From the iSport Cricket Paddock: iSporter and sports psychologist Dr. Chaitanya Sridhar pens her thoughts how she doesn't find Cricket a gentleman's game anymore. She stresses on how 'winning' is what takes priority for every player these days. Read her thoughts on the Randhiv-Sehwag 'no-ball' controversy.
Suraj Randhiv deliberately no-balls Indian ace batsman Virendra Sehwag leaving Sehwag stranded on 99*, even though he hit a six off the last delivery, which had already deemed to be a no-ball.
This conspiracy to deny Sehwag his well deserved 13th ODI century was hatched by Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan. The Island reported that Dilshan, who was fielding at cover point, shouted in Sinhalese 'oney nam, no ball ekak danna puluwan' (if you want, you can bowl a no ball) at the fag end of the match at Dambulla.
While it is understandable that the Lankans were disappointed with their performance and upset over Virender Sehwag blasting 99 unbeaten off 100 balls to help India win by six wickets in a crucial tie the question is, is this behaviour acceptable? And that too from Sri Lanka? The Lankans proved to be bad losers in this instance. However, can we blame Sri Lanka alone? Who would want to lose in the current scenario, where nothing matters but winning? We have seen what follows losses in the sub-continent. Syed Kirmani, the former India keeper is not impressed by the modern attitude to sport. He says, "These days, no team appreciates an opponent's good knock or good work with the ball. The game is played like a war between the teams."
Ever since Randiv, on Dilshan’s advice, bowled a deliberate no-ball leaving Sehwag stranded on 99, a lot of water has flowed through the Island. Though Randhiv received trashing from various quarters, wonder if we’ve made an attempt to go into the depth of the matter.
Firstly, the bowler follows his teammates ‘cue’. How can we blame him when a senior team member is encouraging foul play? Can we really blame the bowler alone? Secondly, how severe was the punishment for Randhiv and Dilshan? I’ve heard international players say they don’t mind fines and sitting out of matches as far as their team wins. This controversy is so similar to the ‘play acting’ we witnessed during the FIFA World Cup.
It was good to see the Sri Lankan Board dive into action to repair the damage to the team’s reputation after the incident. But Indian and Lankan players kept the incident alive by continuing to take a jibe at each other, adding spice to the controversy. Wonder if International Cricketers have learnt the art of staying in the limelight, through negative publicity as well!
Indian Cricketers are not the incarnation of ‘innocence’, though they are known as demi-gods. Don’t recall the last time that an Indian batsman walked off the crease before being adjudged ‘out’! How many times have we seen an Indian Player ‘walk out’ when he knows he is out or call back an Opposition Player for a dubious umpiring decision? Why act like we are the protectors of the sportsmanship spirit, when we are just like other teams who want to win? Most teams play ‘mind and psychological games’ than the actual game these days.
Agree Sehwag deserved his century and has every right to be angry and offended. Also, agree that Randhiv got caught in the heat of the moment and paid heed to his teammates advice and entangled himself in an unnecessary controversy. But if it wasn’t for the stump cameras, would we know what Players in the middle are discussing? In hind-sight, this incident has actually shown us the long changing face of cricket, which we chose to conveniently overlook!
While interviewing Cricketers for my Research, Players openly admitted that Cricket is a great leveler and certain chances work for you and few go against you, so make the most while at the crease, even if you know you are out. Gone are the days of G.R. Vishwanath and Gilchrist. In recent times, Gilchrist is the one player that comes to my mind for playing the game in the true spirit, choosing to walk when he knew he was out than wait for the umpire’s decision.
As long as the emphasis is on ‘winning at all costs’, the downward trend of unsportsmanlike behaviour shall continue and teams will make a desperate attempt to hold on to ‘success mantra’. Nothing was gentle about Cricket when the English introduced it, and it has taken a turn for the worst now! ICC and respective Cricket Boards need to introduce awards for Sportsmanlike Behaviour in the true sense.
While it is understandable that the Lankans were disappointed with their performance and upset over Virender Sehwag blasting 99 unbeaten off 100 balls to help India win by six wickets in a crucial tie the question is, is this behaviour acceptable? And that too from Sri Lanka? The Lankans proved to be bad losers in this instance. However, can we blame Sri Lanka alone? Who would want to lose in the current scenario, where nothing matters but winning? We have seen what follows losses in the sub-continent. Syed Kirmani, the former India keeper is not impressed by the modern attitude to sport. He says, "These days, no team appreciates an opponent's good knock or good work with the ball. The game is played like a war between the teams."
Ever since Randiv, on Dilshan’s advice, bowled a deliberate no-ball leaving Sehwag stranded on 99, a lot of water has flowed through the Island. Though Randhiv received trashing from various quarters, wonder if we’ve made an attempt to go into the depth of the matter.
Firstly, the bowler follows his teammates ‘cue’. How can we blame him when a senior team member is encouraging foul play? Can we really blame the bowler alone? Secondly, how severe was the punishment for Randhiv and Dilshan? I’ve heard international players say they don’t mind fines and sitting out of matches as far as their team wins. This controversy is so similar to the ‘play acting’ we witnessed during the FIFA World Cup.
