In Australia Even A Wild Dog Is A National Hero!!

[SachDan]

Praise Ponting, don’t bury him RICKY PONTING should be championed as a national hero for exposing racism in cricket writes Malcolm Conn. For taking his bold stand to protect Australia’s only black player, Andrew Symonds, from continuing racial taunts by Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, Ponting deserves to be feted, not condemned. He should be considered in the same light as former AFL stars Nicky Winmar and Michael Long, the Aboriginal footballers who took a stand against racism two decades ago. Anyone who disagrees should pick up a well-worn broom and sweep racism back under the carpet where it has been allowed to fester for decades. The only way to deal with racism is to tackle it head on. Claims from commentary box-chained greats of the past such as India’s Sunil Gavaskar, former England captain Tony Greig and Pakistan’s Wasim Akram that Ponting should have dealt with the slur of Symonds off the field are ignorant of the facts. Symonds tried. When Harbhajan called him a “monkey” during the seventh match of the one-day series in India last October, an upset Symonds informed team officials and then went and knocked on the Indian dressing room door. He sought out Harbhajan and explained he found the term offensive. Harbhajan apologised and the Australians believed they had an agreement with Harbhajan that he would not abuse Symonds in similar fashion again. So when Harbhajan called Symonds a monkey last Friday, during the third day of the second Test in Sydney, Ponting decided enough was enough and felt he had to act. Only by dragging racism into the harsh glare of public ridicule can it be satisfactorily dealt with. Cowards who use racial abuse are shamed and public education begins on the hurt of racial vilification. Harbhajan’s three-Test suspension by South African match referee Mike Procter on a charge of racial vilification should be held up as the way forward. And all the respected Indians who claim that “monkey” is not a racial slur in India must explain a remarkable coincidence. Of all the current and former Australian greats that I have spoken to in recent days, none has ever been referred to as a monkey by an Indian player. So it appears that the only Australian player ever called a monkey by an Indian player happens to be black. Symonds has been the only Australian player ever subjected to monkey chants by Indian spectators, who were arrested and ejected during the same game in Mumbai where Harbhajan first racially abused Symonds. To call a black man a monkey is to suggest he is sub-human. For Harbhajan and his mates to deny that he ever used the word monkey is like Mark Waugh denying he was paid by Hansie Cronje’s illegal bookmaker for information. I believed the bookie then and I believe Symonds and his team-mates now because Mark Waugh and Harbhajan both have form. That the Board of Control for Cricket in India is again disgracing the game by attempting to blackmail the ICC into overturning Procter’s decision is the sort of classic dummy spit which continues to make international cricket a joke.

[maggot_brain]

We just marry them instead.

[sm332]

joker of a writer

[ludhianvi]

Racism is one thing but Ponting's attitude and display in that match was just horrible.

[chanakya]

And i suppose calling someone a bastard and talking about their wives and mothers are a sign of tolerance?

[bobkutha]

who talked abt whos wives and mothers? was it hogg or past players?

[veer]

who talked abt whos wives and mothers? was it hogg or past players?

mcgrath to sarwan or chanderpaul..

[Rajiv]

...dont forget mother-in-laws

[panesarv]

...dont forget mother-in-laws

:hysterical::hysterical:

[adzamundo]

If you allow yourself to get upset by ANYTHING that is said to you on a cricket field by an opposition player you are soft.....plain and simple. Aussies winging about the monkey comment..........soft Indians responding complaining about bastard and other terms...........soft Anyone who cant handle that...............soft

[beetle]

Cricket is a sport for humans not beasts. When did the rules change and why do the aussies get to change the rules?It is about a contest between the bat and the ball and not about who knows more abuses. You want beastly aggression...go box. This is cricket and it is high time the rest of the cricketing world get the rules out soon. Just because the aussies believe verbal molestation of opposition players and their families is tough...the rest of the cricketing teams don't have to accept that. Aussies don't own cricket and they should be made to play it the right way or else they should be left to play the wild dogs in their backyard.

[Guest BossBhai]

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[adzamundo]

"It is about a contest between the bat and the ball" Ever heard the expression "90% of cricket is played above the shoulders" Cricket is more mental than physical once the basic skills of the game have been mastered. Those who are too soft to play in a mans game and compete for the highest prize in world cricket are the ones who should be left to play among the children in the backyard. The difference in skill between players at this level is marginal.....it is the mental toughness of the great players which separates them from the lesser lights. To dismiss a grueling 5 day test match as a battle between bat and ball is an appallingly simple point of view. This is sport at the highest level, and if you want to be the best you've got to roll you're sleeves up and do whatever it takes, if you can't do that......then learn to be content with 2nd place

[Guest BossBhai]

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[aussiefan]

well it means india could field a bit better......for a start. if you were to put it purely in athletic terms the aust team work a little harder in return to wicket, running between, diving for ball on ground when chasing it... who has that great quote as their sig? india turning two runs into one? i personally saw that happen throughout both tests...they were letting 20 runs at least a day go by... and why? pls explain, i am curious. also, why no sreesanth? he out of form?

[adzamundo]

Whatever it takes is whatever it takes. If you grow up in Australia playing as a boy against men you learn pretty quickly what that means. Sledging only works when the target of sledging is responsive to the comments. Sometimes whatever it takes is to shrug off the abuse sometimes it means to dish it out. We are no longer in the 1930s, the perfect world mentality is long gone....its survival of the fittest mentally and physically in life which is the way of the world....sport attempts to replicate this dynamic. The best way to deal with sledging is to let the bat / ball do the talking. You will find the sledging soon dries up after a few consecutive defeats.

[Guest BossBhai]

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[beetle]

>>>>Ever heard the expression "90% of cricket is played above the shoulders" Cricket is more mental than physical once the basic skills of the game have been mastered. What has mental strength got to do with sledging(abusing)? <<<>>>The difference in skill between players at this level is marginal.....it is the mental toughness of the great players which separates them from the lesser lights. To dismiss a grueling 5 day test match as a battle between bat and ball is an appallingly simple point of view. Are you saying that the only difference between the other cricket playing nations and australia is their specialised ability to abuse and bully? How does standing up to bullies and putting your foot down to not accept abuse equate to being soft? >This is sport at the highest level, and if you want to be the best you've got to roll you're sleeves up and do whatever it takes, if you can't do that......then learn to be content with 2nd place What if plain ugly sledging and bulling doesn't do the trick? how far are you willing to see your players go to win m,atches? Setting up of the bunny claimer was one......what next...Poison the opposion?run over the main players....? is that out of line or acceptable as long as you win? Are you guys given extra grades in school for sledging...?(just cucious)

[aussiefan]

SS also passionate. shame he's out

[Guest BossBhai]

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