Remember a time when cricketers relied purely on their skills to win games? And when things got a bit tough, they threw in a sledge or two? I mean, you may not agree with sledging but it’s become part and parcel of the game and in some cases, has become entertaining. You may not like it or agree with it but it’s generally accepted.
Match-fixing, ball tampering and outright cheating on the other hand, are simply not. And we find ourselves again in the midst of a scandal involving Australian cricketers who have chosen to cheat in order to win.
The whole situation is wrong on every level, it’s hard to figure out where to start. You have the captain himself admitting this was pre-planned. This was all done in the open, where every bit of the game is under intense scrutiny. I mean, we have cameras and microphones in the wickets for crying out loud! Attendees in the crowds all have phones with cameras. Did they think this would go unnoticed? It really boggles the mind wondering what these seasoned sportsmen were thinking when they hatched this plan.
I grew up watching so many Aussie cricketing legends dominate this beautiful game and looked up to people like Shane Warne for his magical spin bowling which I tried so hard to emulate in my backyard. I also tried to be like Matthew Hayden and hit those big sixes out of the park and I daresay I came close.
But apart from learning how to bat and bowl, I learnt a huge life lesson from one Australian cricketer in particular: Adam Gilchrist. ‘Gilly’ was famous not just for being a stellar batsmen and outstanding wicketkeeper. He was famous for walking back to the dressing room despite not given out, when very few others would. He did this despite others in his team chiding him over it and even publicly admitting they wouldn’t have walked.
Gilly didn’t do this because he was trying to win brownie points. He did it because it was right. He earned the respect of the world through his actions. Not only was Australian cricket great because of its skills and prowess, it was great because it had good honest men like Adam Gilchrist inspiring youngsters to do the right thing.
Could you imagine what Sir Donald Bradman would say about all of this if he were alive today? ‘The Don’ was a legend the cricketing world will likely never see again and he was every bit the sportsman on and off the field. Seeing Steve Smith and others tarnish The Don and Australian Cricket’s great legacy over cheap tactics is throwing mud in their face and sets a terrible example for budding cricketers.
These future cricketing stars need to be taught not just how to bat and bowl, but how to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat; and that cheating has no place in cricket.
