Global - A few lessons in Respect and Coexistence should be mandatory for everyone with a licence to be Human I reckon

Blame it on bubblevision

I think Rickys men win at all cost stratergy is because they still dont feel they get the credit they deserve from other cricketing nations.
The problem withy that thinking is they dont get the credit they deserve because of their win at all cost mentality.
Cricketing nations from across the globe dont enjoy the game againt Rickys boys because it is not played in the proper manner.
The buck stops with Ricky

Rocket man said:

I think it's just over confidence and the win at all costs attitude thats interpreted as arrogance.

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I've supported the Richmond Tigers for 30 years now and I know what it feels like to be gracious (compulsive) losers. I'd take arrogance anytime.

BTW, Freddy Flintoff is a nice guy. Oh, that's right, 5 - 0. Nice guys finish last.

this is gathering steam. peter roebuck's jumped on the bandwagon. lol.

if things are not sorted out, there will be casualties, and the hallowed ground on which ponting walks has become somewhat shaky.

what happens from here will be v interesting either way.

bring Lehman back ....... I like the big D.

But this sledging thing is just like our market noise in a way , no need for it , other than a distraction .

There was a day the problem was 7/12ths of the team were 3 parts pissed , 70% of the time .

Have a drink Ponts and take off the girlie blouse F.F.S.

Lucky_Country said:

I think Rickys men win at all cost stratergy is because they still dont feel they get the credit they deserve from other cricketing nations.
The problem withy that thinking is they dont get the credit they deserve because of their win at all cost mentality.
Cricketing nations from across the globe dont enjoy the game againt Rickys boys because it is not played in the proper manner.
The buck stops with Ricky

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Hmmm. I think the "win at all costs" mentality has a lot more to do with the COST part of that statement.

I think we would all agree that top class cricket is BIG BUSINESS these days. The top echelon of players in each country generally command considerable salaries, on top of which they earn considerable "performance" bonuses, considerable "match win" bonuses, and even more considerable "sponsorship bonuses & contracts".

So, the monetary rewards of firstly getting a spot and then HOLDING ONTO that spot in the top 11 would be a huge incentive. Should it then come as a surprise when players these days don't really want to walk?

Honestly, would YOU offer to walk, if that decision to be "sportsmanlike" might just be the last innings you get to play in the top 11, thus costing you 10's of thousands of dollars in flow-on income? Many here offer Gillie as an example of a "sportsman" - I think he genuinely IS a nice bloke with a "sportsmanlike" disposition. But Gillie's position in the team has pretty well been sacrosanct for a long time - it's got to be much easier for a player to be "generous" with their "sportsmanship" qualities if they are not under intense scrutiny to retain their place in the team!

In the end, this modern phenomenon of "un-sportsmanlike" behaviour across many sporting codes is a direct result of that "sport" being turned into big time business. The list of so-called "sports" beside cricket that have been tarnished by "poor sportsmanship" and greed after turning "professional" include soccer, rugby league, aussie rules, cycling, boxing, tennis and even golf has had it's "bad boys". It's just the way of our you-beaut modern "civilised" world and it will only get worse before it (if ever) gets better!

Chiz,

AJ

arminius said:

.....
ive never been one for electronic aid for umpires, esp lbw, but gee they were bad.....

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I really can't see why the umpires in international matches that offer oodles of technology can't call for the 3rd umpire referral on ANY type of appeal - whether it is a "close" LBW appeal, "close" bat-pad appeal or whatever. I mean, the spectators don't seem to mind the ump calling for the screen on a close run-out appeal, stumping appeal or doubtful catch appeal, so why the negative talk by so many old school commentators (like Tony Greig etc) about extending the principle to doubtful LBW's or snicks?

It seems that doubtful edges and LBW's are by far the biggest headache for umps in international cricket, so why not encourage them to use the 3rd ump in close decisions? The current situation of not allowing them to use the technology (snickometer, hawk-eye and hot-spot) for those situations while letting every Tom, Dick or Harriett sit at home and see the conclusive footage (95% of the time) seems ludicrous to me. If the umps are not allowed to use it, then it should be withheld from public broadcast to prevent abuse of umps by a media that IS allowed to "benefit" from it.