It was good to see the Sri Lankan Board dive into action to repair the damage to the team’s reputation after the incident. But Indian and Lankan players kept the incident alive by continuing to take a jibe at each other, adding spice to the controversy. Wonder if International Cricketers have learnt the art of staying in the limelight, through negative publicity as well!
Indian Cricketers are not the incarnation of ‘innocence’, though they are known as demi-gods. Don’t recall the last time that an Indian batsman walked off the crease before being adjudged ‘out’! How many times have we seen an Indian Player ‘walk out’ when he knows he is out or call back an Opposition Player for a dubious umpiring decision? Why act like we are the protectors of the sportsmanship spirit, when we are just like other teams who want to win? Most teams play ‘mind and psychological games’ than the actual game these days.
Agree Sehwag deserved his century and has every right to be angry and offended. Also, agree that Randhiv got caught in the heat of the moment and paid heed to his teammates advice and entangled himself in an unnecessary controversy. But if it wasn’t for the stump cameras, would we know what Players in the middle are discussing? In hind-sight, this incident has actually shown us the long changing face of cricket, which we chose to conveniently overlook!
While interviewing Cricketers for my Research, Players openly admitted that Cricket is a great leveler and certain chances work for you and few go against you, so make the most while at the crease, even if you know you are out. Gone are the days of G.R. Vishwanath and Gilchrist. In recent times, Gilchrist is the one player that comes to my mind for playing the game in the true spirit, choosing to walk when he knew he was out than wait for the umpire’s decision.
As long as the emphasis is on ‘winning at all costs’, the downward trend of unsportsmanlike behaviour shall continue and teams will make a desperate attempt to hold on to ‘success mantra’. Nothing was gentle about Cricket when the English introduced it, and it has taken a turn for the worst now! ICC and respective Cricket Boards need to introduce awards for Sportsmanlike Behaviour in the true sense.
Dr. Chaitanya Sridhar is a sports psychologist and practices out of Bangalore. She writes regularly on www.isport.in
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Jigar Mehta
said:
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... I dont believe that There Is Nothing Gentlemanly about the Game! well ill give u very latest example of what happened in last match ind vs nz Power play controversy stopped the game fr 10 mins and kyle mills had told dhoni that he was gonna take the batting power play and dhoni set the field according to the power play, It transpired that, before the start of the 25th over bowled by Ravindra Jadeja, New Zealand vice-captain Kyle Mills had told Mahendra Singh Dhoni and umpire Asad Rauf that he was taking the batting Power Play. When Nehra came on to bowl, he checked with Rauf if it was indeed the last Power Play over, which is when confusion set in. Rauf insisted that the Kiwis hadn’t taken the batting Power Play, leading to a prolonged stoppage Some of the Indian fielders pointed out that the Power Play fields were in place even though Mills was slamming the bowling around, and it took nearly ten minutes of convincing before Rauf and his counterpart Asoka de Silva agreed that the batting Power Play had indeed been commissioned. this is WHAT THE KIWI HAD TO SAY ''“A little bit of confusion is what happened,” Mills said as he spoke of the incident. “When Jadeja came on to bowl the 25th over, I told MS Dhoni and I also believed I told umpire Raufy that we were going to take the Power Play. MS nodded his yes, Raufy obviously didn’t hear. In the end, when Nehra came on to bowl the last over of the Power Play, Raufy still didn’t realise that we were in Power Play. “I was tempted to say that I didn’t (take the Power Play), but that wouldn’t be in the spirit of the game!” this statement by him keeps the spirit of the game alive i think we shud look at the positive sides of the game rather than the negative ones!!! |
Chaitanya Sridhar
said:
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... Thanks for your comment Jigar. Glad few players at least cater to the 'spirit of the game'. Though, sadly it's rare. Also, your right it's essential to focus on positives but we can't turn a blind eye towards the general trend being set by players and the game itself. This is not only my perception but it is also based on the interaction with players and support staff in the field! |
Jigar Mehta
said:
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... I think this is a problem with only a few teams srilanka are one of them i think after tis incident they will not repeat it and that happens in the heat of the moment; it was gr8 to seee kiwis play in the spirit of the game and one thing indians do walk take the example of tendulkar who walked when he was caught behind off shoaib akthar when he gloved the ball to the keeper on the leg side and the rule said that he was not out as when he gloved the ball his bat was off his gloves through which the ball had brushed thru to the keeper ! still he walked ! dont get me wrong if i m tryin to oppose ur views but i m just giving the explanation of what i think ;;  |
Chaitanya Sridhar
said:
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... Can understand your perspective Jigar as I started looking at Cricket and the Indian Team in a similar manner. But having worked in the same field for over 10 years has brought about a drastic change in the way I view the cricketing fraternity, and now my views are what you read in the article. Guess we can agree to disagree on this matter. I will truly be happy if Cricketing Nations including India do cater to the 'spirit of the game' in the true sense! |
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