From the iSport Cricket Paddock: The Bedi-Murali spat has been catching some eyeballs and making news on most channels. iSporter Akshay Iyer truly believes that Muralitharan, a role model to many has been a target of unwanted comments from former India captain Bishen Singh Bedi. Let's now read Akshay's thoughts..
Bishen Singh Bedi, former India captain and part of India’s famous spin quartet of the 1970s, has never had a kind word for legendary Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who retired from Test cricket recently. Come to think of it, Bedi has also spewed venom at India’s own Harbhajan Singh. The reason for Bedi’s grouse – he alleges both Harbhajan and Murali are chuckers and hence their career wicket tally should be counted as run-outs. Can it get more absurd?
Bedi has taken pot shots at Murali for most of the last 15 years, and has hardly had a kind word to say about the Sri Lankan’s genius with the ball. [Read: Murali Is Not As Great As Most Think]. To his credit, Murali let the ball do the talking for him as he answered Bedi and his other detractors in the best manner possible – by picking up a bag full of wickets along the way to becoming the first and probably the only bowler to take 800 Test wickets. Murali has also subjected himself to quite a few biomechanical tests, and if the International Cricket Council amended its rules to accommodate Murali’s natural bent arm, it certainly is not the genial Lankan spinner’s fault. And, if once in a blue moon, the ICC does make a rule for bowlers, it certainly isn’t Armageddon coming!
Murali has been quiet all these years with, I am guessing the hope that his achievements would eventually win over even his strongest detractors [Read: Muttiah Muralitharan: A Synonym To Commitment]. While a few of them did change their tune over the years in tribute to Murali’s greatness, others like Bedi only continued to spit more venom towards the ‘smiling assassin’. Statistics bear testament to Murali’s greatness, but his determination, tenacity and hard work to scale the heights he has achieved also deserve to be lauded. To be fair to Bedi, he did say that Murali is a tremendous human being.
However, this entire episode has taken a new turn with Murali finally breaking his silence and terming Bedi as an ‘ordinary’ bowler based on some videos he had seen. Not one to keep silent, Bedi rebutted Murali’s claims by launching yet another tirade against the recently retired Test cricketer. Other Indian spinners have rushed to Bedi’s defence and have termed Murali’s comments childish and immature. Where were these spinners when Bedi was spewing venom against Murali, who is one of the legends of the game and certainly didn’t deserve to be so unfairly targetted throughout his Test career? Bedi should also realise that as with every human being, Murali has a tolerance level, and that has been breached many times over.
Murali is a role model to aspiring cricketers the world over, and is admired and respected by his peers and colleagues alike. If Murali has taken the barbs thrown at him with dignity, why can’t Bedi accept the one criticism coming his way? I
reckon this just proves the gulf in class between the two. As a cricketer and a person, Murali certainly wins this contest hands down.
Bedi has taken pot shots at Murali for most of the last 15 years, and has hardly had a kind word to say about the Sri Lankan’s genius with the ball. [Read: Murali Is Not As Great As Most Think]. To his credit, Murali let the ball do the talking for him as he answered Bedi and his other detractors in the best manner possible – by picking up a bag full of wickets along the way to becoming the first and probably the only bowler to take 800 Test wickets. Murali has also subjected himself to quite a few biomechanical tests, and if the International Cricket Council amended its rules to accommodate Murali’s natural bent arm, it certainly is not the genial Lankan spinner’s fault. And, if once in a blue moon, the ICC does make a rule for bowlers, it certainly isn’t Armageddon coming!
Murali has been quiet all these years with, I am guessing the hope that his achievements would eventually win over even his strongest detractors [Read: Muttiah Muralitharan: A Synonym To Commitment]. While a few of them did change their tune over the years in tribute to Murali’s greatness, others like Bedi only continued to spit more venom towards the ‘smiling assassin’. Statistics bear testament to Murali’s greatness, but his determination, tenacity and hard work to scale the heights he has achieved also deserve to be lauded. To be fair to Bedi, he did say that Murali is a tremendous human being.
However, this entire episode has taken a new turn with Murali finally breaking his silence and terming Bedi as an ‘ordinary’ bowler based on some videos he had seen. Not one to keep silent, Bedi rebutted Murali’s claims by launching yet another tirade against the recently retired Test cricketer. Other Indian spinners have rushed to Bedi’s defence and have termed Murali’s comments childish and immature. Where were these spinners when Bedi was spewing venom against Murali, who is one of the legends of the game and certainly didn’t deserve to be so unfairly targetted throughout his Test career? Bedi should also realise that as with every human being, Murali has a tolerance level, and that has been breached many times over.
Murali is a role model to aspiring cricketers the world over, and is admired and respected by his peers and colleagues alike. If Murali has taken the barbs thrown at him with dignity, why can’t Bedi accept the one criticism coming his way? I
reckon this just proves the gulf in class between the two. As a cricketer and a person, Murali certainly wins this contest hands down.
