The Hindu : Sport : The practice of sledging needs to be laughed out of the game

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Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007
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The practice of sledging needs to be laughed out of the game

Ted Corbett

NOTTINGHAM: India’s tours of England have been quiet affairs with barely an incident and scarcely a word that would have distressed a Victorian gentlewoman. So what happened to turn the air blue?

Is it that, after losing the toss and being bowled out for next to nothing, England fears defeat, not just in the match but in the series or does it result from the pressure on India to win and so overtake England in the world rankings?

Before this game, the captains said they thought tension brought more mettlesome cricket, almost anticipating the rounds of sledging that made old-fashioned cricket men go puce and caused the umpires to step in before words begat violence.

England’s wicket-keeper Matt Prior has maintained a constant stream of often meaningless words and phrases, superficially inquiring about his team mates’ cars, but unsubtly attempting to disrupt the batsmen’s concentration. Zaheer Khan’s first stroke flew through the slips, bringing a comment which, I understand from those versed in such matters, suggested it was unworthy of Test status; Zaheer waved his bat; the umpires asked if a peace treaty might be signed; and this morning war broke out again.

An old practice

Sledging, for all the Aussies claim to have invented it 60 years ago, is as old as Hambledon. As a child cricketer, I was asked if my mother had dressed me.

John Emburey once watched one tiny batsman after another approach the wicket and wanted to know when he might expect to see Snow White. Another county team tired of the constant stream of bad language coming from opponents and swore a vow of silence which reduced the batsmen to dithering wrecks. Jeff Thomson approached David Gower with a remark indicating that Gower’s strokeplay was less than perfect. “I know,” said the urbane Gower, “its your bowling. You’re far too good for me.”

Such exchanges are loaded with humour although Thomson was not often inclined to punctuate his sledging with a jolly chuckle which makes them acceptable, especially in the retelling.

Degeneration

The recent bombardment of foul small talk has been punctuated with the language of the gutter and that is never amusing for adults, sportsmen or spectators. It has not reached the depths of racism, thank heavens, or the civil law might have been drawn into the argument but there is always that possibility and the game at large must not ignore the evil such a murky descent will bring.

The legislators may have to be called in if the players do not step on the brake voluntarily and it is here that the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations can get their members to listen to sense. Umpires say they get no support when they try to cure this ill, coaches seem all too ready to encourage the habit and captains, pragmatically, pray silently that it helps their cause.

If this vile practice continues there is another solution but it is one that calls for great personal courage since it could result in the end of a career.

It needs a batsman to be so incensed by the level of vulgarity that he walks off the field and explains what has been said and why he will not tolerate it any longer.

While the behaviour is hidden, or caught only on the stump mikes and never dealt with severely, it will continue until there is serious trouble. Out in the open it will be seen as the petty, miserable and mindless habit that it is; and laughed out of the game.

The sooner the better.

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