Let them reap the rewards
OPINION: People of the male persuasion seem to have a special gift. International cricketers are the true chosen ones when it comes to this super power. They can see ‘the line’. The line tells them when their sledging has gone too far. The concern is the line is actually the boundary rope and what goes on within it is not guided by a strong moral compass, but a need to win at all costs.
Ahhh, the Ashes. One of the greatest sporting rivalries. Far more enjoyable when your own country isn’t playing so you can concentrate on the purity of the sport itself; the sound of leather on willow, the rattle of the wickets and the delightful verbal assaults over someone’s weight, mother, wife and any touchy personal weaknesses. For many fans this is the part they love the most and will defend sledging as a part of the game. But there are times when the pack mentality takes over and suddenly the tired old refrain of ‘boys will be boys’ takes a more sinister turn.
Let’s get back to ‘the line’, if we can track it down. In the first Ashes test, England’s Jonny Bairstow was one of the main sledging targets. He says he knew the Aussies were trying to get under his skin but some comments went too far. In his column for the Daily Mail he said of the comments made, ‘‘Only if they are said again would the matter go further.’’ Two things here: just how personal were the comments if he couldn’t tell us what they were and just how bad were they that he had to send out a warning for Australia not to go there again?
Well, not bad at all, according to captain Steve Smith, who seems to have a different idea about where that elusive line is. ‘‘As I’ve said previously there’s a line we’re not to cross and I’ve got no issues there. I think the umpires and match referees are there to determine that.’’ Exactly. How are the poor players meant to know when they’re being abusive and insulting? That’s what officials are for.
Fortunately for Bairstow he has a friend in the baggy green cap. Batsman Peter Handscomb played alongside the wicketkeeper for Yorkshire and he only had good news for his mate before the second test. When asked if all sledging is ‘fair game’ in the name of the Ashes, Handscomb said: ‘‘On the field, yeah.’’ He was planning on continuing the mental onslaught in the second test.
Indeed during the Adelaide test even though everybody had a right old go, there was nothing to see there except players swearing at each other. Just good healthy competition that’s perfectly acceptable for kids to copy. Just like their mentors they too will know just how far to take it. As Bairstow said: ‘‘There were some verbals from both teams but this time nothing crossed the line.’’
My question is, should players be anywhere near the line in the first place? Isn’t this just bullying dressed up in cricket whites? Sledging can be clever and still effective. Even Merv Hughes, the Aussie bowler, whose moustache was almost bigger than Kane Williamson, was surprisingly creative. He was all over Graham Gooch in one test and offered to, ‘… bowl a piano and see if you can play that.’ Former captain Steve Waugh told Herschelle Gibbs ‘‘You’ve just dropped the World Cup,’ after Gibbs muffed a simple catch in 1999. It proved to be a prophetic sledge with Australia winning the trophy. At least Bairstow can feel proud that he was on the receiving end of quality verbals. Handscomb reckoned: ‘‘As far as sledging goes, it was probably some of the smartest stuff we’ve ever come up with. Generally the Aussie way is pretty brutal.’’
Maybe it’s because it’s always been that way. Maybe certain players think that an abusive sledge is the only way to destroy their opponent’s confidence and create doubt? Maybe they need to stop saying they respect the opposition and actually show they do? Because there are some who are already struggling with their demons and personal attacks could push them over the edge.
In 2013 Englishman Jonathan Trott left the Ashes series after mental health issues caused him to unravel. He considered driving his car into the Thames or a tree to get out of the ordeal. His compatriot Marcus Trescothick had ‘‘stressrelated’’ problems, as did Aussie fast bowler Shaun Tait. We may think top athletes are immune to vulnerability but sometimes the enormous pressure they’re under will crush them. They’re only human.
Cricket doesn’t have to be played this way. Former Black Cap captain Brendan Mccullum managed to take his team to the World Cup final in 2015 by not engaging in the nasty stuff. The death of Australian cricketer Phil Hughes had prompted Mccullum to play a more respectful form of cricket. Hughes’ death had caused shockwaves in his home country and it was thought it would change the way cricket was played. But the old ways proved harder to smash than a Trent Boult bouncer. The Black Caps’ Buddhist-like approach freaked the canary-clad players out in the 2015 World Cup. So the Aussies dug deep and unleashed hell. Whether it was the pressure, the aggressive MCG atmosphere or the sledging, the Black Caps were walloped by the Aussies. Keeper Brad Haddin said the Kiwis had ‘‘deserved it’’ because they had been overly nice to the Australians during the pool match. And that’s why some will never change their ways.
So here we are, the day of the third Ashes test in Perth. England is already 2-0 down and former Aussie players like Shane Warne and Craig Mcdermott don’t want their team to back down. It’s about winning first and foremost. I just hope he and his team remember where they left ‘the line’ for the good of the game and its players.
Hands up if anyone thinks the All Whites deserve their Team of the Year nomination at next year’s Halbergs. Anyone who budged belongs in the same group as the dimwit who nominated our men’s national football side, a mob which failed to get a single shot on target during their failed World Cup playoff matches against Peru last month.
That’s how you tarnish an awards ceremony. The same goes for the judges who thought it was a smart idea to name All Blacks pivot Beauden Barrett as the World Player of the Year last month.
But the ridiculous decisions of a few people shouldn’t erode the importance of (most) awards ceremonies.
Players and teams should be celebrated for outstanding performances. Let them pose on the red carpet, partner in hand, and reap the rewards.
The Halbergs, and most awards ceremonies for that matter, aren’t often without contentious decisions, but the annual congregation of our country’s best athletes is usually quality viewing and justified reward.
If sporting codes want to host an annual awards ceremony, and most do, good on them.
However, the same can’t be said about individual teams and their fixation with putting on cringe awards nights after forgettable seasons – think this year’s Southland Stags.
Believe it or not, they held an awards night after losing all 10 of their Mitre 10 Cup championship games and being outscored 154-454 in the process.
It’s no wonder some people believe sports awards are a waste of time.
A season like the one the Stags produced probably should have prompted Southland Rugby general manager Andrew Moreton to flag their annual celebration this year.
Blues and Warriors fans probably wouldn’t have minded if their teams hadn’t celebrated mediocrity again and again in recent years.
But hey, at least nobody in their respective organisations felt the need to make a mockery of the Halbergs by nominating themselves for Team of the Year.
On the other hand, successful teams such as netball’s Southern Steel or the Super Rugby champion Crusaders should have puffed their chests out when announcing the winners of their annual awards nights this year.
It’s just be nice to see some restraint from others.
‘‘Awards are all about name recognition, profile, snob appeal and personality in the end.’’ Hamish Bidwell