We are Cheats

[brian@bekasi]

Australia is in deep shock at the news that the Australian cricket team attempted to cheat on day 3 of the third test against South Africa.The amateurish plot was hatched by the team captain and other members of the leadership team.

I appreciate from responses to other threads that there is little interest in cricket on this forum but I need somewhere to vent and this is as good a place as any.

As a lifelong "cricket tragic", I find this act to be un australian and for many of us it is against the Australian culture of giving others a "fair go". It has placed us in the same category as a cricketing nation with the likes of Pakistan which for years been found to have cheated in many cricket games.

In my opinion, the Australian Captain should be banned for life and any other players involved banned for a lesser period. This would destroy the current teams performance as Steve Smith is second only to the immortal Don Bradman in batting averages. However, a clear message needs to be sent to all players and children that cheating has no place in sport.

To me the act also says a lot about the deterioration in cultural values that appears to be happening in Australian. Has winning at all costs and money become the norm in sport and life?

 

[scouser59]

Indeed , a sad day for the sport in Aus , I was quite surprised at the reaction of the captain and of course the bowler .

 

[Puspawarna]

If it's any comfort, as a non-Australian I am not inclined to think, "yeah, that's typical - Australians are like that." On the contrary, my overall opinion of Australians is quite high, and this doesn't change it. There are a few bad folks in every culture.

 

[john madden]

Trouble is if you fess up you get done, but if you duck, bob and weave you get away with it. Plenty of pissweak examples of that over the years.

 

[brian@bekasi]

Trouble is if you fess up you get done, but if you duck, bob and weave you get away with it. Plenty of pissweak examples of that over the years.

I don't think Smith could have done anything else but fess up as it was all caught on camera.

 

[vocalneal]

I thought cricketers always rubbed the ball on their trousers?

 

[brian@bekasi]

If it's any comfort, as a non-Australian I am not inclined to think, "yeah, that's typical - Australians are like that." On the contrary, my overall opinion of Australians is quite high, and this doesn't change it. There are a few bad folks in every culture.

Agreed there a few bad folks in every culture.However, as Australian cricket captain, Smith held one of the most respected positions in Australian culture and as such has betrayed the Australian public who expect him to have integrity as a leader and to do the right thing at all times..

 

[harryopal1]

Australia is in deep shock at the news that the Australian cricket team attempted to cheat on day 3 of the third test against South Africa.The amateurish plot was hatched by the team captain and other members of the leadership team.

To me the act also says a lot about the deterioration in cultural values that appears to be happening in Australian. Has winning at all costs and money become the norm in sport and life?

I think it has ever been thus. The deep shock comes from how rarely the cheats get caught or that there is enough evidence for the allegations to proceed.

Percy Cerutty, the coach of the great, Australian middle distance runner told me that during those days of "amateur" sports if was commonplace to get paid a healthy sum to compete at major international events. I am not sure that it did much more than cover the costs but he said that if the matter were ever raised with Herb Elliott that he had been paid to compete he had instructed Herb to act shocked and say, "That bloody Percy Cerutty."

Steroids have long been in use to bulk up players for football and while testing has become more serious to try and limit drug useage I am not sure that Aussie rules is drug free. It says something about the nature of rugby that Andrew Johns, the self confessed cocaine user throughout his career is now one of the 8 named as
a "rugby immortal", a commentator on the game and seen as a great role model.

Andre Agassi, always so gracious in victory or defeat ended his tennis career confessing to cocaine use. My understanding is that cocaine gives you a sense of invulnerability and can only be seen as a performance enhancement drug.

The list of cheats in sports is endless. And apart from drug cheating, 'the deterioration in cultural values" is evident in the appalling lack of sportsmanship now seen in so many sports. The end results is that I find it hard to get interested in watching any sport these days and now add Test cricket to the list. However, as a Richmond - Tigers fanatic I will keep watching Aussie rules. A lot of stupidity and violence is displayed prior to the opening bounce and during the game but at least at the end of each match they usually shake hands and act in a civil manner.

 

[brian@bekasi]

The list of cheats in sports is endless. And apart from drug cheating, 'the deterioration in cultural values" is evident in the appalling lack of sportsmanship now seen in so many sports. The end results is that I find it hard to get interested in watching any sport these days and now add Test cricket to the list. However, as a Richmond - Tigers fanatic I will keep watching Aussie rules. A lot of stupidity and violence is displayed prior to the opening bounce and during the game but at least at the end of each match they usually shake hands and act in a civil manner.

Agree with what you say about what has been happening for many years but would suggest that I and indeed many more Australians thought that our test team was the one team that was above all of that. So wrong we were!

Indeed, prior to yesterday premeditated cheating is something I just cannot comprehend as being associated with an Australian Cricket team.

Yes there is sledging in games but in years gone by that was said on the field was left on the field and players from both sides would have a beer together after each days play. I seems that doesn't happen even now.

In the past I have been lucky enough on the odd occasion to have a beer or two with ex test players from England and Australia. I have listened to them tell some funny stories and do talk about their exploits together off the field. To my mind those guys would never have thought about cheating.How times have changed!

 

[Ruserious]

Who would have thought that in a game where you stand around for hours that you are not allowed to scratch your balls!!

 

[Fred]

Most Australians I've met have been decent chaps, but there's always one despicable cad.

 

[snpark]

BTW these athletes are never sorry for cheating, they are only sorry they got caught!

 

[Davita]

Who would have thought that in a game where you stand around for hours that you are not allowed to scratch your balls!!

I thought scratching one's balls during a game of cricket was mandatory.

 

[steveandpenny]

Well it was only cricket anyway not like a real sport that anyone will care about ...lol

 

[Fred]

I thought scratching one's balls during a game of cricket was mandatory.

Not so, but rubbing them is normal ..... come to think of it, same goes in bed.

 

[Davita]

Not so, but rubbing them is normal ..... come to think of it, same goes in bed.

Aghh! thanks Fred...they are rubbing their cricket ball...I live and learn.

I always wondered about that action 'coz I tried it a few times but there was no reaction from withing my pants. I then presumed it somehow raised the cricketer's testosterone by sliding the ball between their thighs..but I had no way to measure so left that ballgame, and cricket, to those who understood both as neither did anything for me.

 

[john madden]

You are all Philistines, and so are the current Australian "leadership group" it turns out.

 

[HeikkiL]

If is for any relief, this is what comes to people's mind of words 'cricket team' outside ex- British Empire countries:

 

[john madden]

At first I thought they were cockroaches but then realised they weren't wearing blue jerseys.

 

[Fred]

At first I thought they were cockroaches but then realised they weren't wearing blue jerseys.