‘Not okay with sledging but done it’
SHARJAH: Australia’s on-field conduct has come under much scrutiny post the ball-tampering scandal in March during their South Africa tour. It saw three top cricketers Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft getting banned followed by a shake-up in the country’s cricket administration.
Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is not sure whether the Australians would want to draw lessons from the Kiwis’ in the wake of the controversy, which has led calls for a cultural review in the country’s cricket. McCullum, regarded for constituting a team that earned respect and admiration from their opponents and fans alike, said the incident at Cape Town was building up for a long time.
“I’m not sure, it was probably cruel what the cameras brought (during the balltampering incident),” McCullum said on the sidelines of the T10 League in Sharjah. “It was building up to this for a long period of time. What it has done is that it is going to (change) Australian cricket, they are trying to repair the damage and I am sure at the end we will see a team which wins back the trust and enthusiasm of the fans, and that is what they are trying to do,” he added.
Talking about the opposite image of the Trans-Tasman rivals, McCullum said the behavior of the New Zealand team is a representation of its people.
“For New Zealand, we wanted to be a representation of our people and our culture. In New Zealand we are very humble, hard working and kind of innovative. We are going to make the best of the resources that we have. For us it was about being good people and playing the game in a manner that gave us most amount of joy,” he said.
“It was never about being confrontational with the opposition. New Zealand team plays the game in an authentic manner. Whether that sits comfortably with Australia I am not sure, but it sits comfortably with New Zealand and I am proud to back the team as they are still playing the same way,” the former Kiwi captain said.
Talking about aggression on field, McCullum says he does not think sledging is necessary. “Sledging (is something that) does not sit back comfortably but I will not say I have not done it,” he said.
“I have been a part of that long time ago. The thing that we found in the New Zealand line-up is that we would just go (about) playing cricket, be good blokes and be proud of who we are and enjoy ourselves. The cricket will take care of itself,” the 37-year-old added.
McCullum also praised New Zealand for their thrilling win over Pakistan in the first Test of their ongoing UAE tour. “It is such a hard place to come and tour… what they have been able to achieve by winning the first Test match in the manner that they did. Obviously in the second Test Pakistan were too strong,” McCullum said.
› It was probably cruel what the cameras brought (during ball-tampering incident). It was building up to this for a long period of time.
› It is going to (change) Australian cricket, they are trying to repair the damage and we may see a team which wins back fan’s trust.
› New Zealand team plays the game in an authentic manner. Whether that sits comfortably with Australia, I am not sure.