Darrel Hair has dunnit agian. He has single handedly brought the game to disrepute, and forever etched his name in the annals of cricket's most controversial figures without ever having played the game. Hair, has never maintained a clean sheet, but what unfolded on sunday at the Oval, shocked the entire cricketing fraternity. As always, he abided by the lawbooks and weilded his power in a cruel but controlled fashion to serve a deathly blow to Pakistan, and the game itself.
The game of colonial rulers, unfortunately, still suffers from its after effects as is evident in the authoritarian way that it is managed. Rules are rigidly followed and are never in favour of the players. Too much power is vested in a chosen few, whose authority and aptitude often go unquestioned. Those who dare to do so, are slapped with heavy fines and suspensions. A player appealing excessively is fined up to 50% of his match fees, but an umpire handing our eggregious LBW's is never taken to the task. A player shaking his head in "dissent" after being given out unfairly, pays double penalty in terms of his wicket and fine/suspension, but the men in white and black go scott free. Why do we have to employ double standards when it comes to judging the players and the umpire. When was the last time an umpire was fined for bad decisions ?
It's ok if the rules are harsh, but then make them consistent. Sledging has gone on unabated for several decades. It's OK to scream obscenities about an opponents family members, but it's not ok to shake your head in "dissent" if given out by a poor decision by the umpire. Why is it so hard to make the umpires accountable ? After all, they do get paid handsomely for their job and their senses are being increasing enhanced by the developing technology. The game of British Raj, continues to thrive, the way the British ruled the colonies - absolute lack of transparency and reform.
Having said the above, I do not completely agree with Pakistan's actions. It is understandable that if they had continued to play despite the ludicrious allegations, it would have meant that they agree with the accusation. But by refusing to take the field for the first 20 minutes and then walking on to the greens as if nothing had happened, only managed to elicit boos from the already disenchanted fans. It showed signs that they did not possess the conviction to stay off the field till they were completely absolved of their "crime".
Despite Andrew Millers complaint, I think the fans had the right to boo. Cricket has always been a sport where the fans are taken for a ride by the authorities. The BCCI might be the richest sporting body in Asia, but the fans are still packed like sardines and made to sit on hot concrete bleachers. We do not have a devoted commentary in the stadium for the audience, to keep them up to date on behind the scene events, nor do we have an adequate entertainment system to regale them between overs. The game of gentleman has to improve, if it ever has to endear itself to an universal audience.
.....and here is an article in defence of Darrel Hair. Interesting point of view !!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
actually my sympathies are with the umpires in this case .. reverse swing has always been associated with instances of ball tampering ..
{aside: if reverse swing has purely to do with the laws of physics why is it that its a mystery art that few have access to!}
and if the umpires saw some crazy things happening there and had reasonable evidence (looking at the ball or catching someone in the act) then their actions are perfectly justified. what is not justified is the way in which they executed it {not informing inzy on the field} and the way the icc has been handling it {look for video evidence??} .. again i think the pakis have themselves to blame .. history is against them on the issue of ball tampering and their players have been reported in the past with rather convincing evidence .. its not easy to get away if you have a prior criminal record!
May i point out that he is an aussie :D
I wud have neveer said it but the fact is that racism has been very in you face in the game of cricket, case in point hair attitude an the fashion in which sub continent cricketer get singled out for match fines while others get let off scot free for much bigger offences.
@Nice try....Reverse swing has always raised alarm. But the umpires in this game did not see any signs of ball tampering, nor have they cited any evidence. This is puzzling !! Pakistan's action is not justified. But it sure does raise an alarm for the umpires to be more accountable for their actions.
@Totti...So ?? I try not to judge people by their background, but rather by their actions...
@Rohan Kumar...Based on statistical evidence u r right. Its a shame though !!
Really? I wonder whats the fuss with desis then huh? and thats two in a row, dean jones and hair. Lets not pretend that these are seperate random incidents. You are prejudicided, racist hypocrites. There! i said it :))..this comment is full of hate..screw you guys, i am going home
@Totti.....What abt desis ? ...and before pointing finger at me, remember atleast i have a timeframe
@Chaitanya..If you can pardon mistakes of onfield umpire for being human, we must apply the same rule to the players too....Pak protest might seem extremely harsh, but atleast it shld awaken the ICC about its double standards
Post a Comment