By Ather Latif, UK

As an ordinary British Asian fan of cricket for years it is coming to a stage that I have started to wonder if it is such a gentleman’s game that we were led to believe. As a child when I started to play cricket every part of the game was supposed to be played in the best spirit of the game, and for years I believed it, until recently.

There are new terms in cricket now days e.g. 'aggressive game', 'playing hard', ‘mental disintegration’ and so on, but what do they mean? All the terms are mostly used by the Australians at one time and another and it seems that Steve Waugh’s tactic of ‘mental disintegration’ was not only successful on the cricket field but off it as well. It seems to have had a lasting effect on cricket fans from other nations.

Traditionally sledging was seen as a prime example of a practice that was 'Not Cricket', and was generally looked down upon as ungentlemanly. Mild forms of sledging would take place in the English game, but personal attacks were seen as unacceptable. In recent years, English cricket has adopted a more Australian competitive streak, and sledging has become more common place.

Since cricket is an international game with diversified cultures involved, opinions on sledging can differ considerably, leading to many cultural misunderstandings and controversies. In recent years, however, Asian teams have become adept at sledging in their own fashion, notably Sri Lanka, which has used Australian coaches and coaching methods (note the examples of wicketkeeping sledges by Kumar Sangakara, who is renowned as being able to get under the skin of opposing batsman).

Western commentators have often challenged Asian teams on their supposed claims of sledging innocence, pointing at the common on-field use of Urdu and Hindi phrases that neither players nor umpires can understand.

There are many examples of sledging, fondly remembered for their humour, either through a witty challenge, or a quick retort. I have nothing against sledging when it’s humorous. But personal attacks, malice and racism have no place in a sporting arena and that should apply to all teams, be they minnows or world champions.

On Australian cricket, a report points to 'racial sledging' of South African cricketers who 'were referred to as kaffirs by a small section of spectators' at Perth in December 2005. It says that cricketers from Sri Lanka were 'subjected to racial abuse and adds that an ICC security official was punched by spectators in Melbourne and many other examples in recent years.

In the matter of fact there is hardly any series played without any incident. The recently concluded tour of India by Australia was marred by racial controversy, against Andrew Symonds. Personally I believe it was bound to happen as Mr Symonds on arrival to India was quoted as saying 'India are carried away with their ICC World Twenty20 celebrations' and added 'We have had a very successful side and I think watching how we celebrate and how they celebrate, I think we have been pretty humble in the way we have gone about it'.

Think back to the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy celebrations and BCCI Chairman incident, that wasn’t exactly humble. This comment would have upset lot of Indians, who were very excited to win a major trophy after a long time. I am not justifying racism in cricket but merely making a point that international players have a duty not to indulge in any such quotes or pre-match sledging, which may insight certain followers.

When there is a hot tempered incident or sledging on the field, we often hear from players or management afterwards that the relations between the teams are excellent off the field, but I am sorry to say what we see is what is on the screen not in the dressing room.

There is talk of the treatment Muralitharan is going to get from the media or the crowd in Australia, but what has concerned me over the years is that the head of state Mr John Howard had a dig at Murali, so fat chance of a fair treatment for the Sri Lankan by the local public.

The recurring theme of this piece is whether the Australians can take it as good as they dish it out? I am yet to be convinced of that. My view is that those who throw stones in the gutter should expect a splash or two to soil their own clothes. There are no anti-splash rules once you throw that stone in.

There was talk about lines in the sand. Where? Why? So it is not surprising that Warne, Martyn, Watson, Hayden, McGrath, Healy, Chappell, Border, Ponting, etc all turn out the way they do. I do admire them as people of immense calibre. I just do not admire them as sportsmen. I will applaud when Roger Federer or Tiger Woods, Brian Lara or Sachin Tendulkar win (for they are true champions). I will also empathize with them when they lose. I like them not just because they win, but the way they win.

Maybe it is time for the Aussies to ponder why almost the whole cricketing world dislikes them. If they believe the world hates them because they keep winning, they need to look at Federer, Woods & Co who are winners and are also as good on the field as they are out of it. They are icons and legends. They are role-models and much loved.

On a positive note I am happy to see India and Pakistan cricket played in good spirit these days and do not hear pre-match sledging between the two teams - long may it continue and maybe can be a lesson for so called civilized cricket nations.

We all live in hope!

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