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a guest
said:
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... Well said... I was personally very pleased to finally see Murali put Bedi in his place... I guess Bedi is more upset with the fact that Murali has retired and with that ends Bedi's chances of commenting any sports column!!!! |
Chaitanya Sridhar
said:
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... Good article Akshay and I totally agree! Also, agree with the guest, and glad Murali lashed out at Bedi. Mr. Bedi ought to learn what is acceptable and what's not. |
a guest
said:
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... This article is as pathetic as Murali's bowling. even Imran khan had said once, you either bowl or you chuck. Bedi atleast bowled with a straight arm unlike murali who only CHUCKED his way to glory. i think this article is a classic piece of waste of intellect |
Akshay Iyer
said:
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... @Chaitanya: Thanks @ guest #2: While I appreciate your perspective, I am sticking to my stand and maintaining that Murali is a legend of the game.And, I feel it's a bit sad that you don't appreciate the genius of the man. Can a 'chucker' as you describe Murali to be actually spin the ball on any surface? |
a guest
said:
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... give me a audience and i willl show you that with the same action i can spin the ball better than him. spinning the ball on any surface is not the criteria to become great.. would michael johnson have become great had he run 300m to beat people in the 400m category?? would it have lead to him become great? NO.. he ran the same distance. Murali is horrible as it can get. Isport is becoming horrible, with people like you writing for it. Kunal get a life and stop posting them on facebook as if you werent done with advertising for AQUASAIL  loser |
a guest
said:
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... give me a audience and i willl show you that with the same action i can spin the ball better than him. spinning the ball on any surface is not the criteria to become great.. would michael johnson have become great had he run 300m to beat people in the 400m category?? would it have lead to him become great? NO.. he ran the same distance. Murali is horrible as it can get. Isport is becoming horrible, with people like you writing for it. Kunal get a life and stop posting them on facebook as if you werent done with advertising for AQUASAIL loser |
Akshay Iyer
said:
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... I am assuming that you can handle the relentless criticism as well as Murali has done and put in the hard yards that he did during his Test career. Not to mention you matching Murali's determination and passion for the game! You are obviously a Murali hater and have a set opinion when it comes to him. And, no matter what you aren't going to change your opinion about him, which I personally feel is unfair. You may have issues with his action, but I feel it's not right when you don't appreciate his achievements. Finally, everyone has a point of view. I have expressed mine, and if you feel so strongly, just front up and pen an article of your own!!!!! |
Kunal Shah
said:
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... HAHA! Mr. Guest #2, you are amusing!  You can take a shot at me and my work, but I wouldn't care less! If my FB posts are worrying you, get off my friend's list! And if iSport is giving you bull shit for content, please feel free to go get off the website! Like Akshay said, we've all an opinion and that is exactly what iSport is here for! If you've an opinion too, write it and if it does seem publishing worthy, I will urge the iSport team to put it up. If you can't stand others opinions, go see a shrink!  |
a guest
said:
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... i can see how what i said HURT its cool. it will take time for it to trickle down. as for murali, i wouldn't even dare trying to compare him to any other great. you have a set of opinions which are horribly biased and isport is gonna go down soon. get better writers and not commentators who dont even think before they slip |
Kunal Shah
said:
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... I think its a waste replying to Mr. Guest. iSport is about personal opinions and we like them even more if they are biased - just the way you seem to have a personal grudge against Murali and of course me! I would leave the fate of iSport to its fans and detractors like you! |
Kundan Singh
said:
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... To be honest i really dont see what the whole MURLI debate is about anymore. He was called for chucking they tested him and realized he does bend his arm (which btw mr bedi every off spinner has to). the icc also realized that their "cleanest" bowlers like Glen Mcgrath also bent his arm past the permissible levels, hence they changed the law. Now if Murli falls within the laws set by the ICC then where is the controversy. Anyone with a half a brain (sorry mr bedi you dont fit in) will realize that a spinner who takes the ball away from a right hander will never bend his arm. e.g - Warne, Kumble, Mushtaq, murli karthik, Ojha; its just the way the arm comes down. All i repeat ALL off spinners have to bend their arms to a certain degree, now if this degree is within the allowed limits of the icc then where is the debate. Bedi all his life/ career has been one of those loud mouths who must make noise to remain in the public eye. Murli turned off spinning into a weapon, a journey started by Saqlain ( in my opinion the best offie ever), how come bedi doesnt comment upon Warne and his way of playing. Its a known fact Warne would bully umpires into giving decisions, youtube his lbws give on his straighter ones; they would never be given in this modern tv era. Anyway Murli s time is over , hes done a great service to Lankan and world cricket and quite possibly left a record which will never be broken, Salute ! |
Asif Khan
said:
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... The fact that so many people are so strongly opposing Murli proves that he is a man who achieved a lot. The whole fuss about his action is just stupid, we've all been there and done that. He was called for chucking, cleared of the charges and he went on to be one of the greatest. The whole idea about him being a chucker will die down eventually people will remember him for what he is, a great bowler! |
Kundan Singh
said:
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... Just a joke- but Asif when you say " we all been there done that" , were you also no balled for chucking |
Asif Khan
said:
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... LOL Kundan I didn't mean that, what I meant was we have all dissected Murli's action and done the same for Shoaib Akhtar, Harbhajan Singh etc. the fact that they were deemed legal by ICC which defines the rules of the game should close the controversy but people just don't give up! On a lighter note, yeah I have been called for chucking and noballed! I hated it! |
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