Chiz,


AJ

chops_a_must said:

I fear when Australian cricket gets handed over to Michael Clarke. That will be an incredibly sad and dangerous day for sport in this country.

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That's an interesting comment Chops! Is it his taste in women? :

As a partner of someone who has played a lot of first class cricket, Australians have the reputation of being the worst sledgers. And particular States known to have the worst cheats, deliberately badgering the umpires.

While umpiring decisions can influence the game and how it is played, in the most recent test match, they actually changed the outcome, and that is unforgivable and reeks of incompetence. And that is the issue here. And unfortunately the Australians exploited that incompetency to the fullest extent for maximum gain. And that is what Kumble was referring to. And for those who dont know him, Kumble is VERY HIGHLY regarded as an honourable person in the cricket world, and not just in India!

Prospector said:

That's an interesting comment Chops! Is it his taste in women? :

As a partner of someone who has played a lot of first class cricket, Australians have the reputation of being the worst sledgers. And particular States known to have the worst cheats, deliberately badgering the umpires.

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Hi Prospector, which states have the worst reputation for sledging?

Lara Bingle lost all credibility after she broke up with Fevola, what was she thinking? he is a bona fide superstar.

Broadside said:

Hi Prospector, which states have the worst reputation for sledging?

Lara Bingle lost all credibility after she broke up with Fevola, what was she thinking? he is a bona fide superstar.

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She lost her cred when she started with him! What was she thinking! :

East coast is all I say about the cheating

This is certainly the topic of the moment! I think it’s rather a pity we (society as a whole) don’t get as passionate about much more important things (and that’s a true Tragic speaking…)

However, since it seems to be the current discussion point, I’ll add another small observation or two to my post of yesterday:

I do think Ponting should have been more gracious in victory by seeking Kumble out on the field to shake hands and that this would have gone some way to tempering Kumble’s feelings of injustice or whatever. Kumble is a man of honour, and his disappointment was palpable. It’s a lesson Ponting should learn, and quickly, but otherwise the events and the aftermath were not of his making.

The hoo-ha is all about the reaction to what happened, rather than the incidents themselves, which is a pity. And I do think the Indians need to accept that their reaction has been out of proportion to the events. Yes, they were on the wrong end of some bad umpiring, yes, the penalty for Harbhajan seems harsh, yes, it’s disappointing to lose a test match when you have been right in it til the end. But threatening to pick up your bat and go home if you don’t get your way is no way to react. Kids learn that one in the back yard before they’re out of nappies.

I wonder where we would be at this moment if the shoe had been on the other foot? If one of our guys had been cited and banned for calling someone a curry-muncher or whatever, if we had lost a tight test match on the back of some dubious umpiring (wouldn’t be the first time – remember Craig McDermott v Windies? – and won’t be the last), I somehow think that we wouldn’t be crying foul and refusing to play the next match.

I just think everyone needs to keep a bit of perspective in all this.

A caller to ABC 702 this morning made an interesting point – that all this hoo-ha has been made bigger than it is in order to deflect the Indian public from laying the blame for the defeat at the feet of the Indian team.

It's something that had not crossed my mind - but is definitely food for thought.

Maz

PS For what it's worth, I think Hussey would be a terrific captain, and he'd be my pick, but I don't think Ponting has done anything sackable or irretrievable. Just needs to be some common sense and calm on all sides - Australia, India and the ICC - and the Press!!

If I understand this correctly no umpires or T.V sound heard anything out there but 4 players from one team heard one thing and 2 players said something else.One would expect in the next game groups of Indian players reporting Australian players for racism knowing as long as know one else hears and you have the numbers they will get suspended.Set a dangerous precident

I saw the footage of the incident yesterday - only Symonds and HarbLucky_Countryan were in close proximity, Hayden walked past, but didn't react - which is rather strange, if his best mate had been called something racist.

India didnt lose the Test; if you evaluate the errors (eg Symonds when he in was in his thirties) and the 'outs' in the last couple of hours, well, they didnt stand a chance. That and the Australian's arrogant reaction to their 'win' - well - can't blame the Indian team really!